Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Leone Jei (KWPN x Baltic VDL) from Switzerland were called into the Top Ten Final at short notice after world number 10 Conor Swail was unable to compete. He decided to take up the challenge and gave the crowd a perfect first round. Setting the bar for the best show-jumping riders in the world.

The Rest of the Story

American Mclain Ward was one down with Ilex at the final fence, having previously jumped clear. Reigning Olympic gold medallist Christian Kukuk of Germany confirmed his talent in the first round with a remarkably clear round on Just Be Gentle. Germany’s Richard Vogel and Austria’s Max Kühner didn’t escape unscathed with 8 and 4 points, respectively, on United Touch S and EIC Cooley Jump The Q. France’s Julien Épaillard and Donatello d’Auge once again showed their ability to join the ranks of the clear jumpers. Two-time final winner Kent Farrington followed them from the USA on Toulayna. Great Britain’s Ben Maher also showed off his skills, riding his exceptional horse, Point Break, efficiently and unobtrusively around the arena. A few minutes later, the crowd gasped as the bar for the final fence fell for local hero Steve Guerdat. The last rider to clear was current world number one Henrick von Eckermann on King Edward. This brought the first part of the competition to a close.

The Second Act

With a start in reverse order of the classification, the second heat was even more exciting and came to a head as the six clear riders from the first heat crossed the finish line.

Point Break, Ben Maher’s ten-year-old gelding, confirmed this by taking the lead with a time of 48.59. But he hadn’t reckoned with the incredible partnership of Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei, who smashed the target time to 47.02 seconds. Would the Swiss, who had won the Trophée de Genève with Conner Jei the day before, win for the second time in two days?

“This is really my favourite competition. I’ve never won it before, so I told myself I’d put my best horse out there and do my best to win it,” said the Swiss rider after his victory.

But first he had to face some tough competition with the same goal. Kent Farrington “The Master of Faster” brought the crowd to its feet, but was not fast enough (48.05). That left the winning duo of 2022: the Swede and his King Edward. But even they were not successful.

Dream Come True

Martin’s dream had come true, and he could add his name to the list of winners of this unique final for the first time. Tears of joy ran down the winner’s cheeks; this success touched him, and in the winner’s interview, he gave special thanks to the owner of his horse, who was unfortunately unable to be present for health reasons. A lovely get-well present.