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

Wednesday, 14 December 2022
CHI Geneva 2022

We look back at all the action during and after the jump-off of the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, the last Major of the year in the Rolex Grand Prix of Show Jumping. 

First out, Simon Delestre's Cayman Jolly Jumper is simply a magical little horse! The two impressed again, with a double clear round and 5th place finish for this very special son of the legendary Hickstead. The future certainly looks bright for these two. 

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

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ Daniel Deusser came to Geneva as the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping live contender, but had to settle for the 6th place this time around with Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z after finishing more than four seconds behind the winning time.

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ Team DD.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ Another German jumping double clear was Andre Thieme, who finished 9th with DSP Chakaria.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ What a year these two have had! Andreas Schou and Darc de Lux finished off 2022 with a 8th place in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva after being double clear.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ Ben Maher was first to go in the jump-off, and had one rail down on the oxer as fence no. three, but there is lots to look forward to with the talented 9-year-old mare Dallas Vegas Batilly.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ Celebrations for Simon Delestre and his team.

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ Julien Epaillard hugs Delestre's wife Magali Jacquet after Cayman Jolly Jumper's clear jump-off, that saw the pair go into the lead.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ What a rider 24-year-old Gilles Thomas is...

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ ...fourth with Calleryama after two beautiful clear rounds!

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ Scuderia 1918 Viking d’La Rousserie clips the back rail on the third oxer in the jump-off, eventually finishing on eight faults with Kevin Staut in the saddle.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ Christian Ahlmann and Dominator 2000 Z had to add four faults to their final score in the jump-off, ending 11th.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ “I think I’m incredibly lucky to have him,” Sweetnam said of James Kann Cruz after finishing third. “I got him last year as an 8-year-old, he is Irish-bred by the Connollys in Galway. We have had a great partnership from the start. Like I said, the reason I came to this show – because it is such a special show – you see the standard is incredible, the horses are all special and the riders are all at the top of their game, but I feel with this horse that I can really compete with these guys.”

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ A big smile on Elian Baumann's face after a double clear with Little Lumpi E. The Swiss pair ended 7th in the Rolex Grand Prix.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ “Leone Jei always jumps great in this ring and I knew that the course suited me well. In the jump-off, I tried to take all the risk I could to make the triple – but then Mclain had a different idea for today,” Fuchs said after coming so close to take his third Grand Prix title in a row at CHI Geneva.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ It felt as if the walls would come of Palexpo as Fuchs crossed the finish line with Leone Jei in an unbelievable time of 39.77 seconds, with a thundering applause unlike anything we have ever heard. It was a magical moment as the two received a standing ovation from the crowds for their performance.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ But, Fuchs still had two to come behind him...

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ Celebrations for Team Fuchs!

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ Swiss Chef d'Equipe Michel Sorg getting emotional after Martin Fuchs' incredible jump-off.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ Despite giving it a good shot, Daniel Bluman could not do anything about Martin Fuchs and finished on four faults in the jump-off with Ladriano Z.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ No one is ever safe with Mclain Ward as last to go in a jump-off... Here Ward and HH Azur over the second fence of the jump-off, where they had caught up with Fuchs and Leone Jei doing seven strides. From there on, they were ahead on the clock.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ With an absolutely unbelievable jump-off, that probably will go into the history books as one of the best that has ever been done, Ward managed to shave off 1.34 seconds on Martin Fuchs' time.

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ Celebrations for Ward's team.

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ A big hug from Francois Mathy, co-owner of HH Azur, and as Ward said "like a father to me".

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ All the emotions...

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ Sportsmanship: Despite being beaten, Martin Fuchs wore a big smile!

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ Lee McKeever, who has worked with Ward for over thirty years, takes a moment with Annie and Virgine Casterman.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ Sean Vard with super-star Leone Jei.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ It wasn't to be for live contender Daniel Deusser.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ The CHI Geneva mascot stealing the show.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ The top three grooms: Virginie Casterman, Sean Vard and Maria Israelsson.

Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ The top three of the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva.

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ Magic being made at CHI Geneva!



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