WAITING FOR THE ROLEX IJRC TOP 10 FINAL: A HIGHLIGHT ON THE INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPING CALENDAR, THIS IS THE CLASS IN WHICH THE TOP 10 RIDERS IN THE WORLD COMPETE SELECTED ON THE BASIS ON THE LATEST WORLD RANKING UPDATED IN NOVEMBER.

Every year the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final marks the moment at which the end of the year is approaching. It is an international key event made even more special and exciting by the format which has been the same since 2001, year in which it was first held. November’s Ranking List will decide the top 10 riders who will compete at the Palexpo in Geneva.

The event held in Geneva will not only be a moment of great sport, cohesion and renewed energy, also thanks to the many supporters who fill the stands every year, but also an occasion for meeting people, discussing matters and exchanges of opinions so as to move towards a new year characterised by our sport’s growth and improvements.

So many exciting moment and different stories have year after year been experienced in this unique and prestigious competition called the ROLEX IJRC TOP 10 FINAL. 

The Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final ‘in numbers’

On the eve of the 21st edition here are a few numbers linked to the first 20 years of the competition:

2 horses have won the class twice: Baloubet du Rouet ridden by Rodrigo Pessoa and Shutterfly ridden by Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.

2 ladies have won the Final: Meredith Michaels Beerbaum with Shutterfly 2004-2006 and Jessica Küerten with Castel Forbes Libertina, 2007.

5 riders have won it twice: Ludger Beerbaum, Rodrigo Pessoa, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Steve Guerdat and Kent Farrington.

3 horses have competed in 4 editions: Shutterfly ridden by Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Silvana ridden by Kevin Staut and Itot du Chateau ridden by Edwina Tops-Alexander.

5 horses have competed in 3 editions: Goldfever ridden by Ludger Beerbaum, Gitania ridden by Marcus Ehing, Hickstead ridden by Eric Lamaze, Plot Blue ridden by Marcus Ehing and Chaman ridden by Ludger Beerbaum.

1 horse has competed in 2 editions: Austria ridden by Kent Farrington.

5 wins for Germany, the country that has won the most editions.

14 the highest number of Top 10 Finals in which a single rider has competed, Marcus Ehning.

17 out of 20 are the editions held in Geneva.

7 non-European riders have competed in at least one Top 10 Final.

40 European riders have competed in at least one Top 10 Final.

The combinations on the podium in 2021 were:

Ben Maher and Explosion W – Olympic Champions

Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward – Individual and Team World Champions

Jerome Guery and Quel Homme de Hus – Team Bronze at the Olympics and winners of the FEI Nations Cup Final with the Belgian Team. This was Jerome Guery’s first Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final.

ROLEX IJRC Top 10 winners

2001 Ludger Beerbaum (GER)            Goldfever                             Geneva

2002 Ludger Beerbaum (GER)            Gladdys S                               Geneva

2003 Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA)               Baloubet du Rouet                  Geneva

2004 Meredith Michaels Beerbaum (GER) Shutterfly                        Geneva

2005 Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA)               Baloubet du Rouet                  Geneva

2006 Meredith Michaels Beerbaum (GER) Shutterfly                        Geneva

2007 Jessica Kürten (IRL)                   Castle Forbes Libertina        Geneva

2008 Michel Robert (FRA)                  Kellemoi de Pepita                 Brussels

2009 Marcus Ehning (GER)                Plot Blue                                Paris

2010 Steve Guerdat (SUI)                   Jalisca Solier                        Geneva

2011 Billy Twomey (IRL)                   Tinka’s Serenade                    Paris

2012 Christian Ahlmann (GER)          Taloubet Z                              Geneva

2013 Daniel Deusser (GER)                Evita van de Veldbalie          Stockholm

2014 Scott Brash (GBR)                      Hello Sanctos                        Geneva

2015 Kent Farrington (USA)               Voyeur                                   Geneva

2016 Eric Lamaze (CAN)                    Fine Lady                              Geneva

2017 Kevin Staut (FRA)                      Reveur de Hurtebise              Geneve

2018 Steve Guerdat (SUI)                   Alamo                                    Geneve

2019 Kent Farrington (USA)               Austria 2                                Geneve

2021 Ben Maher (GBR)                Explosion W                       Geneve

The competition

The Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final was started in 2001 based on an idea presented by Eleonora Ottaviani, director of the International Jumping Riders Club, in cooperation with François Mathy Jr. and Rodrigo Pessoa.

This class’s original format still used today is based on two rounds with a 5/10-minute break between them plus an eventual jump off; the first round is very similar to that of a Grand Prix, while the second round is shorter and faster. The maximum height allowed for jumps is 1.55m with a few at 1.60m. At the end of the second round, riders dismount and return on foot to the arena to be interviewed and express their immediate reactions and feelings. Once they have jumped, the riders can watch their opponents from the Kiss & Cry so as to remain updated on how things are going. The Top 10 is an event followed with great interest not only by spectators filling the stands of Geneva’s Palaexpo, but also watched from all over the world on TV and online. Watching a competition between the ten best riders in the World Ranking has contributed to making Top 10 one of the most exciting events on the entire international indoor show jumping circuit.

Qualified riders who are interested in competing in the Rolex IJRC TOP10 Final, must have been members of the IJRC since the previous year (2021 and 2022).

Image: Ben Maher, Henrik von Eckermann, Jérôme Guery (©IJRC/F.Petroni)

©IJRC