Big news broke today, March 2nd 2016 as France’s Simon Delestre became the new Longines FEI Rankings World No. 1 rider, upsetting the nearly 12-month streak from former World No. 1 rider Scott Brash of Great Britain. Brash, who had been ranked at No. 1 for 26 non-consecutive months, reigned over the sport of show jumping throughout 2015 and 2014. With his string of top horses and the achievement of the Rolex Grand Slam in September 2015, Brash’s many victories kept him on top of the rankings.
However, in the second half of 2015, Delestre climbed steadily up the rankings, winning Individual Bronze at the European Championships, and top placings during the end of 2015 at Paris Masters CSI5* and CHI Geneva CSI5* and Olympia CSI5*. He has continued his success in the early months of 2016, jumping in top form at Basel CSI5* and Bordeaux CSI5*. Those finishes came during a time when Brash has devoted his schedule to concentrating on the development of his young horses on the Oliva Nova MET circuit in Spain.
It’s no coincidence that Brash also fell to World No. 2 during this month last year; the British star and London Olympic Gold Medalist conceded his World No. 1 position to Daniel Deusser of Germany last March, only to gain it back the following month.
It’s true that just 23 points separate the new World No. 1 rider Delestre and Brash, and with Brash planning to turn his attention back to the five star circuit, it may be a brief hold on the World. No. 1 position for France. Full rankings are here.
Longines FEI World Rankings Top 30 – As of 3/2/2016