Thrills and spills from the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva 2022, part one

Home hero Martin Fuchs and the magnificent 10-year-old Leone Jei did not disappoint the Swiss crowds. The two came to Geneva to defend their Rolex Grand Prix title from 2021, and were very close to repeating their victory from last year.

Here we look back at all the action from the first round of the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, the last Major of the year in the Rolex Grand Prix of Show Jumping.

Photos © Jenny Abrahamsson and Nanna Nieminen for World of Showjumping.

As first to go, Vilm Vermeir and IQ van het Steentje came very close to posting a clear round but unfortunately the two were maximum unlucky and had the back rail on the last oxer down...

...which was also the case for Harrie Smolders and Monaco.

The first clear in the Rolex Grand Prix came from the relatively new partnership of Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly.

Daniel Deusser came to Geneva as the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping live contender, and with Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z he delivered the second clear in the first round.

Reigning European Champions Andre Thieme and DSP Chakaria had no problems to clear the triple combination, that caught out many, and jumped clear.

Andreas Schou and his super consistent Darc de Lux have had a fantastic year, and crowned it with another clear in the Rolex Grand Prix.

Andreas Schou's wife Jannike West-Schou with online support.

Simon Delestre's little professor Cayman Jolly Jumper seems to have an eye in each hoof – jumping another flawless round after finishing second in Friday’s Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final.

Simon Delestre celebrating with his wife Magali Jacquet.

At only 24, Belgium's rising star Gilles Thomas impressed again with a beautiful clear on Calleryama.

The Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva is one of four Majors in the Rolex Grand Prix of Show Jumping.

Kevin Staut and Scuderia 1918 Viking d’La Rousserie jumped a clear in round one.

Jerome Guery thanks Great Britain V after a round that saw the pair finish on eight faults.

Christian Alhmann and the powerful stallion Dominator 2000 Z had no problems with the course and jumped a clear round.

There is a reason everyone is talking about the 9-year-old James Kann Cruz. The Irish-bred gelding has endless scope and power, and jumped an impressive clear in round one under the guidance of Shane Sweetnam.

It was not Julien Epaillard's weekend in Geneva, and with Caracole de La Roque he finished the Grand Prix with two rails down.

Victor Bettendorf and Mr. Tac before starting their round.

Steve Guerdat and his future super-star Dynamix de Belheme had to see four faults added to their score, but the mare did a very convincing Geneva Grand Prix-debut at only 9-year-old.

Home favourites Elian Baumann and Little Lumpi E made Palexpo explode when posting the first Swiss clear round.

World no. one Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward were one of many pairs caught out by the penultimate double of uprights that came on four forward strides, or five very short, from a big oxer direction of the in-gate, and had to settle for four faults after their win in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final.