Edited press release from Rolex Series Equestrian

Forty pairs took to the course on Sunday afternoon for the CSIO5* 1.60m €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland at the RDS Dublin Horse Show 2024. The challenging course, crafted by Irish course designer Alan Wade, proved difficult from the start, with many riders encountering faults early on. However, seven competitors eventually mastered the course, advancing to the jump-off, where five pairs delivered flawless performances once again.

With eleven Irish horse-and-rider combinations competing, the hosts were well-represented in the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland. Rolex Series ambassador Mark McAuley (IRL) and GRS Lady Amaro (Amaretto d'Arco x Over The River) became the first to deliver a clear round, and were soon followed by Tim Gredley (GBR) aboard Imperial HBF (Glasgow vh Merelsnest x Original VDL). 

Daniel Deusser (GER), a stalwart of the German national team, Olympic team bronze medalist in Rio 2016, and winner of the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen in 2021, also earned a place in the jump-off with Killer Queen VDM (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure) after a flawless round. François-Xavier Boudant (FRA), last year’s champion with Brazyl du Mézel (Haloubet de Gorze x Apache d'Adriers) finished with four faults, while Michael Pender (IRL) on HHS Los Angeles (Le Roi 10 x Cavalier Royale), Martin Fuchs (SUI) on Conner Jei (Connor 48 x Cosimo), Aaron Vale (USA) and Carissimo 25 (Cascadello x Clinton) and Koen Vereecke (BEL) aboard Kasanova de La Pomme (Bamako de Muze x Malito de Reves) were in the running for victory after delivering clear rounds and joining the deciding jump-off. 

First to go in the jump-off in the Dublin Main Arena, Mark McAuley and Grs Lady Amaro set a high bar with a clear round in 38.74 seconds. Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM tried to beat them, but their time of 39.02 seconds wasn’t enough to take the lead. McAuley held onto the top spot throughout the jump-off until the last competitor, Martin Fuchs on Conner Jei snatched the victory with a flawlessly executed round. The Swiss Rolex Testimonee and his 13-year-old gelding secured the win in 38.69 seconds, while Aaron Vale completed the podium with Carissimo 25 in third, followed by Deusser and Killer Queen VDM in fourth and Gredley with Imperial HBF in fifth. 

The Rolex Series now moves to Brussels, Belgium, for the Brussels Stephex Masters, taking place from August 28 to September 1st.