Martin Fuchs crashing out at the first fence after a perfect first round, Scott Brash claiming the richest prize in showjumping history exactly ten years after his Grand Slam triumph, and Great Britain ending a 29-year Nations Cup drought at the sport's most demanding venue.

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Sometimes the sport writes its own fairy tale, and Sunday's CPKC 'International' was pure showjumping poetry. Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson claimed the CAD $5 million Grand Prix—the richest prize in the sport's history—exactly ten years after Brash's legendary Rolex Grand Slam triumph at the same venue. The symmetry was almost too perfect to believe.

Leopoldo Palacios set a course that proved to be the ultimate test of credibility. After everyone freaked out during the course walk about how unjumpable it looked. Laura Kraut and Max Wachman had walked the track and decided not to even start—a strategic withdrawal that looked questionable when riders like Kyle King and Steve Guerdat sailed through round one. The first round turned out relatively straightforward with 11 clear rounds.

But Palacios saved his masterpiece for the second round. What followed was showjumping brutality at its finest. The final line—a massive double of red oxers followed immediately by a skinny bicycle jump, then the signature Rolex oxer—became an absolute graveyard. Not a single rider managed a clear round. Ten of the twelve finalists had eight faults or more.

The most shocking casualty was Martin Fuchs. After jumping a perfect first round on Leone Jei, the Swiss star was unseated at the very first fence of round two when his horse took off a stride early. For the defending Rolex Grand Slam champion who was chasing a hat-trick of wins at Spruce Meadows, it was a devastating and completely unexpected end to his dreams.

When the carnage settled, only Scott Brash (Hello Jefferson) and Kyle King (Kayenne Z) emerged with four faults each, forcing a jump-off that would decide the richest prize in showjumping.

Brash went first and rode a masterclass. Knowing clear was everything, he balanced speed with precision, rolling perfectly to the wall at fence three and stopping the clock fault-free in 46.97 seconds. King took the more aggressive approach, up on the time and looking like he might steal victory, but a rail at the Canada planks handed the historic win to Brash.

CPKC 'International' Podium:

Saturday's "British Day" lived up to its billing as Team Great Britain delivered a flawless performance to win the BMO Nations Cup, ending a remarkable 29-year wait for victory in one of the world's most prestigious team competitions. With Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, watching as Royal Patron, the moment couldn't have been more perfect.

The British squad—Matthew Sampson (Ebolensky), Ben Maher (Enjeu de Grisien), Joseph Stockdale (Ebanking), and Donald Whitaker (Millfield Colette)—proved unstoppable. Maher, Stockdale, and Whitaker all produced double-clear rounds, an extraordinary display of consistency over Palacios' demanding track.

The competition came down to the final rider. Germany sat on four faults after Richard Vogel took a rail at the last fence with Cloudio, opening the door for Britain. Donald Whitaker carried the weight of 29 years of frustration into the ring and delivered a nerveless clear round to seal the historic victory.

BMO Nations Cup Final Standings:

Germany's Richard Vogel salvaged what could have been a disappointing week by claiming two major victories with Phenyo van het Keysersbos. He won Wednesday's $62,515 Cardel Homes Cup in a 14-horse jump-off, then closed the tournament by winning Sunday's $88,250 Suncor Cup despite incurring a rail—his speed was so blistering that even with four penalty seconds, no one could catch him.

"It's always very nice to come back. And I think the horses really like it too," Vogel said, highlighting the special relationship between European riders and the iconic Calgary venue.

Home soil magic struck in Switzerland as the host nation captured the EEF Nations Cup Final in the most dramatic fashion possible. With France having fought back to tie on 12 faults, the competition came down to a jump-off between 20-year-old Swiss rider Gaëtan Joliat and France's Sara Brionne.

Brionne set the standard with a clear round in 40.29 seconds on Grand Duc du Paradiso. Joliat, riding Chelsea Z, had to be faster and delivered under enormous pressure, winning by over a second in 39.08 seconds to send the home crowd into delirium.

"A golden script," as the Swiss called it—and you can't argue with that description. The EEF Series proved its worth as a development pathway, with both nations trusting their U25 riders in the most pressure-filled moment imaginable.

Michael Viehweg (GER) won Friday's individual Grand Prix with Contario, beating home Swiss riders Thibaut Keller and Paul Bücheler.

Kent Farrington reminded everyone why he's World No. 1 with a dominant double victory during Championship Week. He won Thursday's $65,000 Welcome aboard Orafina, then claimed Saturday's $125,000 Grand Prix with Grass de Mars in a blistering 39.14 seconds.

"Even though this is a three-star, the caliber of horses and riders that are here is very strong," Farrington noted. Philip McGuane (IRL) pushed him hard for second with Orphea HQ, missing by just six hundredths of a second.

The quality was undeniable—multiple Olympians in a CSI3* field shows the depth of talent on the North American circuit.

Charlotte Jacobs and Instrumental stood alone in Sunday's $117,000 Grand Prix, the only pair to jump double-clear while others chased speed and paid the price. Jacobs' tactical brilliance in 38.12 seconds proved that sometimes patience beats pace.

"She has really progressed this season... We took our time with her," Jacobs said of her 10-year-old Swedish-bred mare. The venue also hosted the $100,000 USHJA Young Jumper Championships, with Jacobs adding victory in the 7-year-old division—proving her program's depth beyond just the feature classes.

Leopold van Asten (NED) and VDL Groep Nino du Roton won the Grand Prix at this crucial European circuit venue. From 59 starters, van Asten was fastest of seven double-clear combinations in 43.63 seconds, just edging Robert Murphy (GBR) and Hulde G.

The week ran alongside the BWP Elite Auction, highlighting Azelhof's role as both competitive venue and commercial hub for the European industry.

The Spruce Meadows 'Masters' broke new ground with its CAD $5 million Grand Prix purse—not just the richest prize in showjumping history, but the largest single-day prize for any sporting event in Canada in 2025. The tournament's 50th anniversary celebration included 98 horses flown from Europe on two dedicated Boeing 747s, joining domestic competitors for a field of over 130 horses representing 18 nations.

US Equestrian announced its teams for the 2025 FEI Youth Jumping Nations Cup Final, scheduled for September 19-21 in Lier, Belgium—the same venue that hosted this week's CSI3*. The federation also updated the format for the 2025 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals, adding a formal horse inspection and adjusting the flat and gymnastics phases

🇺🇸 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5-W Traverse City (Michigan, September 10-14)
The Tournament of Champions continues with a Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier, bringing the world's best to Michigan for crucial North American League points.

🇩🇪 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5 LGCT Riesenbeck (Germany, September 11-14)
The Longines Global Champions Tour heads to Germany for another high-stakes stop featuring the world's elite combinations.

🇺🇸 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI4 North Salem (New York, September 10-14)
🇨🇭 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI4 Ascona (Switzerland, September 11-14)
🇲🇽 ⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Playa Del Carmen (Mexico, September 10-14)

This week gets an 8.8/10 for exceptional sport and compelling storylines at showjumping's most demanding venue. Scott Brash's fairy-tale victory, Martin Fuchs' shocking elimination, and Great Britain's 29-year drought ending created the perfect blend of drama and historic achievement. Leopoldo Palacios' masterful course design separated pretenders from champions, while the unprecedented $5 million prize purse elevated the stakes to new heights. A single-venue week that delivered everything we could ask for from the sport's ultimate proving ground.

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