BERTRAM Allen is once again Ireland’s top ranked show jumper despite slipping one place to 21st in the latest FEI Longines World Rankings release this week.

Ireland have five show jumpers currently in the top 50 while USA and Belgium lead the way with six apiece. Allen, who lost his top-ranked position last month to Cian O’Connor, finished fourth in the five-star Grand prix of Barcelona last Sunday, October 1st, and that placing will contribute to his ranking next month.

Double European medallist Cian O’Connor has slipped from 19th to 24th this month. O’Connor saw a big boost after the European Champions and finished 12th in the $3 million CP International Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows last month with Good Luck, who was then ruled out of the Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona.

Denis Lynch remains in 27th place after gaining eight places last month, and Shane Sweetnam, the fourth member of that European winning team, is continuing to rise, up one place to 34th.

Twenty-two-year-old Daniel Coyle is the final Irish rider inside the top 50 in 41st place, a non-mover from last month. Offaly’s Darragh Kenny has slipped 15 places from number 43 to 58.

Shane Breen, a member of the Irish team in Barcelona last weekend, has slipped two places to 60th after making a massive gain of 52 places last month.

For the fifth month in-a-row, America’s Kent Farrington leads the way at number one. The 36-year-old has produced top drawer wins all year and this month won a class at the five-star Spruce Meadows Masters and the three-star Central Park Grand Prix.

His teammate and reigning World Cup champions McLain Ward is back up to number two from third place, and Frenchman Kevin Staut completes the top three.

Judy Reynolds has slipped three places from 16th to 19th in the FEI dressage world rankings. This follows an injury to her top horse Vancouver K which ruled him out of the European Championships. She does however continue to lead the way as Ireland’s highest ranked equestrian athlete.

In eventing, Sam Watson has made another jump in the rankings, up eight places to 39th from 47th. Young rider Cathal Daniels continues to lead the way in 36th, up one spot. Sarah Ennis has slipped five place to number 49.