As the fastest duo in a jump-off of eleven, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and his trustworthy 13-year-old gelding Leone Jei (Baltic VDL x Corland) won the CSIO5* 1.60m €1,500,000 Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen 2025.
This prestigious Grand Prix is one of the four Majors in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, and Fuchs is now the series’ new Live Contender ahead of the next stop at Spruce Meadows where he and Leone Jei won the Grand Prix both in 2024 and 2023.
The Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen is jumped over two rounds, and a jump-off, and as per tradition it was Germany's Frank Rothenberger who built the courses at Soers. The first rider to solve all the questions asked by Rothenberger during the 14-fence track in round one was also the rider who would end up as the winner; Martin Fuchs as start no. 7 in the ring.
After a week of unpredictable weather with everything from intense heat and sun, to scattered thunderstorms and showers, the temperatures dropped on Sunday, and it started to pour down. Shorts and sunglasses were changed to rain jackets, wellies and umbrellas – but the weather could not dampen the atmosphere at Soers, where the crowds had gathered for the highlight of the week which would bring six days of jumping to an exciting conclusion.
And with these photos, we look back at the first round of Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.
If you do this sport, you know that you have to pack for all kinds of weather wherever you go – regardless of the forecast – as it will usually end up like this sooner or later.
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The crowd at Soers is resilient and brought out rain gear and umbrellas for Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix.
First out in the wet weather was last year's winner Andre Thieme, who this year rode Paule S in the Grand Prix. The two did a good job as pathfinders and had only a rail on the Turkish Airlines oxer at no. 9 down, to end on four faults.
Sandra Auffarth and Quirici H left all the poles up, but had to see a time penalty added to their score.
The first to post a clear round were Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei.
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Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga vh Dingeshof were the second pair to jump clear.
With only one rail down, Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo impressed in their Aachen debut.
This prestigious Grand Prix is one of the four Majors in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. The first Major of the year was jumped at The Dutch Masters in Den Bosch, Aachen was the second, while the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' is the third and Geneva the fourth and last.
Olivier Robert and Iglesias D.V. getting ready to go...
...posting the third clear of the first round.
Steve Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme brought the number of clears up to four.
In 2022, Gerrit Nieberg won the Aachen Grand Prix with Ben. This year he rode the super-cute Ping Pong van de Lentamel, and with a clear in round one, the two lit up Soers.
Scott Brash is the only rider to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. This time around, he had to settle for four faults and was left out of round two.
After a dramatic fall in Thursday's Nations Cup, Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio came back strong to jump clear in round one of the Grand Prix.
United Touch S doing what he does best...
...jumping clear with Richard Vogel.
Emilie Conter did her Aachen-debut and really impressed with Portobella van de Fruitkorf, jumping clear in the first round of the Grand Prix after also having delivered a strong performance in the Nations Cup for Belgium.
Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair turned the home hopes up with a clear round.
Only 20, and so impressive: Tom Wachman rode a great first round with Tabasco de Toxandria Z to end up with three time penalties.
At the other end of the scale, Laura Kraut will turn 60 later this year, but is still going strong. Kraut delivered a fabulous clear with Baloutinue, as one of three U.S. riders moving on to round two.
Gregory Wathelet and Bond Jamesbond de Hay had the plank at no. 10 down, but were fast enough to make it into the 18 horse-and-rider combinations that moved on to round two.
Luciana Diniz thanks Vertigo du Desert after a round of eight faults.
The world's leading U25 rider was on fire in Aachen, and impressed again and again. Here, Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour jumps clear in round one of the Grand Prix.
Olympic champions Christian Kukuk and Checker made light work of the course, jumping a clear round.
Lillie Keenan had a fantastic show at the 2025-edition of CHIO Aachen. Here, she's on her way to a clear in the first round of the Rolex Grand Prix with Fasther.
McLain Ward did not have luck on his side, and like so many others, he had to see a rail fall in the triple combination at no. 4abc.
World no. one Kent Farrington thanks Greya after a clear round, one of three for USA.
As the last pair out in round one, Ben Maher and Point Break clipped a rail in the middle of the triple combination but quickly turned the speed up so that they were able to join the 18 pairs that moved on to round two of the Rolex Grand Prix.
Then