Press release from FEI, edited by World of Showjumping

Steve Guerdat (SUI) set an unbeatable target from first draw in an 11-strong jump-off, to score a convincing victory in the ninth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League in Leipzig (GER) this afternoon. Aboard the 12-year-old gelding Albführen’s Iashin Sitte (Bamako de Muze x Tinka’s Boy), the three-time Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Champion stopped the clock in 42.21 seconds and waited for the remaining ten horse-and-rider combinations to try and better it.

Just five of the 11 pairs produced clear rounds in the jump-off, with Simon Delestre (FRA) aboard the ten-year-old stallion Gatsby du Tillard (President x Diamant de Semilly) coming closest to Guerdat’s target. His quick time of 43.25 seconds was rewarded with second place. Gerrit Nieberg (GER) broke the beam in 44.54 seconds to take the final podium position for the host nation, with the much-admired skewbald gelding Ping Pong van de Lentamel (Emerald x Toulon).

Frank Rothenberger (GER) made full use of the Leipzig Messe to test athletes with a full-up track that tested scope, care and control. Whilst faults were distributed around his 13-fence track, a short vertical-to-oxer double, coming early in the course at fence three, accounted for 19 fallen poles whilst an innocuous looking vertical at fence ten was responsible for a further seven.

Drawn fifth in the opening round, Steve Guerdat showed his class and experience when delivering an immaculate first clear round of the competition, which confirmed him as the trailblazer come round two against the clock. Opening a jump-off, particularly one in which there are 11 world-class combinations, is a position which most athletes look upon unfavourably. Guerdat however, in typically unflappable fashion, was not fazed by the prospect of laying down the gauntlet: “I think it’s kind of an advantage for me with this horse. He’s not a very big-strided horse and if I start walking the distances in the jump-off or looking what my colleagues do when they have a little bit more range in their stride, I can’t really hold with it. I have messed up a few jump-offs with him because of that! It’s better that I don’t look at the others and just try to do what’s really best for him (Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte) without thinking what’s coming behind or what’s come before me.”

Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR), fresh from his podium finish in Basel (SUI) last week, delivered another smart performance with his new partner, the 12-year-old gelding Colonello (Colestus x San Patrignano Cassini). Their slick double clear in 44.60 seconds saw them finish in fourth place, with the young Norwegian’s consistency seeing him move up to second place in the overall Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League 2025/2026 standings. Mario Stevens’ (GER) neat and calculated round aboard his faithful partner, the 13-year-old Starissa FRH (Stakkato Gold x Quidam’s Rubin) saw him secure fifth place and valuable points.

“I’m really happy with my horse today,” the second placed Simon Delestre said. “It’s his first Grand Prix so I am really proud of him. When I walked the course, I thought it was a difficult class for his first Grand Prix, but you need to start someday, and I have a lot of confidence in him! I got an amazing feeling from the horse!”

Of his strategy in the jump-off, Delestre explained: “He’s a fast horse but I don’t really know how much I can ask, but ok I was last to go so I had to try.”

“At the moment I’m still climbing the road to get back to my health from before, so (this win) is a good reward to all the team that help me every day and for my horse," Guerdat – who had two back surgeries last year – noted. "I have had a very good day; it’s a really nice afternoon for me and my team,” he concluded contentedly.

After nine legs of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League 2025/2026 series, Richard Vogel (GER) remains at the top of the standings on 56 points ahead of Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen, whose fourth place in Leipzig sees him climb up another spot into second on 53 points. Willem Greve (NED) and Max Kühner (AUT) occupy third and fourth positions on 52 points apiece. Julien Epaillard (FRA) sits in fifth on 46 points whilst Daniel Deusser (GER) rounds out the top six on 38 points.

Amsterdam (NED) is the next stop for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League as the Dutch city welcomes the series for leg ten on 25 January 2026. Bordeaux (FRA) will stage leg 11 of 13 on 8 February 2026 before Gothenburg (SWE) play host to the penultimate qualifier of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League on 22 February 2025.