Text © World of Showjumping

Saturday night at CHI Geneva concluded with the CSI5* 1.55m Credit Suisse Challenge, where the Dutch 23-year-old Sanne Thijssen and Con Quidam RB (Quinar R x Cardino) were in the league of their own. With a time of 64.82 seconds, the pair took home yet another big win to end their 2021 season in the best possible way. 

"I don't have any words left for him, he is from another planet," Thjissen said about Con Quidam afterwards. "It feels unbelievable to win here, the atmosphere is super. I had a bit of bad luck on the first day, so I am not qualified for the Rolex Grand Prix, but at least we have this now. It was a tough course today, and you could see that because there were quite a lot of mistakes, but everywhere, not on one specific line. It was also quite nice to keep going through this course, I think the course builder did a good job. My plan was not to risk everything, because I saw everyone was making a lot of mistakes, and he is a fast horse naturally. So, I thought if I have a smooth round, I could win this." 

To the delight of the supportive Swiss crowds, Martin Fuch (SUI) and Conner Jei (Connor 48 x Cosimo) took the runner-up position with a time of 68.81 seconds, while Gregory Wathelet (BEL) on Faut-Il Des 7 Vallons (Comme Il Faut x Double Espoir) took the third place. Julien Gonin (FRA) on Caprice de Guinfard (Mylord Carthago x Socrates de Chivre) placed fourth and Nicolas Delmotte (FRA) on Citadin du Chatelier (l'Arc de Triomphe Bois Margot x Diamant de Semilly) fifth. 

Earlier in the day, Nicolas Deseuzes (FRA) and Stella de Preuilly (Baloubet du Rouet x Apache d'Adriers) won the speed and handiness competition Grande Chasse. Barbara Schnieper (SUI) on Escoffier (Lord Z x Numero Uno) placed second and Jean-Maurice Brahier (SUI) on Valencio (Toulon x Hand in Glove F VHJ) third, while fourth went to Julien Gonin (FRA) on Cymba (Radieux x Adelfos) and fifth to Sanne Thijssen (NED) on I'm Here (Carambole x Numero Uno).