De Rolex IJRC Top Ten is beslist!
Richard Vogel (GER) opened the second round after hitting two rails in the sand with United Touch S during the first round. With renewed focus, the pair entered the ring again and delivered a faultless round this time. Steve Guerdat (SUI), the world number two, started his second round with four penalties on the board aboard Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte. The penultimate obstacle, the iconic green Rolex oxer, wasn’t kind to them either, leaving them, like their predecessor, with a total of eight faults.
Mclain Ward (USA) had encountered trouble at the tail end of the first round with Ilex VP but managed to navigate a clear round this time, earning deserved applause. Their time: 50.36 seconds. Max Kühner (AUT) and EIC Cooley Jump The Q also started their second round with four faults but kept all the rails up this time, finishing in 53.47 seconds.
After four combinations, the first faultless pair returned to the ring. Ben Maher (GBR) and Point Break set the pace for their colleagues. The bar was immediately set high, with a clear round and a time to beat of 48.59 seconds—the fastest so far, nearly two seconds quicker than Ward.
Christian Kukuk (GER) picked up a jumping fault with Just Be Gentle at the exit of the double combination, eliminating the Paris Olympic champion from contention. The home crowd was undoubtedly on the edge of their seats as the next combination entered. Local rider Martin Fuchs (SUI) had one last chance to deliver a home victory, relying on his trusted Leone Jei. The pair was called in as replacements for the Top Ten Final after Conor Swail had to withdraw. Taking the necessary risks paid off, as they delivered a faultless round and took the lead. In front of their home crowd, the pair tackled the 1.60m course flawlessly, stopping the clock at 47.02 seconds—one and a half seconds faster than Tokyo Olympic champion Ben Maher.
Julien Epaillard (FRA) galloped into the arena aboard Donatello d’Auge. Like Kukuk, Epaillard had a fault at the second part of the double and another at the Rolex oxer. Martin Fuchs undoubtedly felt the pressure from the final two riders, including the world number one. But first, it was Kent Farrington’s (USA) turn. Riding Toulayna, Farrington knew what he needed to do, with Fuchs’ time of 47.02 seconds looming on the screen above. The American spared no effort and took risks wherever possible. However, they couldn’t quite match the Swiss rider’s pace, finishing with a time of 48.05 seconds.
One round left. One last combination. The world number one: Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and King Edward. A refusal gave the decisive verdict - Martin Fuchs crowned himself the winner of the final, as king at home.
Richard Vogel (GER) opened the second round after hitting two rails in the sand with United Touch S during the first round. With renewed focus, the pair entered the ring again and delivered a faultless round this time. Steve Guerdat (SUI), the world number two, started his second round with four penalties on the board aboard Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte. The penultimate obstacle, the iconic green Rolex oxer, wasn’t kind to them either, leaving them, like their predecessor, with a total of eight faults.
Mclain Ward (USA) had encountered trouble at the tail end of the first round with Ilex VP but managed to navigate a clear round this time, earning deserved applause. Their time: 50.36 seconds. Max Kühner (AUT) and EIC Cooley Jump The Q also started their second round with four faults but kept all the rails up this time, finishing in 53.47 seconds.
After four combinations, the first faultless pair returned to the ring. Ben Maher (GBR) and Point Break set the pace for their colleagues. The bar was immediately set high, with a clear round and a time to beat of 48.59 seconds—the fastest so far, nearly two seconds quicker than Ward.
Christian Kukuk (GER) picked up a jumping fault with Just Be Gentle at the exit of the double combination, eliminating the Paris Olympic champion from contention. The home crowd was undoubtedly on the edge of their seats as the next combination entered. Local rider Martin Fuchs (SUI) had one last chance to deliver a home victory, relying on his trusted Leone Jei. The pair was called in as replacements for the Top Ten Final after Conor Swail had to withdraw. Taking the necessary risks paid off, as they delivered a faultless round and took the lead. In front of their home crowd, the pair tackled the 1.60m course flawlessly, stopping the clock at 47.02 seconds—one and a half seconds faster than Tokyo Olympic champion Ben Maher.
Julien Epaillard (FRA) galloped into the arena aboard Donatello d’Auge. Like Kukuk, Epaillard had a fault at the second part of the double and another at the Rolex oxer. Martin Fuchs undoubtedly felt the pressure from the final two riders, including the world number one. But first, it was Kent Farrington’s (USA) turn. Riding Toulayna, Farrington knew what he needed to do, with Fuchs’ time of 47.02 seconds looming on the screen above. The American spared no effort and took risks wherever possible. However, they couldn’t quite match the Swiss rider’s pace, finishing with a time of 48.05 seconds.
One round left. One last combination. The world number one: Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and King Edward. A refusal gave the decisive verdict - Martin Fuchs crowned himself the winner of the final, as king at home.