October 11, 2017 
Okay, so we’re only two events into the Western sub-league of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League (NAL).
And, yes, there are five more to qualifying events to go. (Ten if you count the entire NAL.)
Which means, FINE, it’s early days in the rankings. Maybe even prehistoric days. Or, like, early-bird-supper days of the Series.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be keeping track of who’s in the lead. Because for most of the riders making moves up the ranks right now qualifying for the Final in Paris is at the top of their to-do list.
Only the top seven athletes from the East Coast US and top three from West Coast US, along the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico, will earn the chance to go head-to-head with the other 15 leagues worldwide for the elusive title. As always, it promises to be a year long battle of epic proportions complete with careers highs, heartbreaks and a few fist fight or two. Maybe.
In the NAL, there are seven qualifying events in each of the two sub leagues (East and West), but riders can earn points from any of the World Cup qualifiers, anywhere in the world. Their top four scores count toward their total.
So, with the second leg of the Western sub league officially on the books as of Saturday last, where do the rankings stand?
With Jenn Serek at the top! The BC-rider holds onto the lead with 29 points, despite not competing in at the last qualifier in Sacramento. (She finished second and fifth in the first two qualifiers of the season, Bromont and Thunderbird, respectively.)
Joining her in the top ten, and making the biggest moves up the rankings with double digit points apiece in Sacramento, are USA’s Sayre Happy, Jamie Barge, Mandy Porter, Jenni McAllister, Richard Spooner and Columbia’s John Perez.
Here’s the full list:
Canada’s Keean White also picked up valuable ranking points in Sacramento. He’s now sits just behind Ireland’s Conor Swail, USA’s Devin Ryan, and Canada’s Isabelle Lapierre for the lead in the Eastern sub league. (On point ties, the rider that recorded the highest placing in a class comes out on top.)
Those rankings are as follows:
With ten more stops on the NAL calendar ahead, there’s sure to be shuffling in the rankings ahead. Tune in to HorseNetwork.com/live for the next qualifier in the Western sub league, the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Del Mar, October 18–22.
