With the riders sitting extremely close to each other on the overall standings, the very last round of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2025 in Basel was bound to become a cliffhanger. Sunday’s title-decider was jumped over two rounds set at 1.60m, with the twenty best overall being allowed to return for round two where a demanding 12-fence track built by Gérard Lachat waited.
As the only double clear in Sunday's competition – which was the third and last of this year's final – USA's Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF topped the class itself, and eventually finished 8th on the overall ranking after three days of jumping.
In the end, with only a rail down on the last line in the concluding round in St. Jakobshalle, Julien Epaillard and Donatello d'Auge managed to keep their competitors at a distance – securing the victory when being three penalty points away from second placed Ben Maher and Point Break. The British world no. four finished on seven penalties, only separated by his time down to third placed Kevin Staut and Visconti du Telman who ended on the same score but slightly slower.
With these images, we take a look back at the action in St Jakobshalle as the very last round concluded the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2025.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
After delivering a clear in Sunday's round one, Kaitlin Campbell and Castlefield Cornelious were the first to go in the last and decisive round.
Unfortunately, the two parted ways but could leave the arena on foot and unharmed.
Robert Whitaker and Vermento posted a clear, finishing 17th on the overall ranking in the end.
Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run's Jireh added 12 faults to their score in the final round...
...finishing 19th overall.
Mario Stevens and Starissa FRH added seven faults to their score, ranking 18th in the end with a total of 26 penalty points.
Ramzy Al Duhami and Untouchable ended 15th overall after adding four faults to their score in the final round as the plank at no. 7 fell to the ground.
Vince Jarmy and Carbon Girl Z entered the final round carrying 16 penalties...
...and ended up adding only four faults to their score, with this talented young rider finishing his week in Basel ranked 14th overall.
Germany's Hans-Dieter Dreher and Elysium flying in front of their support group. The two ended 13th on the overall standings.
Ireland's Daniel Coyle and Incredible cleared the fences in the final round...
...but were caught out by the time allowed, adding two penalties to their score to finish 12th overall.
Katie Dinan and the 11-year-old mare Out of the Blue SCF were one of four clears in the final round.
The American rider took the top honours in the competition classification on Sunday...
...and had all the reason to smile after a fantastic double clear round!
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
The Swiss support...
...did not help Edouard Schmitz who added eight faults to his score in the final round, ranking 16th overall.
Clear rounds alluded Richard Vogel and United Touch S during the week in Basel – until the final round...
...where the two finally posted a clear to finish 6th on the overall standings after three days of jumping.
Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames My Prins delivered one of four clears in the final round.
Otto Becker, Sophia Frühauf, Jan-Hein Swagemakers and David Will supporting Hinners on the Kiss&Cry.
A happy Sophie Hinners with Iron Dames My Prins.
Willem Greve and Grandorado TN N.O.P. showed great form on Sunday, only adding a time penalty to their overall score.
Wout-Jan van der Schans, Richard Skillen and Willem Verhaeghe in the Kiss&Cry for Greve.
After a good Sunday, Greve could celebrate a 7th place on the overall standings.
It was not their week: Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P had to see another pole on the floor during Sunday's decisive final round to end 10th overall.
Martin Fuchs had the opportunity to put pressure on those ahead of him but clipping the plank at no. 7 and a rail at 8b the Swiss rider had to wave farewell to his home crowd on a total score of fourteen...
...dropping him down on the result list to eventually finish 9th.
Henrik von Eckermann had the chance to join the history books of showjumping by taking a third World Cup Final-title – which would have included him in the company of legends such as Hugo Simon, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Rodrigo Pessoa, Marcus Ehning and Steve Guerdat...
However, the back rail on the oxer at no. 9 put that dream to an end as the Swedish multi-medallist finished on a total score of ten penalties, eventually leaving him just outside the podium in 4th with Iliana.
The oxer at no. 9 – a liverpool which followed the triple combination on a bent line – also proved costly for Kevin Staut and Visconti du Telman, who added four faults here to finish on seven faults overall. Still, it was good enough to keep pressure on the three to come, as the course was proving to require precision from start to finish.
Entering the ring on an overall score of three penalties, Lillie Keenan and Kick On had the podium within reach...
...but when three rails fell, Keenan dropped on the result list with her faults adding up to fifteen in total.
Second-last to go, Ben Maher had the opportunity to put even more pressure on Epaillard if he could produce another clear round, but Point Break hit a rail on the oxer jumping into the triple combination – leaving them on an overall score of seven, just like Staut.
St. Jakobshalle fell silent as Epaillard came in to decide the outcome in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2025.
In his trademark style, the French rider set off as it was all another speed class – seemingly untouched by the pressure as he cleared fence by fence.
Team Epaillard supporting each step of the way...
With nerves that must be made of steel, Epaillard managed to keep it together and could celebrate being the 2025 champion of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final, with a horse bred by his wife Susana who was close to tears on the Kiss & Cry watching her husband make a dream come true.
Ben Maher took second and Kevin Staut third...
...while Epaillard could celebrate the first major title of his career.
Next up: Fort Worth TX, USA. As per tradition, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final flag was handed over to the organizer of next year's edition and it was Derek Braun – President of the Split Rock Jumping Tour – that took over for 2026.
Then