By Emily Goddard

Adelinde_Cornelissen_NED_13-07-11July 24 - Adelinde Cornelissen of the Netherlands and her 14-year-old gelding, Jerich Parzival, have knocked compatriot Edward Gal and his super-stallion Totilas off the world's number one slot in the dressage rankings after a supreme reign of 19 months from December 2009.


With 2,578 points, the Dutch combination has moved up to claim the top spot on the FEI World Dressage Riders' Ranking List, followed by British duo Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris in second place with 2,465 points, and Germany's Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf's Erbe in third place with 2,200 points.

The 31-year-old Cornelissen, who was world number one from September 1 to November 30, 2009, is having an exceptional 2011 season, including victory at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final in April - the first time in her career to claim the World Cup title.

"I would like to congratulate Adelinde on taking over as world number one," said FEI Dressage Committee chairman Frank Kemperman.

"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."

Gal 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, as under the FEI Dressage Riders Ranking List Rules 2009 sold horses will be automatically removed from the list upon notification by the new owner or athlete to the FEI.

The new pairing has come in at 165th in the rankings with 1,108 points to their credit from their four outings last month.

The FEI World Dressage Riders Ranking List is based on percentages scored in international competitions under FEI rules, with 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 as the points from the same month the previous year are dropped from the list.

The full Rankings List can be viewed here.

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