London 2012 Olympic team champion Ben Maher (GBR), who won team gold and individual silver at the P.S.I. FEI European Jumping Championships in Denmark last month, is the new world number one in the Longines Rankings, the FEI World Jumping Riders Rankings, for the first time in his career. This is a spectacular progress for the 30-year old British rider who, with 2,510 points, has advanced from 19th place to claim the top spot.
With a 21-point lead, Maher has taken over from Christian Ahlmann, the German who has led the rankings since December 2012, and is now in fourth place on 2,410 points.
Elizabeth (Beezie) Madden of the United States, the top-ranked female rider, is the runner-up for a second month in a row on 2,489 points, ahead of Germany’s Marcus Ehning in third on 2,450.
Scott Brash, who was also on the British gold medal teams at last month’s FEI European Championships and in London 2012, joins his compatriot in the top 10, having moved up from 25th to ninth place.
Ben Maher took up Jumping at the age of eight and began competing in pony classes while he was still at school. He started training with former British rider Liz Edgar after leaving school, before spending two years with Beat Mändli in Switzerland. He won the FEI Pony European Championships two years in a row (1997 and 1998), and went on to win the FEI Young Rider European Championships in 2004.
In 2005, aged 22, he became the youngest rider to win the iconic Hickstead Derby, and in 2006 was named British Show Jumping’s Best Up And Coming Rider.
Maher made his Olympic debut in 2008 with Rolette. His second Olympic appearance was at London 2012 where, aboard the stallion Tripple X III, he secured team gold with Nick Skelton, Scott Brash and Peter Charles, the first Olympic British Jumping title in 60 years.
Ben Maher, with the 11-year old Belgian Warmblood mare Cella and Tripple X III, has been pivotal in helping Great Britain secure its spot in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final, which takes place in Barcelona (ESP) at the end of this month.
Longines Rankings Top 10
1. Ben MAHER (GBR) – 2,510
2. Elizabeth MADDEN (USA) – 2,489
3. Marcus EHNING (GER) – 2,450
4. Christian AHLMANN (GER) – 2,410
5. Gerco SCHRÖDER (NED) – 2,350
6. Roger Yves BOST (FRA) – 2,330
7. Steve GUERDAT (SUI) – 2,290
8. Kevin STAUT (FRA) – 2,273
9. Scott BRASH (GBR) – 2,212
10. Ludger BEERBAUM (GER) – 2,175
The complete Longines Rankings are available here.
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