The Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters in 's-Hertogenbosch turned into a battle between the best of the best. With a field of 35 world-class riders at start, who all had brought their absolutely best horses for the occasion, the Grand Prix was a real treat to watch. "I would not like to have the job of the course designer, it's a very tough job," world no. one Henrik von Eckermann – who ended third with his double world champion King Edward – said about Louis Konickx's course that in the end resulted in sixteen clear rounds. "The problem is, with this field that we had today, absolutely the best of the best, you have the feeling you almost have to go around and think 'this is impossible to jump' and then you would maybe have three-four clears," von Eckermann continued to explain about the quality of the line-up.
One of the sixteen to go clear was Steve Guerdat who has built up a new super-star; the 10-year-old mare Dynamix de Belheme. The bay, little, mare made the huge course look easy, jumping a double clear round to finish 4th. This is definitely a pair we will see on many podiums in the future!
And with this, we look back at the thrills and the few spills in Sunday's 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix worth a staggering €1,000,000.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Louis Konickx’s thirteen-fence track looked like a hard nut to crack as the Rolex Grand Prix got underway in a packed Brabanthallen. As first to go, Daniel Deusser – last year’s winner in Den Bosch – retired Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z after a hard landing on the back bar of the c-element of the triple combination.
Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson had to see two poles fall to the ground, one of them in the triple combination – which caught out many of the riders.
The first to leave all the jumps intact was Wilm Vermeir and IQ van het Steentje, but unfortunately the two recorded one time penalty.
Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward impressed again, and jumped the first clear of the Grand Prix.
Julien Epaillard – world no. three – secured a jump-off when delivering a fantastic clear on his home-bred Donatello d’Auge.
It was packed in Brabanthallen for the Rolex Grand Prix, the first Major of the year in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
Martin Fuchs and his lovely Leone Jei posted the third clear of the Grand Prix, and from there on the clears followed like pearls on a string.
All eyes were on these two: Mclain Ward and HH Azur came to The Dutch Masters as Live Contenders after winning the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva three months ago.
Gerrit Nieberg won the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen last year with Ben, this time around he joined the jump-off with Blues d’Aveline CH.
Willem Greve and Grandorado TN N.O.P. won Friday's VDL Groep Prize, and were one of the favourites ahead of the Grand Prix. They jumped a clear first round, but in the jump-off three poles fell to the ground.
Only two female riders competed in the Grand Prix, and as one of them Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann qualified for the jump-off with her wonderful Messi van't Ruytershof.
Marc Houtzager and Holy Moley were one of three Dutch pairs making it to the jump-off.
Despite their relatively new partnership, Balou du Reventon and Harry Charles made the course look easy and delivered a clear round.
Olivier Philippaerts and H&M Legend of Love taking it all in. The pair finished with two rails down.
Joe Stockdale and Equine America Cacharel impressed again, and qualified for the jump-off.
At the age of 17, Catch Me Not S is still going strong and jumped a clear round with Peder Fredricson to qualify for the jump-off.
Kevin Staut and Viking d’La Rousserie en route to a clear round, and the jump-off.
Cayman Jolly Jumper is just something else! The tiny gelding made light work of the course, joining the jump-off with Simon Delestre.
Marcus Ehning and Priam du Rouet were the 15th pair to jump clear.
As last to go, Dutch rising star Lars Kersten impressed with his home-bred Hallilea and jumped a clear round – making it sixteen for the jump-off.
Then