Tag Archives: Longines Rankings

FEI, Show Jumping

German Olympian Daniel Deusser Takes Longines World Number One Slot

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Photo: Daniel Deusser. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

Olympic bronze medallist Daniel Deusser (GER) is back in the number one spot in the Longines Rankings for the third time. He takes over at the top with a total of 3,385 points.

Deusser, a member of the German squad that took team bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, was lying second at the end of the previous rankings period just 25 points behind 2012 Olympic champion, Steve Guerdat (SUI), who has held the position since February 2020.

Deusser is no stranger to being world number one. In 2017 he took over pole position from fellow-countryman Christian Ahlmann who had enjoyed a lengthy period at the top and in 2015, Deusser broke the 16-month reign of Scott Brash (GBR).

Based in Belgium, Deusser was part of the silver medal winning team at the Longines FEI European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam (NED), just pipped at the last fence by Belgium. He was also part of the silver medal winning teams at the European Championships in 2013 and 2015.

With his loyal stallion Cornet d’Amour, Deusser won the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Lyon (FRA) in 2014 and finished third in Gothenburg (SWE) in 2016.

As the equestrian calendar starts opening up again, the new rankings reflect some strong points-earning performances, with Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs staying in third position on 3,101, Ben Maher (GBR) up into fourth on 3,008 ahead of Kent Farrington (USA) and Scott Brash (GBR). Sweden’s Peder Fredricson has dropped from fourth to seventh, ahead of Ireland’s Darragh Kenny. McLain Ward (USA) and Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) make up the top 10 with just three points between them.

The full Longines Rankings list is published here.

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

FEI, Olympic Games, Show Jumping

FEI Tribunal Dismisses Athlete Appeals on Villeneuve-Loubet Decision

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An appeal against the FEI decision to annul results from competitions held in France where Olympic and Longines Ranking points were on offer has been dismissed by the FEI Tribunal.

The appeals by Sri Lanka’s Mathilda Karlsson and Romanian athlete Andrea Herck, which were consolidated by the FEI Tribunal, resulted from the international governing body’s decision in February of this year to retrospectively remove six competitions from three FEI Jumping Events held in Villeneuve-Loubet in December 2019 and a further six competitions from three events at the same venue in January 2020.

The decision was based on the findings from an investigation launched by the FEI after concerns were raised about the integrity of these events. The investigation established that, contrary to the FEI Rules (Article 110.2.3 of the FEI General Regulations), two competitions counting for the Olympic and Longines Rankings were added at each of the three December 2019 events after the respective Definite Entries deadlines. The updated Schedules for these events were submitted by the French National Federation and were mistakenly approved by the FEI.

As a result, and in accordance with Article 112.3 of the FEI General Regulations, the FEI retrospectively removed these additional competitions, meaning that athletes who participated lost their ranking points from these competitions. The decision meant that the Olympic and Longines Rankings were updated, resulting in Mathilda Karlsson dropping from second to seventh in the Group G Olympic Rankings and Sri Lanka losing its Olympic individual quota slot.

Additionally, the FEI established that three of the six events at Villeneuve-Loubet in January 2020 also had two classes counting for Longines Rankings points added after the Definite Entries deadline, again contrary to the FEI Rules. As a result, these additional competitions were also removed retrospectively and athletes that participated lost their ranking points for these competitions. Andrea Herck’s appeal was based on the loss of Longines Ranking points following the removal of the additional competitions at Villeneuve-Loubet.

In its Final Decision, the Tribunal found that the integrity of the sport had been jeopardised and therefore ruled that “justified circumstances” existed which allowed the FEI Secretary General to make the decision to remove the competitions and annul the Olympic and Longines ranking points from these competitions.

The FEI Tribunal, which is an independent body, ruled that the FEI’s decision of 17 February 2020 to remove the competitions was “rightfully taken” and dismissed the appeals. Each party will pay their own costs in the proceedings.

“This is an important decision to ensure the integrity of the sport, and particularly the Olympic and Longines Rankings,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.

The parties have 21 days from the date of notification (16 June 2020) to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The full Decision is available here.

FEI media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Communications
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Olga Nikolaou
Media Relations Officer
olga.nikolaou@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 56

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping

Swiss Olympian Martin Fuchs Launches into 2020 as World Number One

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Martin Fuchs and The Sinner. (FEI/Liz Gregg)

Olympic athlete Martin Fuchs (SUI) has moved to the top of the Longines Rankings for the first time in his career, overtaking compatriot Steve Guerdat who held the number one position for a year.

Martin Fuchs (27), now out in front with 3,483 points, has been hot on the heels of Guerdat since August last year and finished 2019 with a string of inspirational performances including his impressive Grand Prix victory on home turf at the CSI5* at Geneva and, a week later, taking the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ leg at Olympia in December, 29 years after his father Thomas won at the London venue.

“It’s fantastic, really great, but I must say that my biggest success as number one doesn’t reflect just one show or one event. It’s a combination of everything,” Martin Fuchs said. “It’s really nice after such a great year in 2019 to start 2020 as the world number one. I am so proud and so fortunate at this young age to be able to have such success already and I am looking forward to a great year ahead.”

Fuchs’ first major victory was team gold at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, and he went on to make his senior Olympic debut at the Rio 2016 Games with his brilliant grey gelding Clooney 51.

Fuchs has achieved podium finishes at the last three major Championships, including individual silver at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Tryon (USA) and helping the Swiss team to fourth to earn a team quota place at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Games.

He finished as runner-up to Guerdat at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg (SWE) in April and was crowned European Champion together with his faithful partner Clooney 51 at the Longines FEI Jumping European Championships in Rotterdam in August, becoming the sixth Swiss Jumping athlete in the 62-year history of the event to claim individual gold.

Other important results for the Swiss athlete include victory at the 10th leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2018/2019 Western European League at Basel (SUI) and at the third leg of the 2019/2020 season in Lyon, both of them with Clooney 51, while Chaplin was his Grand Prix winning co-star at the CSI5* GCT/GCL n Madrid (ESP) in May and in Cascais, Estoril (POR) the following month.

After his Olympia triumph with The Sinner, Fuchs moved up to fourth on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ leaderboard to book his ticket for the 2020 Final in Las Vegas (USA) next April.

Five athletes have maintained their positions in the top 10, with Daniel Deusser (GER) remaining third, Ben Maher (GBR) fourth, Beezie Madden (USA) seventh, Darragh Kenny (IRL) eighth, and Henrik Von Eckermann (SWE) 10th. Peder Fredrickson (SWE) has moved to fifth after overtaking Pieter Devos (BEL), while Kent Farrington (USA) was the new entry in the top 10, moving up from 11th to ninth.

About Martin Fuchs

Martin Fuchs’ early results in international competitions demonstrated that a new star was born in Jumping, as he finished second at the FEI Jumping European Championship for Children in Istanbul (TUR) in 2006 with Vasco IV and third for two consecutive years at the FEI Jumping European Championship for Juniors in Auvers (FRA) in 2007 and in Praha (CZE) in 2008 with Karin II CH.

After competing in numerous international events, he won team gold at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games and, six years later, was a member of the Swiss team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where he was ninth in the individual standings and his team sixth.

Other remarkable moments in his career were individual silver with Clooney 51 at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 and second place at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Final 2019 in Gothenburg (SWE).

Olga Nikolaou
Media Relations Officer
olga.nikolaou@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 56

FEI, Show Jumping

Swiss Olympic Champion Guerdat Back to World Number One in Longines Rankings

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Lausanne (SUI), 2 January 2019 – Steve Guerdat, the Swiss star who took individual Jumping gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, has reclaimed the world number one slot in the Longines Rankings.

The 36-year-old, who was previously 140 points off the lead in second place behind Harrie Smolders, has now jumped ahead of the Dutch athlete with a 55-point advantage in the rankings published today by the FEI.

The four-time Olympian last topped the world rankings in November 2012 and his return to the number one slot, on 3,050 points, follows a series of impressive results last month, most notably an emotional victory in the IJRC Top 10 Final on home turf at Geneva.

Individual bronze medallist at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 last September, Guerdat also leads the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League standings and will be aiming for a third victory in the seasonal Final at Gothenburg (SWE) in April after back-to-back wins in 2015 and 2016.

Germany’s Marcus Ehning, fourth in the rankings published at the beginning of December, has now switched places with McLain Ward (USA) to sit third on 2,936 points, 59 adrift of Smolders and just 16 clear of Ward. European champion Peder Fredricson (SWE) remains fifth on 2,815.

Daniel Deusser (GER), Ben Maher (GBR), Henrick von Eckermann (SWE), Beezie Madden (USA) and Guerdat’s compatriot Martin Fuchs (SUI) complete the top 10.

View the complete Longines Rankings here.

Grania Willis
Director Communications
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

FEI, Show Jumping

USA Olympian Kent Farrington Debuts in Longines World Number One Slot

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Kent Farrington en route to team silver with Voyeur at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (FEI/Richard Julliart)

Lausanne (SUI), 4 May 2017 – Olympic silver medallist Kent Farrington (USA) has overtaken compatriot McLain Ward to jump up to the number one spot in the Longines Rankings for the first time.

Farrington, a member of the US squad that took team silver at last year’s Rio Olympic Games, was lying second in the previous rankings, separated from his fellow American by just 23 points. But the 36-year-old, who has featured prominently in the rankings since 2013, has had a great run of form recently, with a 5* victory in Antwerp with Sherkan D’Amaury, and a win in Miami and second in Shanghai with Creedance boosting his points tally to 3,255 to finally clinch the coveted world number one slot.

Ward, whose sensational win at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Finals in Omaha had put him on top of the world in the April rankings, has now slid back to second on 3018, 37 points adrift of Farrington, with Germany’s Daniel Deusser closing the gap in third on 3010.

Farrington is based in Wellington, Florida and has built up a strong string of 5* horses. He is a five-time FEI World Cup™ Jumping finalist and was just outside the individual medals in Rio when finishing fifth at the first ever Olympic Games to be hosted in South America.

Farrington also won team bronze at the Toronto 2015 Pan-American Games, team bronze at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy and team gold at the 2011 Pan-Am Games in Guadalajara.

Press contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Newly Crowned FEI World Cup Champion McLain Ward Moves to World Number One

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McLain Ward with HH Azur (Liz Gregg/FEI)

McLain Ward (USA), the newly crowned Longines FEI World Cup™ champion and two-time Olympic team gold medallist, has reclaimed the world number one spot in the Longines Rankings.

“It is always a great honour to be number one. It reflects the consistency at the top level that we all strive for. Being named number one in the Longines Rankings immediately after my World Cup win is just a great feeling!” — McLain Ward

Ward and his 2016 Olympic mount HH Azur clinched victory at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Finals in Omaha (USA) last Sunday, bringing the 2016/17 season to a fairytale close and boosting Ward up from fourth to the number one spot in the Longines Rankings.

He replaces Germany’s Daniel Deusser, who has held pole position since January and now drops back to third. Fellow US Olympic teammate, Kent Farrington, remains in second, with Christian Ahlmann (GER) dropping from third to fourth and Eric Lamaze (CAN) holding onto fifth place.

Ward made his Olympic debut at Athens 2004 when he was a member of the US gold medal-winning team. He earned a second Olympic team gold at the Beijing 2008 Games, and finished sixth individually at London 2012. Ward also won individual gold and team bronze at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games with Rothchild.

Despite announcing his retirement in April 2016, two months later Ward took over as world number one from French Olympian, Simon Delestre. Heading into the Rio Olympic Games in incredible form, Ward and HH Azur were foot-perfect throughout to help the US to team silver.

Press contact:

At FEI:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations & Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping

Daniel Deusser New World Number One in Longines Rankings

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Daniel Deusser (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

Lausanne (SUI), 4 January 2017 – Germany’s Daniel Deusser goes into 2017 as the new world number one in the Longines rankings, overtaking fellow-countryman Christian Ahlmann who has enjoyed a lengthy period in pole position. And America’s Kent Farrington (3rd) and McLain Ward (4th) have relegated Simon Delestre to fifth spot ahead of his French compatriot Kevin Staut. Germany’s Marcus Ehning remains in seventh place while Canada’s Rio Olympic individual bronze medallist Eric Lamaze has slipped slightly from sixth to eighth.

Deusser was lying third at the end of the previous rankings period, and a great run during the London International Horse Show at Olympia just before Christmas where he won the Grand Prix with Equita van T Zorgvliet, has helped promote him to the top slot. With 3,076 points, the 35-year-old heads Ahlmann by a full 70 points (3,006), while Farrington (2,950) just shades Ward (2,940). There has been little dramatic change in the top 10, although Frenchwoman Penelope Leprevost has dropped one place to 10th, while former world number one, Great Britain’s Scott Brash, has moved back into the top 10, up from 13th to ninth spot.

The new rankings reflect some super-competitive performances from riders who have the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2017 Final in Omaha, Nebraska (USA) in their sights. Deusser, who took the 2014 title and who, along with Ahlmann, was a member of the bronze medal winning German side at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, still has some work to do to earn his place on the starting blocks at the Final.

Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, 11th in the New Year rankings list, will be going for a back-to-back hat-trick of Longines titles when the Final gets underway on 27 March.

View full Longines Rankings here.

FEI Media Contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

FEI, Show Jumping

Simon Delestre Regains Top Spot in Longines Rankings

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Simon Delestre, pictured in the first round of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final 2016 in Gothenburg (SWE). FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst

Lausanne (SUI), 5 July 2016 – Olympic athlete Simon Delestre is back as world number one, having leapt to the top of the Longines Rankings, the world Jumping rankings.

The Frenchman took over the number one slot in March of this year from London 2012 Olympic team gold medalist Scott Brash, ending the Briton’s 11-month reign at the top of the leaderboard.

Three-time Olympian McLain Ward (USA), who held pole position in last month’s Longines rankings, now drops back to third behind Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, who is just 21 points behind Delestre.

Rio in sight

The French superstar Delestre was recently named with two horses, Qlassic Bois Margot and Ryan des Hayettes, on the long list for the French team for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, now just 31 days away. Also named for the French squad was world number four Pénélope Leprevost with horses Vagabond de la Pomme and Flora de Mariposa.

View full Longines Rankings here.

Simon Delestre – early career

Simon Delestre has been lived and breathed equestrian sport since his childhood, when he watched his father Marcel compete.

His father, a national pony Jumping coach, and his close relationship with the pony Panama Cassou, owned by the French National Stud, were key to Delestre’s early career success. He won back-to-back national pony Jumping championships in 1994 and 1995. In 1999, he scored individual gold at the French Junior Championships and team bronze at the FEI European Junior Jumping Championships. The following year, he won team gold at the FEI European Jumping Championships for Young Riders and in 2009 stood top of the individual podium at the Mediterranean Games.

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping

Two-Time Olympic Gold Medallist McLain Ward Tops Longines Rankings

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McLain Ward with Rothchild during the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games (FEI/Eric Knoll).

Lausanne (SUI), 3 June 2016 – American Olympic champion McLain Ward has shot from fourth to the top of the Longines Rankings, the world Jumping rankings.

France’s Simon Delestre, who competed at his first Olympic Games at London 2012 and had held the world number one spot since March, is now second, with Germany’s three-time Olympian Christian Ahlmann close behind in third.

France’s Penelope Leprevost, who made her Olympic début at London 2012, is now fourth, with Great Britain’s Scott Brash, who helped Great Britain to team gold at London 2012, now fifth.

McLain Ward was recently named on the short list with both horses HH Azur and Rothchild for the USA Olympic Jumping Team for Rio 2016.

“We are thrilled for McLain, his owners, and his support team. He is an extremely talented rider who produces horses with care and attention to detail. This is wonderful recognition and a great boost for U.S. show jumping.” said Robert Ridland, USA Chef d’Equipe.

About McLain Ward

Ward first competed at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, winning team gold. He went on to win team gold again at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games, and finished sixth individually at London 2012. Ward also won individual gold and team bronze at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

He was encouraged to ride from an early age, and at 14 became the youngest rider to win the United States Equestrian Team’s (USET) Show Jumping Talent Derby. Ten weeks later he became the youngest rider to win the USET Medal Finals and the first rider to win both titles in the same year. This early success led to him earning the nickname ‘The Kid’.

McLain’s father Barney won the 1982 Grand Prix of Devon in Pennsylvania, United States of America, 20 years to the day before his son claimed victory in the same competition.

View full Longines Rankings here.

Media Contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping

Simon Delestre Jumps to Top of Longines Rankings

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Simon Delestre (FRA), the new world Jumping number one at the top of the Longines Rankings, pictured on the stallion Qlassic Bois Margot in Bordeaux (FRA), last qualifier of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League before the Final in Sweden. (FEI/Eric Knoll)

Lausanne (SUI), 2 March 2016 – France’s Olympic athlete Simon Delestre has jumped to the top of the Longines Rankings, the world Jumping rankings, breaking the 11-month run of Great Britain’s Scott Brash, now world number two.

Delestre, who competed at his first Olympic Games at London 2012 with Napoli Du Ry, scored individual bronze at the FEI European Jumping Championships 2015 in Aachen (GER) and team silver at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014.

Gothenburg calling

The 34-year-old from Metz (FRA), who finished second in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League standings, has earned his spot at the prestigious Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Gothenburg (SWE) on 23-28 March, which starts on the day marking 135 days to go to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

He has made it to two FEI World Cup™ Jumping Finals, in 2014 in Lyon and 2011 in Leipzig, and is now in pole position for this year’s Final.

Delestre, who has a 23-point lead over Brash, is now top of a leaderboard featuring world number three Kent Farrington (USA), who recently won the inaugural Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League on the East Coast, and new world number four and three-time Olympian McClain Ward (USA).

View full Longines Rankings here.

Simon Delestre – early career

Simon Delestre has been immersed in equestrian sport since his childhood, when he watched his father Marcel compete.

His father, a national pony Jumping coach, and his close relationship with the pony Panama Cassou, owned by the French National Stud, were key to Delestre’s early career success. He won the national pony Jumping championships twice in a row in 1994 and 1995. In 1999, he scored individual gold at the French Junior Championships and team bronze at the FEI European Junior Jumping Championships. The following year, he won team gold at the FEI European Jumping Championships for Young Riders and in 2009 he finished top of the individual podium at the Mediterranean Games.

FEI Media contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46