The Miracle of Mechelen: When Nobody Went Clear

JumpOff.news Newsletter

Week of December 22-28, 2025

OPENING HOOK:

A World Cup jump-off where nobody went clear, Gilles Thomas pulling off a "miracle" win in front of 85,000 screaming Belgian fans, and Steve Guerdat reminding everyone why he's still one of the best in the business. Welcome to JumpOff.news, elite showjumping news, jump-off speed!

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🇧🇪 CSI5*-W JUMPING MECHELEN (BELGIUM, DEC 26-30)

"The Miracle of Mechelen: When Nobody Went Clear"

The Nekkerhal in Mechelen delivered its most dramatic World Cup qualifier in recent memory. In front of over 85,000 spectators across five days of competition, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup presented by BMW produced a statistical anomaly that will be debated by course designers for years: a five-horse jump-off where every single rider had a rail down.

Belgian course designer Bart Vonck set out to create a "well-balanced menu" for his third World Cup at Mechelen. The 1.60m track featured 13 obstacles requiring 16 jumping efforts, with an aggressive time allowed of 71 seconds that forced riders to maintain forward rhythm while managing delicate verticals. The killer was the final line: a delicate plank followed by 5-6 strides down to a massive triple combination—vertical in, one stride to an oxer, one stride to a vertical out—then five strides to the final oxer. Every single one of these jumps claimed at least one victim, making it a gauntlet that separated the field.

Of 40 starters, only five combinations navigated the first round without fault: Marcus Westergren (SWE) on Airco de L'Esprit Z, Gilles Thomas (BEL) on Qalista DN, Patrick Stühlmeyer (GER) on Baloutaire PS, Willem Greve (NED) on Grandorado TN N.O.P., and Daniel Deusser (GER) on Otello de Guldenboom. Julien Epaillard, the defending champion and fastest rider in the world, finished as the fastest four-faulter in 65.50 seconds—agonizingly close but ultimately a spectator for the finale.

Then came the jump-off chaos. Westergren, riding first, attacked the course but dropped a rail in 42.34 seconds. Thomas, riding to a deafening roar from the home crowd, executed what analysts called a "sensational turn" after fence 10, cutting inside to save crucial time. But the risk caught up with him at the double combination, and the rail fell. His time: 41.30 seconds—faster than Westergren, but still four faults.

Stühlmeyer opted for a steady clear strategy. It backfired—the combination claimed another victim, and his conservative pace left him in provisional third with 4 faults in 44.05 seconds. World Cup leader Willem Greve attempted a cautious "stroll around the park" but pulled the front rail of the oxer. His time of 45.63 seconds was the slowest of the group.

Daniel Deusser, with wins at Mechelen in 2013 and 2019, knew a clear round would win it all. But in the turn-back to fence 4a, a miscommunication with Otello de Guldenboom proved costly. The pole dropped. The crowd gasped. Deusser, realizing the win was gone, didn't push for time.

Gilles Thomas, watching from the warm-up monitor, couldn't believe what had unfolded. The Belgian admitted he was initially angry with himself after the mistake, questioning why he'd taken such a risk. But that aggressive strategy put enough pressure on the remaining riders to secure the most unlikely of victories. Thomas noted this was truly unbelievable after finishing second last year, and that it finally worked this time around. He also revealed he'd quietly believed Qalista DN gave him a better chance than his other top mount Ermitage—a strategic gamble that paid off spectacularly.

For the 9-year-old BWP mare by Emerald out of a Landetto dam, this marks another strong result in her rise through Thomas's string. Qalista DN has been proving increasingly capable at the 5* level, and this win further establishes her as a reliable championship-level partner. The victory moved Thomas up the Western European League standings with crucial points as the halfway mark of the season approaches.

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Mechelen Podium:

1. Gilles Thomas (BEL) - Qalista DN - 0/4 faults - 41.30s - €62,500
2. Marcus Westergren (SWE) - Airco de L'Esprit Z - 0/4 faults - 42.34s - €50,000
3. Patrick Stühlmeyer (GER) - Baloutaire PS - 0/4 faults - 44.05s - €37,500

The result has significant implications for the "Road to Fort Worth." Willem Greve's 5th place finish (12 points) keeps him comfortably at the top of the Western European League with 52 points—mathematically qualified. Deusser's 4th place moved him to 38 points, putting him on the cusp of guaranteed qualification. Thomas's 20-point haul revives his World Cup Final hopes after a challenging first half of the season.

Full results: https://www.longinestiming.com/equestrian/2025/jumping-mechelen-mechelen/resultlist_08.html

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Guerdat's BMW Masters Masterclass

While the World Cup provided the drama, Steve Guerdat delivered a reminder of pure horsemanship in the BMW Masters. The reigning European individual champion was the only rider to navigate all rounds without error aboard the 12-year-old mare Lancelotta (Falkenhof's Lancer x Orlando). "Lancelotta is fantastic in a jump-off. She keeps fighting and is always very sharp in those situations," Guerdat said. "I did have some doubts beforehand, but she was amazing all evening." The format saw six combinations make it to the decisive fifth round, with Guerdat's precision ultimately separating him from Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) on Cornethagos PS and Gilles Thomas on Qiara de Kalvarie, who both finished with zero faults through four rounds but couldn't match Guerdat when it mattered most.

BMW Masters Podium:

1. Steve Guerdat (SUI) - Lancelotta - 0/0/0/0/0 faults
2. Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) - Cornethagos PS - 0/0/0/0/0 faults
3. Gilles Thomas (BEL) - Qiara de Kalvarie - 0/0/0/0/4 faults

Supporting Classes Roundup

The Sport Vlaanderen Grand Prix (1.55m) saw Sweden's Petronella Andersson dominate aboard Odina van Klapscheut, utilizing the 11-year-old BWP mare's natural footspeed to stop the clock at 36.50 seconds in a 17-horse jump-off, narrowly beating Great Britain's Robert Murphy. Julien Epaillard redeemed his World Cup disappointment by winning the KBC Bank & Verzekering Prize (1.50m) with Donatello d'Auge, doing what he does best—winning against the clock with a time of 38.34 seconds, over half a second faster than the runner-up. "The Belgian riders are super motivated in Mechelen, this makes it challenging to win," Epaillard noted.

The unique Sires of the World class, reserved for approved stallions, went to Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida (POR) riding Comme le Coeur (Comme Il Faut x Heartbreaker), showcasing the breeding potential that makes this class a critical showcase for the Zangersheide ecosystem. In perhaps the most entertaining spectacle of the week, the "Champion of Champions" horse swap saw Pieter Devos and Nicola Philippaerts exchange mounts mid-competition, with Devos ultimately claiming the title after Philippaerts suffered a two-rail meltdown on his own horse Rakker in the decisive jump-off.

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QUICK HITS

🇦🇪 CSI3*-W Al Ain (UAE, Dec 25-28)

Abdel Saïd successfully defended his 2024 title at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, delivering a masterclass in modern showjumping efficiency. Riding the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding Quaker Brimbelles Z (Quicksilver St. Simeon x Hickstead), Saïd was nearly five seconds faster than his closest rival in the 1.55m World Cup Grand Prix jump-off, stopping the clock at 49.02 seconds. This margin of victory suggests Saïd didn't merely win on galloping speed but on track efficiency—tightening turns and trusting his horse's footwork to an extent others didn't dare attempt. Palestine's Vladimir Tuganov took second aboard Conquida de Revel PS with a tactical double-clear in 54.11 seconds, prioritizing consistency over high-risk speed. Italy's Guido Grimaldi secured third on the 14-year-old Gentleman (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Oklund) with a time of 60.24 seconds—more than 11 seconds off the winning pace but securing valuable World Cup points with a safe strategy. Germany's Sophie Hinners, who won the 1.45m World Cup Qualifier earlier in the week, finished 4th in the Grand Prix with the fastest four-fault round at 48.12 seconds—actually faster than Saïd's winning time.

Al Ain World Cup Grand Prix Podium:

1. Abdel Saïd (BEL) - Quaker Brimbelles Z - 0/0 faults - 49.02s - €24,750
2. Vladimir Tuganov (PLE) - Conquida de Revel PS - 0/0 faults - 54.11s - €15,000
3. Guido Grimaldi (ITA) - Gentleman - 0/0 faults - 60.24s - €11,250

Full results: https://www.longinestiming.com/equestrian/2024/al-ain-csi3-w-international-show-jumping-competition-abu-dhabi/resultlist_01.html

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INDUSTRY NEWS

2026 FEI Rule Changes: A Welfare-First New Year

As we close out 2025, it's worth remembering that the new year brings significant regulatory changes to showjumping. The FEI General Assembly approved a comprehensive restructuring of the Jumping Rules for 2026, with the most impactful change being the restriction on 5-year-old horses—competitions for 5-year-olds may no longer be run against the clock. This "Social License to Operate" reform aims to reduce pressure on young horses' skeletal systems before they're fully mature, fundamentally changing the market for young horses. Buyers will now prioritize technique and potential over speed results. The new tiered warning system also comes into effect: two warnings in 12 months triggers a CHF 2,000 fine, while three warnings results in CHF 3,000. All tack rules are moving to a separate FEI Tack & Equipment Database, allowing the federation to ban specific bits or bridles immediately if welfare concerns arise without waiting for annual votes. These changes represent the sport's most aggressive pivot toward visible welfare standards in modern history.

Full details: https://inside.fei.org/fei/disc/jumping/rules/changes-2026

Year-End Market Activity

The final week of the year saw significant auction activity as buyers capitalized on tax-cycle purchases and roster adjustments before the new season. Ballypatrick Auctions offered 34 horses on December 23, with the Irish market continuing its reputation as the premier source for "producer" horses—youngsters with the bravery to event or jump at the highest levels. SLF Horse Auctions, the collaboration between Harrie Smolders, Walter Lelie, and Niels Fabrie, offered four distinct collections segmenting the market from foals to ridden horses, with their "hybrid" model of online bidding with live trials now becoming the industry standard. The December surge reflects the strategic timing of major breeding operations looking to move stock before year-end financial reporting while giving buyers maximum training time before spring competition season begins.

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LOOKING AHEAD

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ CSI4* H.H. The Father Amir's Prix (Al Shaqab, Doha, Qatar, Dec 30-Jan 4)

The Middle East circuit continues into the new year at the world-class Al Shaqab facility in Qatar. Expect strong prize money and ranking points as riders stay in the region before the European indoor circuit ramps up in Basel and Leipzig.

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WEEKLY RATING

This week gets an 8.0/10 for delivering one of the most unique World Cup qualifiers in recent memory.

The zero-clear jump-off at Mechelen created genuine drama, with Gilles Thomas's emotional home victory and Guerdat's clinical BMW Masters providing both heart and horsemanship. Solid field strength with Greve, Deusser, and Epaillard, plus strong sport from Al Ain. The limited holiday calendar prevents a higher rating, but this was compelling showjumping.

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As we close out 2025, we want to thank you for being part of the JumpOff.news community this year. Your support means everything as we work to bring you comprehensive coverage of elite showjumping every single week. If you've found value in staying up to speed with the sport, we'd be incredibly grateful if you'd share JumpOff.news with other riders and fans in your life—it's the best way to help us grow and keep delivering the coverage you deserve.

Next week, we head into 2026 with the Middle East circuit continuing in Qatar. Stay tuned to jumpoff.news for all the latest coverage as the new year begins. Here at JumpOff.news, elite showjumping news, jump-off speed!