THREE-time British Olympic medallist Tom McEwen has risen to world number one in the eventing world rankings, taking over from compatriot Ros Canter. Canter held the position for one month in July and now moves to second behind McEwen.

Both athletes were part of Britain’s gold medal-winning team at the Paris Olympic Games two weeks ago. “I really wasn’t expecting this,” McEwen said this week. “Becoming world number one is incredibly exciting, but it’s not all down to me – it’s down to my incredible team at home, who’ve done all the hard work throughout the winter and this summer, all the long journeys and early mornings. I genuinely couldn’t do it without them or my owners, who’ve supported me all year. I also couldn’t do it without all my sponsors and backing. It’s a massive team effort that goes into something so special.

“This has been an amazing year, with the Olympics, so the support I’ve had has been invaluable. It’s very exciting and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

The top three is rounded out with compatriot Oliver Townend. Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier holds onto her fourth position. Laura Collett, the third member of the British Olympic team, has climbed from 25th last month to seventh place. Similarly, an impressive jump was seen with Swiss Felix Vogg as he leaves his position at number 21 to race into the top 10, sitting in eighth position.

The highest ranked Irish event rider in the world is Cork’s Austin O’Connor who has slipped three places to 43rd. Also inside the top 50 is Padraig McCarthy in 49th position.

Sweetnam 11th in the world

In the show jumping world rankings, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann remains as the world number one for the 25th consecutive month. The top five remain the same as Britain’s Ben Maher – who won team gold at the Paris Olympic Games last Friday week – holds on to the number two position, ahead of Austria’s Max Kuhner in third place.

New inside the top 10 is the newly crowned Olympic champion Christian Kukuk of Germany, however the Olympic result is not yet counted in these rankings. The top ranked Irish rider in 11th is Shane Sweetnam, up one place from last month, while his Olympic teammate Daniel Coyle has slipped two places to 13th.

Cian O’Connor has made a big move from 36th place into the top 20 in 18th place thanks to an excellent run of form in July. Darragh Kenny (24th), Denis Lynch (31st) and Richard Howley (42nd) are the other Irish riders within the world’s top 50.

Britain’s Harry Charles – part of the gold medal winning team at the Olympics – continues to lead the under 25 rankings. There are two Irish in the top six; Harry Allen has slipped one place to fourth, while Mikey Pender is ranked number six.