SAM Watson became the first ever Irish event rider to break into the world’s top 10 when the September FEI world rankings were released this week. All four members of last month’s World Equestrian Games silver medal-winning Irish team now lie inside the top 35.

Co Carlow-based Watson, who also runs the data analysis company EquiRatings, has made a huge jump of 20 places to lie in 10th place, the first Irish rider to break that top-10 barrier. Individual medal-winner Padraig McCarthy has made an even bigger jump of 43 places to 17th place, while 22-year-old Cathal Daniels is in 22nd place.

Incredibly, Sarah Ennis’ performances in the last month and her fifth place individual finish at WEG sees her rise 79 places from 114th to 35th place. Britain’s Oliver Townend, although not part of the golden team at WEG, remains as the world number one.

Double world champion Rosalind Canter moved to second place, just 13 points behind Townend. New Zealand’s Tim Price has moved down one place to third.

In the show jumping rankings, Ireland have seven riders in the top 50. Co Cork’s Shane Sweetnam has moved up seven places to become the highest ranked in 20th place. Darragh Kenny is up five places to 24th, just ahead of Bertram Allen who has slipped two places to 26th.

Daniel Coyle is down one place to 30th, and Denis Lynch has slipped 13 places to 37th. Cameron Hanley (47th) and Richie Moloney (48th) round out the Irish in top 50.

For the first time in the dressage history, a USA combination tops the rankings. WEG silver medallist Laura Graves and Verdades overtook Germany’s Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD by a single point.

Werth opted to bring Bella Rose, now place fourth, to Tryon instead of the experienced Weihegold OLD.