Press release from Rolex Series Equestrian, edited by World of Showjumping

Friday’s CSIO5* 1.60m Henders and Hazel Nations Cup presented by STX Finance – the second qualifier for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi – at the 2025-edition of Brussels Stephex Masters delivered an afternoon of world-class sport. Ten nations lined up, with only the top eight after the opening round advancing to the second round.

Harry Charles and Casquo Blue (Chacco-Blue x Carthago Z) produced the first clear round of the day, but France followed quickly with Nina Mallevaey on Dynastie de Beaufour (Diamant de Semilly x Cassini II). Switzerland’s Nadja Peter Steiner on Mila (Monte Bellini x Linton) and Sweden’s Jens Fredricson aboard Markan Cosmopolit (Cohiba x Calido I) also jumped clear.

At the end of the first round, France and Switzerland were leading the way on a perfect score of zero, followed by Sweden, Mexico, Great Britain, and Germany with four faults each. Belgium stayed in contention with five faults, while Brazil carried eight. The UAE and Ireland, however, did not qualify for round two.

The second round brought even more drama. Harry Charles (GBR) and Casquo Blue delivered the first double clear of the competition, while France answered in style as Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour produced their second clear of the day, as did their teammates Antoine Ermann and Floyd des Pres (Vigo Cece x Papillon Rouge).

In the end, Edouard Couperie’s France claimed victory with a team total of four penalties. Double clears from Mallevaey and Ermann as well as a 0/4 from Jeanne Sadran on Dexter de Kerglenn (Mylord Carthago x Diamant de Semilly) meant that Roger Yves Bost and Delph de Denat HDC’s (Air Jordan x Tlaloc M) 12 faults from round one could be left as their dropscore.

The home team of Belgium – Pieter Devos on Casual Z (Cornet Obolensky x Cicero Z), Gilles Thomas on Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan), Thibeau Spits aboard Impress-K Van’T Kattenheye Z (Indoktro K Van’T Kattenheye x Vagabond de La Pomme) and Gregory Wathelet on Bond Jamesbond de Hay (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan) – had to settle for second with a team total of nine penalties.

Switzerland – Nadja Peter Steiner and Mila, Jason Smith on Picobello Van’T Roosakker (Kassander Van’T Roosakker x Canabis Z), Janika Sprunger on Orelie (Emerald x Nabab de Reve) and Steve Guerdat aboard Dynamix de Belheme (Snaike de Blondel x Cornet Obolensky) – completed the podium in third with a score of 12.