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As the last pair out in a jump-off of nine, Great Britain’s Donald Whitaker and the wonderful Millfield Colette (Cornet Obolensky x Clearway) won Thursday night’s CSI5* 1.60m Trophée de Genève – the first qualifier for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix – at the 2025-edition of CHI Geneva.

“She is incredible,” an overwhelmed Whitaker said afterwards. “I have waited for this for a long time, and to win on the first day is fantastic. It is my first time coming to Geneva, I have always dreamed about this.”

A total of 49 horse-and-rider combinations lined up for Thursday’s feature class, where the course set by Gérard Lachat (SUI) and Gregory Bodo (SUI) put some of the world’s best at test at the Swiss venue. “When I walked it, I thought it was very difficult, especially for the first day,” Whitaker commented on the first-round track. “It was a strong reminder that we are in Geneva. It was tough and it took some jumping, but these are the best horses and riders in the world.”

First out, Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson (Cooper vd Heffinck x Irco Mena) picked up a single time fault, but as the initial time allowed of 72 seconds was adjusted to 73 after the first three competitors, the 2024 Olympic team gold medallist got to be the pathfinder of the clear rounds.

With a triple combination at fence four, followed by a roll-back to a blue wall at fence five, the course that ended on a bending line over the diagonal at the vast Palexpo arena, proved a demanding test. The appreciative crowds were kept waiting for another clear to join Brash, when three pairs in succession – Christian Kukuk with Checker 47 (Comme Il Faut 5 x Come On), Henrik von Eckermann on Qasirah van de Reistenhoek (Emerald x Kannan) and Kevin Staut (FRA) aboard Visconti du Telman (Toulon x Dollar du Murier) – had the plank at fence nine down, while it was the final fence for Barbara Schnieper (SUI) and Canice (Cascadello x Cornet Obolensky) as well as for Jessica Mendoza (GBR) with In The Air (Air Jordan x Indoctro) that fell.

Finally, as starter number 15, Austria’s Max Kühner on EIC Daloubet (Diamant de Semilly x Bonita Z) delivered the second clear of the night, while Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Dourkhan Hero Z (Don’t Touch Tiji Hero x Zandor) took care of the third when stopping the clock on 73.00 sharp. Eventually, Cian O’Connor (IRL) on Chatolinue PS (Diablo Blanco x Stakkatol), Edouard Schmitz (SUI) on Gamin van’T Naastveldhof (Chacco Chacco x Toulon), Peder Fredricson (SWE) with Alcapone des Carmille (Diamant de Semilly x Heartbreaker), Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) aboard Katanga v/h Dingeshof (Cardento 933 x Tornedo FCS) as well as the home hero Steve Guerdat (SUI) with Albführen’s Iashin Sitte (Bamako de Muze x Tinka’s Boy) managed to clear the challenge set by Lachat and Bodo and joined the deciding jump-off.

In the jump-off, it was the last to go Whitaker with his Millfield Colette that snatched the win from Ahlmann and Dourkhan Hero Z, when crossing the finish line in 45.15 seconds. Ahlmann, 1.58 seconds behind Whitaker, had to settle for second while O’Connor placed third ahead of Kühner in fourth. The host nation’s very own Edouard Schmitz and Gamin van’T Naastveldhof clocked the fastest time of the jump-off – 44.01 – but as the last fence fell, they were left fifth in the end.

Earlier during the day, Germany’s Michael Jung and Fischer Duopower (Namelus R x Sydney) won the CSI5* 1.45m Prix Swiss Wine Genève.

Stopping the clock on 25.98 in the two-phase competition, Jung took the top honours ahead of Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) and Cous Cous 3 (Cachas x Lasino) in second. Cian O’Connor (IRL) and Canbella Blue PS (Cantolar x Chacco-Blue) placed third, while Simon Delestre (FRA) with Gatsby du Tillard (President x Diamant de Semilly) finished fourth and Olivier Perreau (FRA) aboard Himalaya du Temple (Douchka x Radieux) fifth.

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