Thrills and spills from the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva 2024

Sunday's CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva – the last Grand Slam Major of the year, worth 1,200,000 Euro – was not short of drama, with the 40 horse-and-rider combinations that had qualified keeping the audience at Palexpo at the edge of their seats throughout the competition with a series of twists and turns as one after the other took on Gerard Lachat and Gregory Bodo's track with various fortunes.

As pathfinders, USA's Karl Cook and Caracole de La Roque had a monumental task ahead of them, and after three poles down and a bit of a scare at the Land Rover oxer at fence no. six the Olympic team silver medallist decided to retire and save his wonderful mare for another day. Cook was not alone, in the end seven other horse-and-rider combinations joined him, while ten jumped clear rounds to proceed to the jump-off.

Here we look back at how the action unfolded in one of the most famed Grand Prix classes in the international showjumping calendar – which is also one of four Majors in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.

CHI Geneva = Christmas.

26-year-old Gilles Thomas inspecting the course.

Scott Brash is the only rider to have ever won the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Daniel Deusser and Steve Guerdat.

Richard Vogel and United Touch came to CHI Geneva to defend their Grand Prix-title from 2023, but with three rails down it was not to be this time around.

Marcus Ehning also got into trouble on the oxer at no. six and retired.

Following straight after Harrie Smolders and Monaco who posted the first clear as 6th into the ring, Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward made sure there would be a jump-off with the second clear of the Grand Prix.

Von Eckermann thanking King Edward.

Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei entered the arena at Palexpo as the Grand Slam live contenders following their win in the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, at Spruce Meadows in September...

...and delivered with a clear round.

It looked like Julien Epaillard and Donatello d’Auge would post the 4th clear of the class, but a rail on the last upright fell to the ground to leave them on four faults.

Lorenzo de Luca and Denver de Talma jumped clear...

...to bring the jump-off up to four.

A single rail on the oxer at no. nine left Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson out of the jump-off.

After a horrible accident with the truck on the way to La Coruña the week prior to Geneva, Yuri Mansur's Vitiki – who seems to rise like a phoenix from the ashes again and again – was back in the ring in the Rolex Grand Prix.

Gregory Wathelet and Bond Jamesbond de Hay posted the 5th clear of the Grand Prix.

Just a tiny time penalty kept Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM out of the jump-off.

Olympic champions Christian Kukuk and Checker had the plank at fence no. four down.

It felt quite unfair when VDL Cartello had a light rail down at the very end of the course, to finish on four faults in his last international start before retirement. Darragh Kenny's long-time partner will now focus on breeding duties after a long and successful career.

Thank you wonderful Cartello!

Giulia Martinengo Marquet delivered a fantastic clear round with the lovely Delta del'Isle.

Point Break is another horse with a great future ahead of him. The stallion jumped clear perfectly guided by Ben Maher.

Almost... Also for Cian O'Connor a rail on the last vertical fell to the ground.

What a horse, what a rider....

His Royal Highness... Ermitage Kalone is on everyone's lips and for good reason. The stallion jumped clear, perfectly ridden by Gilles Thomas who is one of the biggest talents in the world of showjumping.

Unfortunately, it was not the day for home hero Steve Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme who retired after having three poles down along the way. In the end, only two more horse-and-rider combinations jumped clear in round one; Peder Fredricson and Catch Me Not S and McLain Ward and Ilex (below).

Image Description
Image Description

Cuddles for Ermitage.

First out in the jump-off, Harrie Smolders and Monaco did not have the ideal position. “In the jump-off, it is a very difficult spot to go first, especially with all the horses and riders of the highest level coming after me,” Smolders explained about the disadvantage of being the pathfinder. “They are all watching you, they know how to copy you, where to leave out strides to go faster. I took my chances without knowing if it would be enough. Horses with bigger strides, especially in this ring, have a bit of an advantage in a jump-off. There were a few hard turns and the combination with the liverpools left in the jump-off. I went in without seeing anyone else, and I think I put the bar quite high. That is why they took more and more risk and that is where the faults came from.”

Turn and burn. Henrik von Eckermann was in it to win it, but got into trouble on the second fence in the jump-off. In the end, the world no. one finished on a score of eight faults.

One who took all the risk was Martin Fuchs, who hunted his second consecutive Major-win. However, the gamble resulted in a small splash at this oxer – the second fence in the jump-off – and with a total of eight faults the Swiss rider had to settle for 8th place after a tremendous week at CHI Geneva.

Fuchs thanking the Geneva-crowds.

He came in by horse but had to leave by foot. Lorenzo de Luca parted ways with Denver de Talma in the jump-off.

Two rails down was the result for Gregory Wathelet in the jump-off.

Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Delta del'Isle on the other hand kept all the fences intact. “My horse is fantastic, a horse like him can really change your career. My team deserves to experience a day like this. I am sure I could have taken more risk, but I am also sure that I am so happy this way – this is more than I could have ever asked for. I hope to have more chances at these amazing shows, to show what I can do. For today, everything is perfect as it is – I could not be happier," the Italian rider said after finishing second behind Smolders.

A hug for Delta del'Isle.

This time it was a 5th place for Ben Maher and Point Break who had one rail down in the jump-off.

These two... Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone jumped double clear to finish third.

“Seeing Harrie’s round, I straight away thought that it was unbeatable,” Gilles Thomas said after having ended third. “My horse is still young and we don’t really have the experience to go that fast. With not so many clears in the jump-off, I am very happy to be on the podium. Last year, we had a lot of doubt as to whether Ermitage would be sold or not. Finally, we decided not to sell and now it is starting to pay off. There was always a lot of pressure on me because I have to do it with Ermitage: He is so good, he can do everything, but you still need to get it done. Now I am a little bit proud of myself, that I have been able to give this to Ermitage, because he really deserves it all," the 26-year-old said.

The Alexandre III Bridge-oxer – the second fence in the jump-off – was the trouble maker for both Henrik von Eckermann and Peder Fredricson, as well as for Martin Fuchs. Luckily, Fredricson stayed on and finished 6th with six penalties.