Thrills and spills from the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen

Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen was full of thrills and spills! One of the horse-and-rider combinations that contributed to a fantastic afternoon of top sport was Brian Moggre and Balou du Reventon, who stole the hearts of Aachen with their incredible performances throughout the week – double clear in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup and then triple clear in the Rolex Grand Prix. To finish with a Nations Cup win and a second place in the Grand Prix in your Aachen-debut (at the age of 20) is nothing but unreal, and Moggre's expression says it all!

All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No reproduction of these images is permitted.

The strictly protected Grand Slam trophy...

...is what every rider wants to win.

In 2017, Belgium's Gregory Wathelet won the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen with Coree, this time he finished third with Nevados S after a fantastic triple clear round.

When a dream comes true: The smile on Patricio Pasquel's face after a clear in the the first round of the Rolex Grand Prix with Babel!

For Daniel Bluman it did not go as planned. After a miscommunication on the open water with Gemma W, the Israeli rider retired.

Brazil's Yuri Mansur was also among those who retired after a misunderstanding with Vitiki on the oxer at no. five in the first round.

This sport is full of ups and downs. After great performances at the European Championships in Riesenbeck earlier this month, Jade vd Bisschop gave Pieter Devos a tough time in the Rolex Grand Prix – but despite this surprising refusal at no. 9a, the pair completed the course.

Christian Ahlmann and Clintrexo Z were one of four German horse-and-rider combinations that jumped clear in the first round, much to the delight of the home crowds that finally got to watch top sport again at Soers following the Covid-19 pandemic.

This vertical caused many spills. Placed on seven short or six forward strides from the triple bar at 10, the rails fell over and over.

What a partnership! Belgium’s Jerome Guery and Quel Homme de Hus impress again and again. They jumped a double clear round to move on to the jump-off, where they unfortunately had a rail on the first fence down.

Sanne Thijssen's super-cute stallion Con Quidam RB got all excited after a little bite and sniff of the grass in Aachen.

Ben Maher and Explosion W yet again showed why they are one of the best – if not the best – horse-and-rider combinations in the world, with a double clear round. Unfortunately, an unlucky rail down in the jump-off put them fourth with the fastest time of the day.

A very unlucky rail on the penultimate vertical in round two kept Live Contender Steve Guerdat out of the jump-off with Venard de Cerisy, who yet again jumped absolutely incredible.

Martin Fuchs' only 9-year-old Leone Jei impressed again. After only a rail down on the oxer at 12b in the first round, the pair managed to move on to round two where they jumped clear to finish 8th overall.

Kevin Staut also had a pole on 12b down in round one with Tolede de Mescam Harcour, but managed to be among the eighteen best and made it to the second round where three rails fell.