“It is like a love story, really,” Switzerland’s national treasure Steve Guerdat told World of Showjumping about his emotional connection to the traditional venue at CHI Geneva after winning the 2023 Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in front of a fully packed Palexpo last Friday night. “For all these years, I keep coming back and I have been very lucky to have had a lot of success here. My family and friends are here, and even though every win is special, every win here is even more special.”
Riding the 14-year-old gelding Venard de Cerisy (Open Up Semilly x Djalisco du Guet, bred by Laurent & Gabrielle Vincent), Guerdat took his third Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final-title.
And with this photo special, we look back at the action at Palexpo through the magical lens of Mackenzie Clark.
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Set by Gérard Lachat and Louis Konickx, the first-round track challenged the exceptional starting field of the very best horse-and-rider-combinations in the world with its delicate lines. Second out, Harrie Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. picked up 12 faults. This was also the end result for Max Kühner, who finished 10th behind Smolders in 9th. With a score of four and eight over the two rounds, Julien Epaillard finished 8th – also he on a score of 12 penalties overall.