France’s former world number one Simon Delestre won the first Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year – the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters in ‘s-Hertogenbosch – with the 13-year-old gelding Cayman Jolly Jumper (Hickstead x Quaprice Bois Margot) as the only double clear in the competition, while Scott Brash and Hello Chadora Lady took the runner-up spot and Yuri Mansur on Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm rounded up the podium in third.
A total of 39 horse-and-rider combinations lined up for the first Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year in the sold-out Brabanthallen, where the 1.60m course set by Louis Konickx (NED), Quintin Maertens (NED) and Gerard Lachat (SUI) counted 14 obstacles and 18 efforts and proved a fitting test for the world’s best. Kicking off with the Rolex Grand Slam-wall at fence one, a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination waited at 5abc and two more combinations followed – an oxer-vertical combination at 8ab with a water underneath the b-element, as well the very last fence, an oxer-oxer combination at 14ab.
With only three clear rounds, the Rolex Grand Prix of 's-Hertogenbosch was an exciting watch – we take a look back at some of the thrills and spills!
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Serious business – the French chef d'equipe Edouard Couperie was present in 's-Hertogenbosch to support his riders.
The course designer team Louis Konickx, Quintin Maertens and Gerard Lachat putting their final touches on the course that proved a fitting test for the world's best horses and riders.
Koen Vereecke and Merryweather vt Leeuwerikenhof jumped clear all the way up to the last double.
Abdel Said and Bonne Amie finished tenth in the end with their four faults.
The final oxer-oxer double at 14ab proved costly...
As pair number seven out, Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and the 12-year-old mare Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm...
...posted the first clear round of the competition.
Lillie Keenan – the second highest ranked female rider in the world – made the journey from U.S. to Europe to compete in 's-Hertogenbosch for the first time in her career.
Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and the 20-year-old Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot were one of the eleven pairs that finished the first round on a score of four.
Gregory Wathelet and the stunning Bond Jamesbond de Hay.
Just before the halfway mark, the second clear round came from Great Britain’s Olympic team champion Scott Brash and the 12-year-old mare Hello Chadora Lady.
To date, Brash is the only rider ever to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
“I understand how hard it is to win one Major, let alone the Rolex Grand Slam,” Brash said afterwards.
Four was the score even for Brazil's Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and the aptly named Grand Slam VDL.
Belgium's Pieter Devos and the talented 10-year-old Casual VD Z looked well on their way to a clear round...
...making light work of the challenging track.
However, an unfortunate time penalty kept the two out of the jump-off, leaving them fourth in the end.
Kim Emmen and Imagine placed 11th on home soil.
One of the many influental fences in the first round – the golden vertical at fence eleven that concluded a bending related line across the diagonal.
Julien Epaillard and Donatello d'Auge were kept out of the jump-off by a light touch at the b-element on 8ab...
...while Kent Farrington and Toulayna experienced the same fate at the a-element on 8ab.
Farrington – the current world number two – placed fifth in the end as the fastest four-faulter.
Peder Fredricson's 19-year-old Catch Me Not S looked as fresh as ever and jumped to seventh place in the end.
Catch Me Not S proving once again that age is just a number...
The ring crew were kept busy with faults all over the demanding course.
Switzerland's Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei – winners of the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final 2024 – ended up retiring in 's-Hertogenbosch.
Last year’s winner Willem Greve on Grandorado TN N.O.P. saw his dream of a back-to-back win crushed as a pole fell on fence eleven.
Following their win in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, Harrie Smolders and Monaco arrived in ‘s-Hertogenbosch as the Rolex Grand Slam live contenders.
However, home soil held no luck for the Dutch rider who faulted at the b-element on fence 8ab. While Harrie thanked the audience for their support...
...Monaco made his way over to the course crew to check for treats.
Gilles Thomas and the crowd-favourite Ermitage Kalone had to settle for 14th place with four faults from the first round.
Richard Vogel and United Touch S showed great form by winning Friday’s CSI5* 1.55m VDL Groep Prize.
However, the luck was not on their side in Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix.
Current world number one Henrik von Eckermann opted to retire with Iliana after a challenging weekend fighting a cold as well as a broken hand.
"I am disappointed with myself but delighted with Chadora, she was fantastic," Scott Brash said after eventually placing second after a jump-off of three.
A happy Team Brash!
Monaco, the cover-boy!
"I think these shows and these venues bring out the best in horses and riders," Scott Brash said after the first Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year, the Rolex Grand Prix of 's-Hertogenbosch.
Then