Press release from Jumping International de La Baule – Officiel de France, edited by World of Showjumping

The Jumping International de La Baule – Officiel de France 2026 got underway this Thursday with the opening competitions of an event that will conclude on Sunday with the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule.

As always, the world’s top riders have answered the call and already thrilled the crowds at the Stade François André. Among them was Ireland’s Cian O’Connor, winner of the CSIO5* 1.50m FFE Generali Prize. He will return on Friday determined to secure a second consecutive victory for Ireland in the Barrière Nations Cup, a highly anticipated event for all, just two months ahead of the upcoming World Championships.

The first jumps, the first gallops, and the first thrills. This Thursday, the François André Stadium welcomed the world’s top riders for the opening of the four-day 2026 Longines Jumping International de La Baule – Officiel de France. Under a beautiful blue sky, Ireland’s Cian O’Connor – the current world no. 32 – proved the fastest in the CSIO5* 1.50m FFE Generali Prize, a qualifier for the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule.

Riding Genghis Khan (Kannan x Diamant de Semilly), a 10-year-old Selle Français gelding previously ridden by Frenchman Emeric George, O’Connor claimed victory. "It always gives you confidence to win a major class on the first day of a show," said the Irish rider, bronze medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games and European Team Champion in 2017. "I’ve been coming to La Baule for many years, and it’s always a pleasure. Genghis Khan is a French-bred horse, and it’s fantastic for his breeders to see him return to France and, even better, to see him win here. He will compete again in the Saur Prize on Saturday. On Friday, with the Irish team, we will try to defend our title in the Barrière Nations Cup. Beyond the possibility of achieving a double victory, and with the World Championships only two months away, it is also very important for all teams to compete on an arena like this one, which is very similar to Aachen."

By just four hundredths of a second, O’Connor edged out France’s 2016 Olympic champion Kevin Staut and Féline de Hus HDC (Kannan x Levistan). Starting near the end of the class, Canada’s Erynn Ballard, riding De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa (Der Senaat 111 x Action Breaker), pushed Julien Épaillard and Le Coultre de Muze (Presley Boy x Vigo d’Arsouilles) off the podium.

Earlier in the day, the CSIO5* 1.45m Pro-Confort Prize gave many riders the opportunity to provide their horses with their first taste of competition in La Baule ahead of Friday’s Barrière Nations Cup. The class was won by 20-year-old Swiss rider Gaëtan Joliat aboard Scarlina de Tiji Z (Hunters Scendro x Kannan), finishing ahead of Sweden’s Amanda Landeblad on Hadriana du Ter (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Dollar du Murier) and Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza aboard Malou HX (Cape Coral RBF Z x Balouet du Rouet).

Later on, Barbara Schnieper (SUI) brought the Swiss national anthem to the fore again by winning the CSIO5* 1.45m Boss Equestrian Prize with Toronto Raptor (Totilas x Corofino 2). She finished ahead of Martin Fuchs (SUI) on Falcon du Toultia Z (For Pleasure x HH Copin can de Broy) in second and the former world no. one Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and Glamour Girl (VDL Zirocco Blue x Caletto I) in third.