BERTRAM Allen is back in the world’s top 20 show jumpers, while Shane Breen made the biggest leap, moving up 12 places and into the top 50 in 47th place.

The Longines world rankings released this week show Ireland beginning the year with six Irish show jumpers in the world top 50, one more than the month of December. Allen’s Grand Prix win in Stockholm, Sweden, as well as his five-star win in Olympia, sees him move up two places to 20.

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Cian O’Connor remains in 24th position, while Denis Lynch is up one place to 25th. Shane Sweetnam is next best, remaining in 38th place for another month, and Daniel Coyle is up just one place to 43rd. Coyle broke into the top 50 in April 2017 and has kept his position since.

Shane Breen closed out an excellent year with strong performance at the Liverpool International Horse Show, which included a win and a number of placings (see A47), and that helped him jump 12 places from number 59 to 47.

America’s Kent Farrington holds the number one spot for the ninth month in a row, while Dutchman Harrie Smolders has moved in to second placed, ahead of McLain Ward.

Kildare’s Judy Reynolds ranks 17th in the dressage rankings, while Carlow’s Sam Watson is the only Irish eventer to feature in the top 50, coming in at 39th place.