Michael Jung is new world number one eventer
German event rider Michael Jung has overtaken British rider William Fox-Pitt to secure the number one spot in the FEI world eventing rankings.
It is the first time the rider has held the position.
In 2012 Michael became the first eventer to hold the European, world and Olympic titles simultaneously after scoring individual and team gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
William, who has held the top spot for the past 12 months, drops to second place.
Michael, who was third in last month’s rankings, has jumped into the lead, 58 points ahead of William. Kiwi rider Jonelle Price drops from second to third.
The change in position follows the German’s win in leg three of the FEI Classics series at the Rolex Kentucky Horse Trials. Michael won the event with the mare FisherRocana FST and finished third on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.
Michael will now be looking to defend his European title, at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships (10-13 September).
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He has claimed team and individual gold at the past two European Championships (2011 and 2013).
Oliver Townend, in fifth place, is the next Brit in the list after William.
After British domination in the rankings of all three Olympic disciplines in the past year, dressage star Charlotte Dujardin is now the only Brit remaining in the number one spot.
Last month (7 April) showjumper Scott Brash lost his spot as the world number one after a reign totalling 16 months.
Germany’s Daniel Deusser rose from number three to become the new world number one.
Scott now stands at number two, with Ludger Beerbaum, also of Germany, dropping one place to third.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.