Excitement all around during the 1.60m Rolex Top Ten in Geneva. The second round ensured the cards to be shuffled! In the end Swiss rider, Steve Guerdat jumped to victory as only double clear. Guerdat adds the victory to his earlier won Rolex Top Ten combinations in 2010 and 2018. "I always say the biggsest competitir is actually everybody," Geurdat laughs after.
After the first round, Shane Sweetnam with James Kann Cruz (Kannan, breeder: Patrick Connolly) were in the lead. This gave the Irishman the advantageous position to start last in the final round.
The first to start in the second round was Max Kühner with the 12-year-old EIC UP Too Jacco Blue (Chacco-Blue). After three faults in the first round, the duo went clear. The same outcome was achieved by the second starter, Harrie Smolders, and Evergate Stables' Monaco N.O.P. (Cassini II).
Olympic champion Ben Maher followed with KWPN horse Faltic HB (Baltic VDL). The pair started with two faults but redeemed themselves with a fast clear round in the second round. With tremendous encouragement from the home crowd, Martin Fuchs went over three seconds faster than Maher.
With Conner Jei (Connor 48), Fuchs took the lead with a total of 8 points, setting a higher bar for the next riders. Simon Delestre immediately made it clear that one combination after another would surpass the performances of the previous ones. Delestre went even further under the target time with Dexter Fontenis Z (Diarado). The French duo was immediately surpassed by Kent Farrington and the 9-year-old Colestus mare, Greya.
Julien Epaillard and Dubai du Cedre (Baloubet du Rouet) followed at the start. The duo had less luck, and with two jumping faults, they eventually landed in an interim fifth place.
The Final Three!
Steve Guerdat and Venard de Cerisy (Open Up Semilly) followed at the start. Guerdat had a clear round in the first loop and repeated the feat in the second round. In front of his home crowd, the Swiss rider ensured ecstasy and took the lead.
The winners of 2022, Henrik von Eckermann and BWP gelding King Edward (Edward), followed at the start. The world number one was determined to defend his title. The duo took some risks, resulting in one jumping fault. As a result, they landed just after Steve Guerdat with only one horse-rider combination left to start. Sweetnam also couldn't achieve a faultless finish.
In the end, Guerdat won ahead of Henrik von Eckermann and Kent Farrington!
After the first round, Shane Sweetnam with James Kann Cruz (Kannan, breeder: Patrick Connolly) were in the lead. This gave the Irishman the advantageous position to start last in the final round.
The first to start in the second round was Max Kühner with the 12-year-old EIC UP Too Jacco Blue (Chacco-Blue). After three faults in the first round, the duo went clear. The same outcome was achieved by the second starter, Harrie Smolders, and Evergate Stables' Monaco N.O.P. (Cassini II).
Olympic champion Ben Maher followed with KWPN horse Faltic HB (Baltic VDL). The pair started with two faults but redeemed themselves with a fast clear round in the second round. With tremendous encouragement from the home crowd, Martin Fuchs went over three seconds faster than Maher.
With Conner Jei (Connor 48), Fuchs took the lead with a total of 8 points, setting a higher bar for the next riders. Simon Delestre immediately made it clear that one combination after another would surpass the performances of the previous ones. Delestre went even further under the target time with Dexter Fontenis Z (Diarado). The French duo was immediately surpassed by Kent Farrington and the 9-year-old Colestus mare, Greya.
Julien Epaillard and Dubai du Cedre (Baloubet du Rouet) followed at the start. The duo had less luck, and with two jumping faults, they eventually landed in an interim fifth place.
The Final Three!
Steve Guerdat and Venard de Cerisy (Open Up Semilly) followed at the start. Guerdat had a clear round in the first loop and repeated the feat in the second round. In front of his home crowd, the Swiss rider ensured ecstasy and took the lead.
The winners of 2022, Henrik von Eckermann and BWP gelding King Edward (Edward), followed at the start. The world number one was determined to defend his title. The duo took some risks, resulting in one jumping fault. As a result, they landed just after Steve Guerdat with only one horse-rider combination left to start. Sweetnam also couldn't achieve a faultless finish.
In the end, Guerdat won ahead of Henrik von Eckermann and Kent Farrington!