Switzerland’s Romain Duguet confirms his excellent form by winning the Kataltherm Prize, the feature class of the day. The Manz Isolazioni e Resinswiss Prize, meanwhile, was dominated by female riders, with four women taking the top four places, led by Britain’s Holly Smith. The Grand Prix of the CSI 2* went to Sweden’s Charlotte McAuley.
In the feature class of the CSI 4*, the Kataltherm Prize, the suspense lasted right until the end. On a demanding first round course, nine riders managed to qualify for the jump-off. Second to go, Switzerland’s Romain Duguet immediately made his mark. Riding Bel Canto de Boguin, he produced a faultless and exceptionally fast round, setting a very high bar for those who followed. Four more riders managed to complete the jump-off without penalties, but none could better the Swiss rider’s time. Katharina Rhomberg, riding Cuma 5, and Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher, with Harley de la Cense, had to settle for second and third place respectively. Two further clear rounds were posted by Italy’s Francesca Ciriesi with Scendixblue and France’s Cyril Bouvard with Gangster d’Eifel. Romain Duguet thus claimed a convincing victory and confirmed his excellent form. Already victorious last weekend at the CSIO 4* in Avenches (SUI), the Swiss rider secured another win with his 15-year-old gelding.
The Manz Isolazioni e Resinswiss Prize smiles on the female riders
Four female riders, four international careers and the same taste for victory: the Manz Isolazioni e Resinswiss Prize, a two-phase class at the CSI 4*, belonged to the women. Great Britain’s Holly Smith was the fastest. Riding Nike van het Singraven, the team bronze medallist at the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam claimed victory ahead of Austria’s Katharina Rhomberg, riding Colestus Cambridge, herself a team bronze medallist, this time at the 2023 European Championships in Milan. Just a few weeks after winning the 2026 European Young Riders Championship title, Italy’s Greta Lepratti confirmed her excellent form with a very strong third-place finish aboard Mercy van 't Ruytershof. Completing the all- female top four was Switzerland’s Evelyne Bussmann, who finished fourth with her mare Virtuoso Semilly.
An all-female trio for the Flyfree Airways Grand Prix of the CSI 2*
It was certainly a day for the ladies in Ascona! The Flyfree Airways Grand Prix of the CSI 2* produced an all-female jump-off, featuring Charlotte McAuley (SWE), Faye Louise Vos (NED) and Elodie Hanselmann (SUI). The latter, riding Achtung Asborne Z, posted the fastest
time... but knocked down a pole at the penultimate fence. That mistake played into the hands of Sweden’s Charlotte McAuley: faultless with Istoire des As, she claimed the 2* Grand Prix ahead of Dutch rider Faye Louise Vos and Cartier D.
