GENEVA, Switzerland--Kent Farrington on Toulayna placed second to Martin Fuchs of Switzerland on Leone Jei in the Top10 Final at a spectacular CHI de Geneva Grand Slam of Showjumping horse show.
Kent Farrington on Toulayna (File photo from Riyadh by Helen Cruden) In a huge, sold out indoor arena in Geneva, the Top10 Rated riders in the world competed in the Final on Friday, Dec.13.
Farrington delivered an outstanding performance to place second in one of the sport’s most elite events, and McLain Ward on Ilex was fifth.
The U.S., Switzerland and Germany had two riders each in the Final, with Great Britain, Austria,Sweden and France having one each.
Fuchs, who is rated number 11 in the world, made it into the Top Ten Final at short notice after world number 10 Conor Swail was unable to compete when his horse's flight from the U.S.was cancelled at the last minute.
The Top 10 Final was a two round class, with faults from the first and second round added together while the time in the second round decided the placings between riders with equal faults.
In the first round, Fuchs, Farrington, Ben Maher of Great Britain on Point Break,Christian Kukuk of Germany on Just Be Gentle, Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden on King Edward, and Julien Epaillard of France on Donatello d"Auge were clean, while Ward, Max Kuhner of Austria on Eic Cooley Jump the Q, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland on Albfuehren's Lashin Sitte had four faults and Richie Vogel of Germany on United Touch S had eight faults.
WITH THE start of the second round in reverse order of standing, the second heat was even more exciting and came to a head as the six clear riders from the first round crossed the finish line.
Ward was clean in 50.36 for a total of four faults, eventually placed fifth behind Kukuk,, who also had four faults but in 49.07.
Of the clean from the first round, Maher took the lead with a time of 48.59., then Fuchs smashed the target time, finishing in 47.02 seconds.
Farrington brought the crowd to its feet, but was not quite fast enough, finishing in 48.05 to place second.
Fuchs, 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.
HARRIE SMOLDERS of Netherlands on Monace won the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, the culmination of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping on Sunday, and for many riders the last competition before taking a few days off to rest and start a new cycle in 2025.
In the last four years, the Dutchman and his 15-year-old bay stallion have finished second in a 5* Grand Prix no less than 10 times, including at Bois-Le-Duc in 2022 and in London and Geneva in 2021.
Now he has finally added a prestigious win to his impressive list of achievements.
There were 40 riders in the Grand Prix competing over a course set by Gérard Lachat and Grégory Bodo, with 10 going clean to make the jump-off.
Harrie Smolders was the first to start in a jump-off that required both short turns and good speed.
The 44-year-old set the bar high from the outset, going clean in 41.74.
Fuchs on Leone Jei had two down, and Maher on Point Break had one down in 42.53.
The surprise was the Italian Giulia Martinengo Marquet on Delta Del'Isle, clean in 43.75 to eventually place second, and the young Belgian rider Gilles Thomas on Ermitage Kalone, clean in 44.77 to eventually place third.
Then there were only two riders left who could pose a threat to Smolders.
Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not S had a stop at the Oxer of the Pont des Arts de Paris for four faults in 59.62 to place sixth.
And finally, Ward on Ilex did have the fastest time but, in trying for the win, had the last Rolex design vertical down to place fourth.
Farrington on Greya had four faults in the first round and placed 12th.
"Starting first is never easy because the level is very high and everyone can see you and copy you or adapt their own strategy," said Smolders. "I risked everything without any tactical planning, and I really wasn't sure if it would be enough today. I am fair and always congratulate my rivals first when they win, but I think Monaco really deserved this victory. After so many second places it is only right to be at the front."
"This was without a doubt the most difficult competition I have ever done, especially with this horse," saidMarquet. "I was very nervous because the weekend hadn't gone as well as I had hoped, but Delta deserved that I found the right amount of courage today. I have always dreamed of coming to Geneva, so this result means a lot to me. My team and my horse deserve it, I couldn't be happier. Delta is definitely the star of the day and I think I now understand how much a horse can change your life and your career."
"Last year we had many offers to buy Ermitage and it was a risk not to sell him," said Thomas. "This third place is the reward for our risk and I am very happy for his owners and for him. For my part, I am very proud because it was very difficult, and this result is a great achievement. We don't have enough experience to be fast with Ermitage, I knew I couldn't beat Harrie, but maybe I was hoping to catch up with Giulia!"
