This year, we had the debut of the FEI’s Longines League of Nations series, a team competition. Halfway through the four shows that will qualify countries for the League’s finals in Barcelona, it was announced today at CSIO Rome that rival watchmaker Rolex is inaugurating a new show jumping series for individual riders. It will include five European shows, with the finale in the U.S. at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., March 29, 2025.
The international arena at the Winter Equestrian Festival, the scene of many major competitions, will host the finale of a new Rolex series next year. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer) P
In addition to the Rome show at the Piazza di Sienna this week, other shows in the new series are La Baule, France, in June; Dinard, France, in July, Dublin in August and the Stephex Masters in Brussels Aug. 28-Sept. 1, all in 2024.
Olympic gold medalist Steve Guerdat of Switzerland observed, “The six shows that are part of the Rolex Series are some of the best shows in the world and the ones that we all, as riders, mark in our schedule every year. They are some of the most prestigious and historically significant competitions on our calendar, and by bringing this amazing group of shows together as part of the Rolex Series, the prestige and desire to win is only going to increase.”
Rolex also presents a Grand Slam series that includes Geneva, ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, Aachen and Spruce Meadows, with a 1 million Euro bonus for the winner of all four competitions. Only one rider, Great Britain’s Scott Brash, has been able to take all four in succession and collect the big prize.