Photo: Orange Studios for Falsterbo Horse Show
With packed stands, glorious sunshine, and nine incredible days of competition behind us, it was finally time for one of the highlights of Falsterbo Horse Show: the Longines Falsterbo Grand Prix. 50 international riders took on the Grand Prix course, featuring obstacles towering at 1.60 meters. The competition was decided over two rounds, with 13 pairs advancing to the thrilling “winning round.” The bar was set high, requiring both speed and flawless performance to progress.
After a blazingly fast second round, Swiss rider Martin Fuchs and Conner Jei emerged victorious with a time of 45.70 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of second-placed Willem Greve from the Netherlands, who, together with Highway M TN, crossed the finish line in 47.95 seconds. Italy’s Emanuele Camilli and Odense Odeveld claimed the third spot with a time of 48.68 seconds.
Martin Fuchs expressed his joy and satisfaction with the day’s outcome. The pair had also competed in the Nations Cup earlier in the week, where Switzerland finished at the top of the podium. Fuchs wanted to assess his horse’s performance in this format, with several major competitions held closely together. The result? Based on feelings and result, he was extremely pleased;
– It was an incredible feeling. I haven’t been here in a while, but I want to come back as soon as I get the chance. It has been a great week, and the jump-off today was exhilarating. My horse jumps phenomenally and is extremely careful.
Swiss Dominance Throughout the Week
In addition to their impressive performances on Sunday, Swiss riders dominated the entire Falsterbo Horse Show this year. The Swiss train of victory kicked off with Martin Fuchs claiming first place in the Stiftelsen Falsterbo Horse Show Prize on Friday, followed by Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs securing first and second place, respectively, in the Agria Trophy. Friday afternoon witnessed the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Sweden, with Switzerland emerging as the victors. Steve Guerdat continued the Swiss success story by winning Saturday’s Falsterbo Derby presented by Agria. As previously mentioned, Martin Fuchs sealed the week’s triumph by winning the shows final competition on Sunday, the Longines Falsterbo Grand Prix.