The Rolex Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious classes on the equestrian calendar, delivered a breathtaking conclusion to the 2024 edition of the CHI Geneva. As the final Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major of the year, the competition brought together the world’s most elite riders and their exceptional horses, all vying for the ultimate prize in the sport.

Held in the iconic main arena, the Rolex Grand Prix once again captivated audiences with unparalleled displays of athleticism, precision, and skill. The star-studded field of 40 was sensational and included all of the top 10 ranked riders in the world. Among them was Rolex Testimonee Martin Fuchs, who entered the class as the current live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping following his extraordinary back-to-back victory in the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament in September.

Gérard Lachat’s course proved difficult to master initially, with early favourites, Rolex Testimonee Richard Vogel and Germany’s Marcus Ehning, unable to produce the rounds they had hoped for. However, sixth into the impressive arena, Dutch rider Harrie Smolders delivered a clear round, as did next to jump, World No. 1 Henrik von Eckermann, ensuring a jump-off.

The crowd was then delighted as Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei kept their Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping dreams alive with a confident round. Clears remained hard to come by in the first half of the field, with only Lorenzo de Luca and Grégory Wathelet joining the elite and exclusive list of riders in the jump-off. It was heartbreak though for three-time Major winner Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM, who produced a perfect jumping round but finished with just one-time fault.

Reigning individual Olympic champion Christian Kukuk along with home-favourite Steve Guerdat were among numerous top contenders who did not advance to the jump-off. Meanwhile, Italy’s Giulia Martinengo Marquet treated the knowledgeable crowd to an impeccably judged round, which was quickly followed by clears from Ben Maher and Gilles Thomas.

The course provided challenges throughout, causing problems across the board, and it was the tricky triple combination that cumulatively caused the most penalties, with 11 faults recorded. Past Major winner Willem Greve along with Simon Delestre were among those who struggled with the combination. The first round was concluded with classy clears from Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and the 2022 winner of the class, McLain Ward.

In total, 10 combinations proceeded into the jump-off, returning in the same order in which they had jumped in the initial round, meaning it was Harrie Smolders who went first. The Dutchman set an impressive standard with a clear round in a time of 41.74 seconds – a result neither Henrik von Eckermann nor Martin Fuchs could match.

Sixth to go, Giulia Martinengo Marquet produced the next double clear but was unable to beat the time set by Smolders. With only one horse left to jump, Smolders still held the lead, leaving McLain Ward as the only rider who could take the victory from him. The American flew across the arena in a faster time, but agonizingly, the last fence fell.

This result meant that Harrie Smolders, who demonstrated the perfect harmony between horse and rider in one of the most challenging and celebrated competitions in the world, became the new Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping live contender and claimed his first Major.

Speaking on his win, Smolders stated: “I have no words for this feeling! To win a Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major is a dream come true, and now being the live contender at The Dutch Masters is incredible. My horse, Monaco N.O.P., is so clever –  we have such an amazing connection and so to win this class with him makes it even more special.”

It is your first time here at the CHI Geneva – can you tell us how special it is, as a young rider, to have the opportunity to compete here?

It is fantastic – what an incredible venue! The arena, the atmosphere, the facilities – it is a privilege to compete here and to watch the world’s best horses and riders. It is a spectacular event, and it is great to be a part of it this year.

How much of an inspiration is it to see past members of the Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex such as Richard Vogel and Harry Charles being so successful in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors?

It definitely gives me a bit of hope! Even to be able to have half the success that those riders have had would be amazing. I think without the Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex it would not have been as easy for them to get to where they are now.

What lessons have you learned from the Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex?

A lot! It is a fantastic programme, not just for the fact that you have the opportunity to be able to learn from some of the greatest riders and trainers in the world, but you also learn about veterinary care, business and economics, and communication. This provides us with information that can be crucial in the sport. It has been a great year as part of the Academy and I have learned so much.

What has been your most memorable competition moment so far, and why does it stand out?

Winning an individual gold medal at the FEI Young Rider European Championships this summer was very special. I was riding my best horse, Hello William, and I was with my best friends. So that was a nice moment.

Can you tell us about the string of horses that you currently have?

I am very lucky, I have a string of really nice horses at the moment, and I am very grateful for my owners and sponsors. I have a few exciting horses who I think are going to come through the ranks – so I am hopeful for a successful 2025.

Who has been your biggest inspiration in show jumping, and how have they influenced your career?

I couldn’t look past my parents – they are both inspirational. I was also lucky enough to train with Rolex Testimonee Steve Guerdat five or six years ago. Not a day goes past when I do not think about the advice that he has given me – he is the complete horseman.

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is often described as the pinnacle of the sport – what does it mean for you as a rider?

It means everything – there are big shows and big Grands Prix every week, but as a rider, you know that when it is a Major it is different. You can see that here, there are riders from across the world who have come over to complete on their best horses in the Rolex Grand Prix. It is spectacular and means a lot to us.

If you could ride any horse in history, past or present, which one would you choose and why?

There are so many good horses now that it is hard to say. However, I would have to choose Scott Brash’s Ursula XII. My mum produced her and was double clear in the Nations Cup in Calgary before Scott took her on. What a fabulous horse she was – when she walked into the arena she had a great aura around her – she was gorgeous.

Please could you introduce yourself and tell us about your role?

My name is Sofie. I am Christian Kukuk's travelling groom, and I have worked with him for about nine years.

How did you begin your career in the industry?

I have ridden all my life and always had horses at home. I also used to compete at national schools. I am from Sweden, and I realised that further south in Europe, the sport is bigger and more established. It was always a dream of mine to move abroad, so when I left school, I moved to Holland and was there for a year and a half. I then moved to Ludger Beerbaum’s stables, where Christian was based, and I have been there ever since.

How do you ensure that your horses are able to peak at the most important moments during the year?

It is hard to say, but the more years I have worked in the industry, the more I have realised that less is more. You have to do a lot of work, but I think the horses are usually happiest when we keep it simple. We try not to do too much around them and let them be horses. Hopefully, this helps them be in good shape for the competition.

Additionally, when the rider is feeling good, the horses feel this and feel good themselves. They also react to the energy of the people around them. Success feeds success, sometimes when one horse starts to become successful, the rest of the horses improve as well.

Do you have any superstitions or a certain routine that you have to do at an important competition?

To be honest, I try to avoid it as much as possible because otherwise, it makes me go crazy! If I start thinking that for example, one thing piece of clothing will make us win then I always get disappointed if we don’t do well.

What qualities do you think Christian has that makes him such a successful rider?

He has worked so hard for so many years and he is very committed to the horses. It is his only passion, apart from FC Bayern Munich! He is extremely focused on and dedicated to his career. He has been able to learn from Ludger Beerbaum, and his advice has been invaluable. However, I think he would have been successful anyway.

How much do you enjoy coming to the Majors – The Dutch Masters, the CHIO Aachen, the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, and the CHI Geneva? In your opinion, what sets them apart from the other shows?

The Majors are incredible – they always go a step further and do extra to ensure that everything is great for the grooms, riders, and horses. These are also the shows with the most history and they have such long traditions. All of the organisers ensure that every little detail is as good as it can be for us and the horses, and this makes a big difference.

As Christian is German, the CHIO Aachen is something very special. In general, when we got to these shows, it feels different. It Is truly a unique feeling when you are around these arenas.

How special is it to be here at the CHI Geneva? What are the facilities like for yourself and the horses?

We don’t have many complaints! For the horses and the grooms, it is very good. All the people here are very friendly and when you when you walk into the huge arena it definitely gives you goosebumps!

Can you tell us a little bit about your string of horses?

Friday’s win with Chageorge in the Prix des Communes Genevoises was exciting – he is a very talented horse with hopefully a promising future.

Checker 47 has had an incredible past year – winning so much – it is amazing how much he has achieved. He has a very strong personality, he doesn’t like it when it gets very crowded around him and he will go into his corner and hide. He really relies on one or two people.

We were also pleased with Just Be Gentle in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final. To be honest, she maybe didn’t have the best preparation and so the class could have gone either way. She can be quite spooky, but she went into the arena and was great. She is an extremely strong character – she is very independent. She is so in her world that she does not really let people in.

If you could pass one thing on to an aspiring groom, what would it be?

Watch and learn as you go. I still learn every day from the other grooms around me. It is a tough job but you get to experience things that not many other people get to experience. I remember when I was sitting in the crowds at horse shows, I never imagined that I would be part of anything like this.