Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) and the 14-year-old gelding Jerich Parzival have taken over the world number one slot in the Dressage rankings. With 2,578 points, the Dutch combination have moved up to claim the top spot on the FEI World Dressage Riders’ Ranking List. Previously, fellow countryman Edward Gal and the super-stallion Totilas reigned supreme for 19 months from 1 December 2009 to 30 June 2011.

Adelinde and Jerich Parcival are followed in the rankings by British duo Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris on 2,465 points. Ulla Salzgeber (GER) and Herzruf’s Erbe are in third place with 2,200 points.

Thirty-one-year old Adelinde, who was world number one from 1 September to 30 November 2009, is having an exceptional 2011 season, including victory in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Final in April, the first time in her career that the Dutch rider had claimed the World Cup title.

“I would like to congratulate Adelinde on taking over as world number one,” FEI Dressage Committee Chairman Frank Kemperman commented. “She and Parzival have given some very powerful performances this year and I’m very happy that Adelinde is again in the poll position that she so richly deserves.”

Edward Gal (NED) and Totilas remained as the world’s leading combination after the stallion had been sold to Germany until Totilas had made his first competitive outing with new rider, Matthias Alexander Rath. The new pairing have come in at 165th in the Rankings with 1,108 points to their credit from their four outings last month.

Under the FEI Dressage Riders Ranking List Rules 2009, which came into effect on 1 January 2009 and which remain unchanged, sold horses will be automatically removed from the list upon notification by the new owner/athlete to the FEI.

The full Rankings List can be viewed here.

Note to editors:
The FEI World Dressage Riders Ranking List is based on percentages scored in international competitions under FEI rules. The results obtained in a maximum of eight tests per year count. At the end of each month the points earned during that month are added to the list. The points from the same month the previous year are dropped from the list.

The FEI World Dressage Riders Ranking List is based on Horse/Rider combinations. The full Ranking List rules can be viewed here.

Photo caption: Adelinde Cornelissen (NED), the new Dressage number one rider, is pictured here with the FEI World Cup™ Dressage which she won in April. (c) Kit Houghton/FEI