Infinite possibilities

In the absence of real sporting action, it’s fun to speculate on how this year’s Badminton might have panned out – even though such “events” can never be used to allocate prize money or influence Olympic selection. Diarmuid Byrne, from the data analytics company EquiRatings, plays out a simulated competition

- Diarmuid Byrne

NORMALLY, I write a column for H&H before Badminton attempting to use data – as yet unsuccessfully – to pick the winner. With Badminton cancelled this year, we are going to show how a “simulated Badminton” might play out.

High-performance coaches, managers and analysts employ our EquiRatings simulation methods to predict the likely outcome of events and performances of particular riders, horses or teams. This allows managers to assess the chances of their team and can influence tactics, selection and training.

With no live events, this year we have started to use our predictive technology, developed in partnership with SAP, for fan experiences, as well as launching the Eventing Manager app to let followers play along.

HOW IT WORKS

WITH no Badminton 2020 field to work with, we are making one up, taking the 50 horses with the best CCI5* finishing scores over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Horses are being competed by the rider with whom they achieved that top-50 score. Oliver Townend and Tim Price arrive with four horses each, which breaks all the normal rules!

Now the fun starts – we place these 50 combinations into the same competition and we tell the machine (SAP Predictive Analytics) what variables to take into account.