Another crown was added to Kent Farrington’s legacy at the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, as the world number one delivered a performance that matched both the scale and the pressure of one of show jumping’s most prestigious stages. Staged during Rolex’s 25th anniversary as sponsor of the event, the Grand Prix brought together a field of rare depth, making any prediction hazardous from the outset.
Course designers Grégory Bodo and Gérard Lachat presented a track that demanded accuracy from the first fence to the last. Early rounds made clear that margins would be unforgiving. Daniel Coyle and Ben Maher both completed the course but were each undone by a single time fault. It was not until Piergiorgio Bucci and Hantano, tenth to go, that the Palexpo crowd witnessed the first clear round of the afternoon. The double combinations quickly emerged as the decisive test, claiming several leading contenders and frustrating the home supporters as Swiss riders Martin Fuchs with L&L Lorde and Steve Guerdat with Dynamix de Bélhème both faltered in the same demanding section.
Momentum shifted when Shane Sweetnam and the powerful grey James Kann Cruz produced a composed, faultless round, setting the benchmark and all but confirming a jump-off. Marc Dilasser followed with Arioto du Gèvres, before Switzerland found renewed cause for celebration through Jason Smith and Picobello van’t Roosakker. Competing in his first Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping event, the Scottish-born rider embraced his qualification with visible emotion. By the end of the first round, eight riders had secured their place in the jump-off, a reflection of the course’s selective nature.
Sweetnam was first to return and immediately applied pressure with a fast double clear. Jason Smith responded with another assured performance, finding his rhythm particularly in the second half of the course, though his time fell short of the Irishman’s target. Then Farrington entered the arena aboard the elegant grey mare Greya. Riding with trademark efficiency and control, he sliced through the track, leaving nothing to chance. Fence after fence fell away with ease, and when the clock stopped, Farrington had taken more than a second off Sweetnam’s time, a commanding advantage at this level. None of the remaining combinations could challenge the mark, and young Belgian Thibeau Spits completed the podium with Impress-K van’t Kettenheye Z in only his second appearance in a Rolex Grand Slam event.
For Farrington, the victory carried particular significance. Despite a season that has already seen his mare claim seven five-star Grand Prix wins, Geneva stands apart in stature and prestige. He acknowledged the pressure he places on himself at this venue, driven by his affection for the tournament and his determination to meet his horses’ peak form with equally high expectations. With the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping firmly in his sights, the American made clear that his focus now shifts toward ensuring his string is prepared for the demands that lie ahead.
The triumph provided a fitting conclusion to an exceptional week at CHI Geneva, which drew a record 49,200 spectators across all competition days. As the lights dimmed on another memorable edition, attention turned toward December 2026, when the event will celebrate its 100th anniversary. If Farrington’s latest coronation is any indication, Geneva will continue to reward those capable of rising to the sport’s highest occasions.
