THE RIDERS FOR THE ROLEX IJRC TOP 10 FINAL 2024: THREE NEWCOMERS IN THE MIX, AS GUERDAT AIMS FOR RECORD FOURTH TITLE

The International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) is proud to announce the riders for the 2024 Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final.

They are the top 10 riders in the world - not surprisingly still led by Henrik von Eckermann, who has been World No. 1 for a remarkable 28 months. Other finalists will include last year's winner Steve Guerdat, aiming for a record fourth win in this unique class to decide the best of the best on the evening of Friday, 13 December at the CHI Geneva.

The following riders will go head to head in the 23rd edition of the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final:

1 Henrik von Eckermann (SWE)
2 Steve Guerdat (SUI)
3 Ben Maher (GBR)
4 Kent Farrington (USA)
5 Julien Epaillard (FRA)
6 Max Kühner (AUT)
7 Richard Vogel (GER)
8 Christian Kukuk (GER)
9 McLain Ward (USA)
10 Conor Swail (IRE)
 

Created by the IJRC in 2001, the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final is the only five-star class whose contestants qualify directly on merit from the rankings list, reflecting their consistency over the previous 12 months. It is no wonder it is regarded as a calendar highlight by riders and aficionados alike.

"The Rolex IJRC Top 10 is a unique event," said IJRC director Eleonora Ottaviani. "The adrenaline rush, the emotions and the suspense transmided by this competition are something special.
What impresses most apart from the technical skills and the difficulty of the challenge is to see the camaraderie, the sharing of emotions and the enthusiasm of the ten top riders - emotions that they manage to transfer to the public. It's like magic."

This year’s final involves four former winners – von Eckermann, Maher, Guerdat and Farrington. There are three “newcomers” who have all made a great impact this season; the new Olympic individual champion Christian Kukuk, who secured gold for Germany after a thrilling three-horse jump-off against the backdrop of Versailles; his compatriot, IJRC board member Richard Vogel (selected by the young Riders Academy in 2020) who has made a rapid ascent up the ranking, claiming his first Major at Geneva last year – the Rolex Grand Prix. Finally, just edging into the top 10 of the ranking this month, is Ireland’s Conor Swail, whose big wins this year include the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows.

Could Guerdat make it a record four wins? After his 2023 success he spoke movingly of what it means to compete in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in front of his home crowd. "It is like a love story, really," he said. "For all these years I keep coming back and am lucky to have had a lot of success here. My family and friends are here, and even though every win is special, every win here is even more special."

IJRC president François Mathy Jr. said of the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final: “It is a unique competition like a championship final, except you are guaranteed to see the 10 best riders competing with the best horses, fighting to win the title.
It is the reward of a successful season, providing incredible sport and a unique atmosphere.”

The class runs over two rounds, with a maximum fence height of 1.60/1.65m. There is a first round with 10-12 fences and then, after a short break, a second round over 8-10 fences. Faults and times are aggregated and in the event of a tie the time of the second round decides. After the second round, each rider returns to the arena on foot to be interviewed, another popular feature of the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final. Competitors are allowed to change horse between the first and the second round.

The Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final has a prize fund of €530,000, and a Rolex watch to the winner.

Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final winners:

2001 Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and Goldfever
2002 Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and Gladdys S
2003 Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Baloubet du Rouet
2004 Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) and Shutterfly
2005 Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Baloubet du Rouet
2006 Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) and Shutterfly
2007 Jessica Kürten (IRL) and Castle Forbes Libertina
2008 Michel Robert (FRA) and Kellemoi de Pepita (Brussels)
2009 Marcus Ehning (GER) and Plot Blue (Paris)
2010 Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Jalisca Solier
2011 Billy Twomey (IRL) and Tinka’s Serenade (Paris)
2012 Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Taloubet Z
2013 Daniel Deusser (GER) and Evita van de Veldbalie (Stockholm)
2014 Scott Brash (GBR) and Hello Sanctos
2015 Kent Farrington (USA) and Voyeur
2016 Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Fine Lady
2017 Kevin Staut (FRA) and Reveur de Hurtebise
2018 Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Alamo
2019 Kent Farrington (USA) and Austria 2
2021 Ben Maher (GBR) and Explosion W
2022 Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and King Edward 
2023 Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Venard de Cerisy
 
(Names in bold denote Rolex Equestrian Testimonee)

* All editions in Geneva except where stated. Show cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Photo credit: IJRC/F.Petroni/Tiffany van Halle