Under the lights of Palexpo, the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final once again confirmed its status as one of the most exacting and prestigious classes in international show jumping. Reserved exclusively for the top ten riders in the FEI World Rankings, the 2025 edition at CHI Geneva delivered a contest defined by precision, pressure and elite horsemanship, as the world’s best faced a format that leaves no room for error.
Run in its traditional configuration, the class featured two rounds over different courses, with faults carried forward and the final result determined by time in the second round. Only two combinations succeeded in producing double-clear performances: Kent Farrington with Toulayna and Scott Brash with Hello Chadora Lady. Farrington held the early advantage after a faster first round, but it was Brash who delivered when it mattered most, setting the quicker time in the decisive second round to secure the victory.
For Brash, the win marked a significant return to the top. Having previously claimed the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in 2014, the 2025 triumph represented his second title in six appearances in the class. His partnership with Hello Chadora Lady proved pivotal throughout the evening, the mare’s natural energy and speed evident from the opening fence. Brash later described her as an exceptionally quick and eager horse, noting that while parts of the second round became momentarily untidy, her athleticism and natural pace carried them through a demanding course.
A Rolex Testimonee and current live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Brash is clearly enjoying a particularly strong period in his career. Speaking after the class, he highlighted the depth of quality in his string, explaining that his top horses have all delivered victories at two- to five-star level during the season, a consistency that was once again on display in Geneva.
Second place went to Kent Farrington, who cut a frustrated figure despite standing on the podium. While pleased with Toulayna’s performance, Farrington was candid in his assessment of his own tactics. After watching Brash’s round, he opted for a smooth, controlled strategy, hoping to capitalise on his horse’s natural speed. However, a cautious approach to the penultimate fence pushed him slightly wide, forcing a ten-stride line to the final fence where others had managed nine, a decision that ultimately cost him the win by a fraction of a second.
Completing the podium was Richard Vogel aboard Cloudio, a performance that underlined the promise of the ten-year-old horse on one of the sport’s most demanding stages. Competing in Geneva for the first time, Cloudio appeared at ease in the electric atmosphere of Palexpo, despite an early misunderstanding in the first round that resulted in a pole down. Vogel remained proud of the partnership, particularly given the horse’s strong performances earlier in the season at Aix-la-Chapelle and Calgary.
The broader significance of the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final was emphasised by François Mathy, President of the International Jumping Riders Club, who praised the level of sport on display and suggested that the 2025 edition surpassed even the high standards of previous years. IJRC Director Eleonora Ottaviani echoed those sentiments, highlighting the long-standing partnership with Rolex and noting that all three riders on the podium were Rolex Testimonees, with Vogel also a graduate of the Rolex Young Riders Academy. She also paid tribute to the CHI Geneva Organising Committee, whose confidence in the IJRC project stretches back more than two decades.
As Scott Brash accepted the trophy from Joël Aeschlimann, Rolex International Sponsorship Manager, alongside Rolex Testimonee Camille Rast, he reflected on the unique status of the class within the sport. Widely regarded as one of the most watched competitions of the season, the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final remains a target for every elite rider. Brash summed it up by noting that if the class were run ten times, it would likely produce ten different winners, a testament to the level of competition and the enduring appeal of one of show jumping’s true pinnacle events.
