Ireland has eight show jumpers inside the top fifty in the latest Longines FEI World Rankings published yesterday. Richie Moloney and Shane Sweetnam have joined the six Irish riders who have retained their top 50 status in the latest figures.

However, for the first time in a number of years Ireland does not have a presence inside the world’s top twenty. Bertram Allen, who spent the last two years inside the top twenty, and much of that inside the top ten, has dropped four places to number 21, despite a number of wins in November.

Allen remains the highest-ranked Irish rider, and looks set to move back up the standings in a month’s time after impressive results in Paris at the weekend which will be factored in when the next ranking figures are published in early January.

Denis Lynch retains the number 27 spot in the standings, while Darragh Kenny moves up two places to number 35, one place ahead of Conor Swail who drops from 33rd.

Cian O’Connor rises to number 38 from last month’s 40th position following November’s five-star win in Doha with Callisto and a third place finish in the five-star World Cup Grand Prix in Madrid with Good Luck.

Shane Sweetnam makes a climb of ten places to enter the top 50 at number 41. Sweetnam’s elevation in November was helped by a win and a fourth placing with Chaqui Z at the four-star Word Cup meetings in Lexington and Toronto respectively.

Billy Twomey makes a positive move of four places to number 44 following second placings with both Diaghilev and Ardcolum Duke at CSI5*-W Verona.

Completing Ireland’s representation in the top 50 is Richie Moloney, who notched up a win and two runner-up positions at CSI4*-W Lexington as well as five other points-scoring performances since the beginning of November. Moloney is now ranked 50th, up from 58th last month.

Further down the rankings Kevin Babington climbed from 206th to 138th after a lucrative November which included victory in the Thermal Grand Prix in California with Shorapur.

Germany’s Christian Ahlmann remains at the head of the Longines FEI World Rankings, with French rider Simon Delestre retaining second place. Daniel Deusser of Germany has moved into 3rd, replacing American McLain Ward who has dropped to 5th behind compatriot Kent Farrington.

Mike Dunne

Longines FEI World Rankings

1. Christian Ahlmann (GER)
2. Simon Delestre (FRA)
3. Daniel Deusser (GER)
4. Kent Farrington (USA)
5. McLain Ward (USA)
6. Eric Lamaze (CAN)
7.Marcus Ehning (GER)
8. Kevin Staut (FRA)
9. Penelope Leprovost (FRA)
10. Steve Guerdat (SUI)

Irish riders in top 200 (last month’s position in brackets)
21. Bertram Allen (17)
27. Denis Lynch (21)
35. Darragh Kenny (37)
36. Conor Swail (33)
38. Cian O’Connor (40)
41. Shane Sweetnam (51)
44. Billy Twomey (48)
50. Richie Moloney (58)
84. Daniel Coyle (84)
108. Anthony Condon (108)
138. Kevin Babington (206)
142. Dermott Lennon (124)
164. Greg Broderick (161)
186. Marion Hughes (186)
=190. Cameron Hanley (148)