Press release from FEI, edited by World of Showjumping

It was an unforgettable evening for Ireland’s Jessica Burke at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2025/2026 Western European League in Bordeaux (FRA), as she produced a career-best performance to claim a fairytale victory aboard the sensational grey Good Star du Bary (Rock’N Roll Semilly x Oberon du Moulin). In doing so, Burke cemented her place in the history books as the first female athlete to win the Bordeaux title.

The stars aligned for the talented partnership, who have made just six World Cup starts together to date. Saturday marked the first time they have jumped clear, and what a place to do it, not once but twice, as the only combination to deliver the coveted double clear of the competition.

For Burke, this victory was clearly emotional and as much about belief in the process as it is anything else. “It’s my first World Cup and my first five-star win,” she said. “My horse is only ten, but he has just six World Cups now. Five times one down, but today we were clear. To have patience and wait for your day to come is very hard, so the fact that it has come, I don’t think it has sunk in yet to be honest.”

It was an evening that kept even the most astute of jumping enthusiasts on the edge of their seats, with the crowded stands buzzing. French course designer Yann Royant set a challenging track that drew praise from athletes for its delicate, technical questions. The first round featured 13 obstacles and tested even the most experienced horse-and-rider combinations.

Pathfinders and reigning Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ champions, Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Donatello d’Auge (Jarnac x Hello Pierville), had an uncharacteristic two rails down, at the first element of the triple combination (8a) and the final fence (13), to the disappointment of the home crowd. It proved a sign of things to come as the course continued to ask plenty of questions, with the triple at fence eight catching out many of the field.

The time allowed of 75.00 seconds also proved influential. Max Kühner (AUT) on Count on me 19 (Cascadello x Cornado NRW), Jodie Hall McAteer (GBR) with La Gupardie (Van Gogh x Carrera VDL) and Jordy van Massenhove (BEL) aboard Verdiamo Z (Verdi TN x Andiamo Z) all jumped clear but each picked up a single time fault, enough to keep them out of the jump-off.

The first clear round of the evening came from the fourth combination to go, Tom Schewe (GER) and the talented Congress Blue PS (Congress x Chacco-Blue), who produced a foot-perfect performance well inside the time in 73.43 seconds.

However, the crowd then had to wait some time to witness the feat again, with the next clear being delivered by Schewe’s compatriot Daniel Deusser (GER) and Otello de Guldenboom (Tobago Z x Caretino), 21st on the starting order. Yuri Mansur (BRA) and the 18-year-old Vitiki (Valentino x For Expo) followed suit, while Burke and Good Star du Bary – as no. 27 out – delivered the fourth clear in the first round.

With only four pairs through to the jump-off, it was always going to be a race for the podium, and the electric showdown did not disappoint. First into the ring was Tom Schewe on Congress Blue PS, who set off at a confident pace to stop the clock in 38.00 seconds, but four faults at the second obstacle left the door open for the remaining three.

Daniel Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom could not recreate their winning jump-off from Verona (ITA), also finishing on four faults after making a run to the final fence and arriving on a long stride to clip the rail. Yuri Mansur and veteran Vitiki set off with the win in their sights, but four faults off a tight turn saw them knocked out of contention, finishing with a time of 38.93 seconds.

The crowd held its collective breath as Burke and the 10-year-old gelding Good Star du Bary took centre stage and prepared to start their round of a lifetime. The rookie pair looked composed as they sailed over each fence, keeping all the rails up and breaking the beam at 42.40 seconds, but with no jumping penalties, securing themselves a place in the history books.

“He is the best horse I’ve ever had,” Burke said about Good Star du Bary. “He has a massive heart, and he is just so special. There aren’t many horses like him, and I am very lucky to have him at the moment. I only have one horse at this level.”

It was an emotional finish for the former schoolteacher who has only been competing at the professional level for six years, not only collecting the first major win of her career but etching her name into the records as the first female athlete to stand atop the Bordeaux podium. “It is a very emotional win for me actually. My owner is here, and it is his 60th birthday this weekend, and he came with his family, and my family is here as well; it is very special.”

Deusser took to the podium in second place, while Schewe secured his first Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ podium position in third. Saturday’s result has moved Burke (IRL) up to seventh on the WEL overall standings with 46 points. With her sights set on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth (USA), she will be one to watch. “With today’s result we should be able to go to the Final. Securing my qualification has been the goal for a while,” Burke said.

Defending champion Julien Epaillard (FRA) remains in pole position on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2025/2026 Western European League overall standings, boasting 69 points after leg 11 in Bordeaux. Max Kühner (AUT) is now in second place on 64 points following his fifth-place finish in Bordeaux, while Willem Greve (NED) sits third with 61 and Richard Vogel (GER) fourth on 56 points. 

The penultimate qualifying leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2025/2026 Western European League will take place in Göteborg, Sweden, in two weeks’ time, before Helsinki, Finland, sets the stage for the final qualifying leg of the season.