Only one American is in the field for December’s Rolex International Jumper Riders Club Top 10 competition in Geneva, Switzerland, but he’s number one. That’s Kent Farrington. He has taken the competition twice (2015 and 2019) during eight appearances.
Kent Farrington in Geneva on Toulayna 2024.
Although the USA’s Laura Kraut was number eight in the rankings, it’s been a very long competition year and the pre-Christmas show is a bridge too far for some. Her decision not to participate cleared the way for another U.S. rider, eleventh-ranked McLain Ward, to take a place, but he also declined.
Belgian rider Abdel Said was ranked number 12, but because he is not a member of the IJRC, did not get named to the competition list after Laura and McLain declined. He explained that during COVID, when he was ranked sixtieth in the world, he felt IJRC had not supported riders below the top 30, and he stopped paying dues to the organization. Abdel sought a solution, but to no avail.
“I had hoped for a stronger response and greater effort to support riders beyond the top 30. Since then I decided I didn’t need to continue my financial contribution to the IJRC,” he explained.
Meanwhile Britain has two riders (Scott Brash and Ben Maher, ranked numbers two and three) as does Germany with Olympic champion Christian Kukuk and European Champion Richard Vogel (numbers four and six). Belgium’s European Championships team gold medalist Gilles Thomas, who took the Global Champions Tour Leading Rider honors this year, is number five. The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders is ranked seventh, ahead of Daniel Coyle (Ireland) and Julien Epaillard (France).
Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, number 13 on the jumper standings, is ranked number 10 of those eligible. He made the list due to defections. Steve, who is recovering from back problems, will be going for his fourth title in the competition. Last year’s winner, Swiss rider Martin Fuchs, is not competing.
In the Longines League of Nations standings, the U.S. power is evident as it leads the way going into the 2026 season. It has 14,868 points, to 14,326 for Belgium and 13,953 for Ireland. Sweden, which has had plenty of powerhouse moments, did not make the cut to compete in the league next year.