Show Jumping - Teenager Allen Breaks Through Into World's Top 20 Rank

Bertram Allen has broken through into the top 20 of the world's show jumping rankings for the first time, entering this week at number 17.

In the official Longines rankings published last night (Friday) by the world governing body, a massive jump of 15 places from his previous position has confirmed the 19 year-old Wexford rider's status amongst the sport's elite.

Allen's performances this year have been remarkable, and last month he continued his top form with a third place in the five-star Swiss Grand Prix at Lausanne with the stallion Romanov, having also finished seventh in the World Individual Jumping Championships in Normandy, France at the beginning of September, with Molly Malone.

Tipperary's Denis Lynch is next best of the irish in the Longines world rankings, improving six places to number 29, while Offaly's Darragh Kenny has also improved by six places to register at 36th in the top 100.

Cameron Hanley, Shane Breen and Conor Swail appear at 56th, 57th and 58th respectively, while Billy Twomey is in 64th place.

US-based Shane Sweetnam holds 66th position in the rankings, with Richie Moloney, another Irish export to the US, in 88th place.

The Longines World Show Jumping rankings measure the performances of over 2,000 international riders each month, and the current leader is Britain's Scott Brash, with Germany's Ludger Beerbaum in second place.

The rankings are published by the world governing body for the sport, the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) in Lausanne, Switzerland.