Christian Ahlmann (GER), the 2003 double European gold medallist, has held onto the world number one spot in the FEI World Rider Rankings for Jumping – now called the Longines Rankings.

The 38-year-old German jumped into the top spot in December 2012, and a run of successes in January has kept him out in front on 2,585 points, with a healthy 195-point lead over second-placed Steve Guerdat (SUI) who has 2,390 points. Nick Skelton (GBR) remains in third with 2,333 points.

Edwina Alexander-Tops (AUS) is still the top-ranked female and has jumped two spots to fourth with 2,298 points, while the Swiss have a second rider in the top 10, with Pius Schwizer moving up from seventh to fifth on 2,268 points.

Germany also has two riders in the top 10 of the Longines Rankings, although sixth-placed Marcus Ehning has dropped two places.

Christian Ahlmann took up riding at the age of 11 and made his big break onto the international stage in 2003 when he claimed individual and team gold at the European Championships in Donaueschingen (GER).

He was a member of the German bronze medal team at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and also helped secure team bronze at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Aachen (GER) in 2006.