Press release from Falsterbo Horse Show, edited by World of Showjumping

Ireland's Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising) claimed victory in the CSIO5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix presented by Agria at the Falsterbo Horse Show following an exceptional two-round competition on Sunday afternoon.

Under brilliant Swedish sunshine and in front of packed grandstands, 50 of the world's leading horse-and-rider combinations gathered in Falsterbo's historic grass arena for the highlight of the fourth Rolex Series event of the 2026 season.

Designed by renowned German course designer Frank Rothenberger, the first-round course featured 14 obstacles and 17 efforts. The Rolex Grand Prix presented by Agria was contested over two rounds against the clock, with the leading 25% of athletes, or all pairs producing a clear round, progressing to the second round. Penalties from both rounds were aggregated, with the time in the second round determining the final classification.

Mexico's Luis Alejandro Plascencia O. and Huberth B (Verdi TN x Mr Blue) opened the competition with a faultless round, immediately setting the standard for the 49 combinations still to come.

The demanding course soon began to influence the leaderboard. Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Conner Jei (Connor 48 x Cosimo) finished on four penalties, a result matched by world no. 1 Kent Farrington (USA) and Greya (Colestus x Contender), while Belgium's Pieter Devos and Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky x Cicero Z) completed their round on 12 penalties.

Fresh from Switzerland's victory in the Falsterbo Nations Cup, Steve Guerdat continued his outstanding week with a clear round aboard Albführen's Iashin Sitte (Bamako de Muze x Tinka’s Boy. His Swiss teammate Gaëtan Joliat on Chelsea Z (Chellano Alpha Z x Cicero Z) also left every fence intact, while Alberto Márquez Galobardes (ESP) on Kelly (Kannan x Baloubet du Rouet), Charlotte Jacobs (USA) with Playboy Jt Z (Presley Boy x Plot Blue) and the current world no. 4 Ben Maher (GBR) on Point Break (Action-Breaker x Balou du Rouet) were among the other riders to secure their places in the second round.

The current world no. 2 Richard Vogel (GER) and Cloudio (Casall x San Patrignano Cassini) also produced a faultless performance, while Ireland demonstrated its strength with three riders qualifying for the decisive round. With 14 combinations finishing clear, all 14 returned for the second round.

Luis Alejandro Plascencia O. and Huberth B were first to return and produced their second clear round of the afternoon in 44.98 seconds.

The pace quickly increased. Charlotte Jacobs and Playboy JT Z crossed the finish line in 40.10 seconds but finished on four penalties, before Ben Maher and Point Break took the provisional lead with a clear round in 40.21 seconds.

Denmark's Andreas Schou and Napoli vh Nederassenthof (President x Quasimodo Z) then lowered the target to 39.98 seconds before Steve Guerdat delivered another outstanding performance.

Guerdat, who had stated ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix that his objective was “simple: to win”, stopped the clock in 38.68 seconds with Albführen's Iashin Sitte to move into the lead.

Richard Vogel responded immediately. Riding Cloudio, the German rider produced a fast and precise round to cross the finish line in 38.63 seconds, taking the lead by just five hundredths of a second.

With only the final combinations remaining, the margins could hardly have been tighter. Last to enter the arena, Shane Sweetnam knew the time to beat. Partnered with James Kann Cruz, the Irish rider attacked Frank Rothenberger's course from the opening fence and delivered a perfectly judged second clear round.

Crossing the finish line in 37.68 seconds, Sweetnam secured victory by 0.95 seconds and claimed the Rolex Grand Prix presented by Agria title at the Falsterbo Horse Show. Richard Vogel and Cloudio finished second, while Steve Guerdat and Albführen's Iashin Sitte completed the podium after an exceptional week for the Swiss rider.

For Shane Sweetnam, victory with James Kann Cruz marks his first CSIO5* Grand Prix win and adds one of the Rolex Series' most prestigious titles to his record.