T he spectators at the CHI Geneva 2013 experienced so much passion, so much drama and so much joy that it was almost as if the story of the last Majors show of the year had been choreographed. As it drew to a close, with the Swiss national hero Steve Guerdat ecstatically cheered as the winner of the competition, equestrian sport became a theatre, and the huge Palexpo indoor arena its stage. And as in any good drama, the spectators were kept on the edge of their seats until the happy denouement, enthusiastically celebrated by the 8,800 fans in the sold-out arena. After his last round, Steve Guerdat had to wait a quarter of an hour before his famous fellow competitors – including Kevin Staut from France, Scott Brash from Great Britain and Alvaro de Miranda from Brazil – had completed the jump-off. Not one of them was able to match his time. “Those 15 minutes felt like an eternity”, Guerdat commented later. Still mounted, he watched six of his rivals jump the 340-metre-long course, with its nine obstacles. And let out deep sighs of relief after each of the six riders failed to beat him. Great Britain’s superstar, Scott Brash, came closest, but in the end crossed the line 32 hundredths of a second too late, which meant the emotional home victory went to Steve Guerdat. One of the special things about the Rolex Grand Slam is that Guerdat’s victory wasn’t the only tale told on that memorable Sunday in Geneva. Attention also focused on the Belgian rider, Pieter Devos. He had travelled to Lake Geneva as the winner of the “CN International presented by Rolex” in Spruce Meadows. And indeed, the rising star amazed everyone again. He succeeded in qualifying for the “Rolex Grand Prix” in the last few metres to the finish line, reaching the jump-off with his courageous mare “Candy”. After picking up eight faults, he didn’t quite manage to make it onto the winners’ board, but what Devos and “Candy” achieved in 2013, is simply top sport. The prize-money over the days of the show totalled 1.5 million Swiss francs; the concluding competition, the Rolex Grand Prix, alone was endowed with 600,000 francs. The almost 40,000 spectators, who attended the show at Palexpo, were in great spirits and the vibrant mood in the arena was a worthy setting for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. The Majors: CHI Geneva 2013 35
Rolex Grand Slam magazine - Number 2
To see the actual publication please follow the link above