When the world's best faltered, two exceptional women seized their moment with precision and brilliance—Nina Mallevaey claiming her first Five Star Grand Prix victory in spectacular fashion at Brussels, Jessica Mendoza doing the same at the Hampton Classic's 50th anniversary, and course designers Gregory Bodo and Nick Granat proving that technical mastery trumps reputation every time.

🔉 Catch up on all the action hands-free!

Perfect for busy equestrians! Get your elite showjumping news at jump-off speed while you're cleaning stalls, driving to the barn, or out for a hack. Be the most informed person at your next show!

The €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix at Brussels became a masterclass in why technical riding beats raw power every single time. Gregory Bodo's 1.60m track was nothing short of surgical—designed not to trick horses but to expose any crack in the partnership between horse and rider. The statistics tell the story: from 49 starters, only seven managed clear first rounds, a brutal 14% success rate that saw the world's elite crumble one by one.

The course's weapon of choice was subtlety over size. A towering vertical immediately after a triple bar demanded perfect balance and elevation—many horses leaned through their shoulders and jumped flat, taking rails with them. The delicate plank to open water combination caught multiple victims, while the time pressure kept everyone honest throughout the track. Even the sport's most reliable partnerships couldn't solve Bodo's puzzle.

The carnage among the elite was extraordinary: (World Ranking #)

When the dust settled, just seven combinations had managed clear first rounds from the 49 starters. The top 12 qualified for the second round, where all five first-round clears maintained their perfection, creating a pure speed test among the faultless.

In the second round, Mallevaey rode with absolute confidence and precision. The 25-year-old (#28 in world rankings) attacked every fence with tactical brilliance that belied her years, trusting her brilliant mare completely. Her time of 40.75 seconds was nearly two full seconds faster than Charles's 42.75, a massive margin that showcased pure dominance under the ultimate pressure.

The drama extended beyond the winners—Sweden's Petronella Andersson provided one of the round's most compelling storylines. Sitting 12th after the first round with four faults on Olympke van't Merelsnest, she delivered a lightning-fast second round that pressured every rider who followed. Her aggressive tactics paid off, vaulting her from 12th to 6th place as the fastest four-fault combination, a brilliant tactical ride that showed how quickly fortunes can change in this format.

Mallevaey said, overwhelmed by her first 5* Grand Prix victory on one of the sport's grandest stages.

CSIO5 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix Podium: Full Results

Two days before her Grand Prix heroics, Mallevaey anchored France to Nations Cup victory with a performance that validated Chef d'Équipe Edouard Couperie's bold team selection. Loading his squad with three riders under 25—Mallevaey (25), Jeanne Sadran (24), and Antoine Ermann (24)—alongside veteran Roger-Yves Bost (59), Couperie created a statement team that delivered flawlessly.

The young French riders were ice-cold under pressure. Mallevaey and Ermann both jumped double-clear, becoming part of an exclusive group to achieve perfection across both rounds. With these clears secured, Sadran's single rail in the second round gave France their winning total of just four faults.

Belgium, competing on home soil, delivered a spirited performance that had the packed stands roaring their approval. The host nation's team fought valiantly to claim second place with nine faults, matching their runner-up finish from the previous year. Their consistent excellence in front of their passionate home crowd demonstrated why the Brussels Masters remains such a special venue for Belgian showjumping.

Couperie noted, his confidence fully vindicated.

Sadran declared, capturing the ambitious spirit of her generation perfectly.

CSIO5 Henders & Hazel Nations Cup Podium: Full Results

While Mallevaey dominated the headlines, the week showcased the strategic brilliance of established champions. Ben Maher (#2) claimed two major CSIO5* victories with Ginger-Blue, winning both Thursday's qualifier and Saturday's final qualifier while keeping Point Break fresh for the Grand Prix. His horse management was textbook—win on the second string, preserve the top mount.

Steve Guerdat (#4) followed the same playbook, taking Friday's qualifier with Lancelotta in a masterful 36.33 seconds, edging Belgium's Emilie Conter (36.65s) and Ireland's Cian O'Connor (36.92s). The Swiss maestro's victory on his backup horse showed the depth of his stable and strategic acumen.

Martin Fuchs added to Switzerland's tally with a commanding victory in Friday's speed class aboard Love de Vie, winning by nearly two seconds—a massive margin in speed competition.

Nick Granat created a 1.60m masterpiece for the $400,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix that separated pretenders from champions. His track was a calculated examination of technical skill, featuring a delicate plank-to-scopey oxer sequence, a bending line to the water tray, and a brutal final combination that caught even the world's best.

The first round was an exercise in patience and precision. From 39 combinations, the crowd waited through 17 unsuccessful attempts before American Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run's Jireh posted the first clear. Great Britain's Jessica Mendoza and In The Air followed suit, before Ireland's Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz completed the exclusive three-horse jump-off field—just 7.7% of starters.

Even the world's elite struggled with Granat's technical demands: (# World Ranking)

The course's technical challenges—particularly the delicate plank to scopey oxer sequence, the bending line to the water tray, and the brutal final combination requiring riders to steady quickly while maintaining elevation—proved that reputation means nothing when precision is paramount.

The jump-off was pure theater. Vanderveen set a blistering pace but caught the final fence for four faults. Mendoza, riding with the composure of a seasoned champion, delivered a flawless round in 37.34 seconds. Sweetnam, chasing the time, managed clear but couldn't match the pace, finishing in 37.90 seconds.

said the 29-year-old Mendoza (#61 in rankings), commenting on her first 5* Grand Prix victory aboard her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.

$400,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix Podium: Full Results

The week's other major storyline was the continued rise of 20-year-old Skylar Wireman, who claimed her first FEI 5* victory in Saturday's $62,500 Winning Round. Her performance with Barclino B was utterly dominant—winning by 1.55 seconds in a field where the top two had been separated by just 0.01 seconds before her ride.

Wireman explained about her 9-year-old Holsteiner partner.

McLain Ward (#8) demonstrated textbook tactics in Friday's Grand Prix qualifier, using his advantageous draw position to win with High Star Hero in 36.84 seconds. His strategic approach was clear: "Hero's focus for this week was this qualifier so I was able to take some risks."

Thursday's opening CSI5* class belonged to veteran partnership Alex Matz and 17-year-old Cashew CR, who claimed victory after nine years together.

Before the Grand Prix, the Hampton Classic hosted a moving retirement ceremony for Daniel Bluman's legendary Ladriano Z. The 17-year-old Zangersheide gelding, with 14 international wins and over $2 million in prize money, took his final bow on a stage where he'd claimed two Grand Prix victories (2017, 2023). Bluman's tribute was heartfelt:

Oliver Lazarus (RSA) delivered a masterful performance in the €200,000 Grand Prix with Conbalthago PS, winning the only double-clear round in 43.32 seconds from a field where just 7% managed two clear rounds. The victory marked a significant achievement for the South African rider on the European stage.

€200,000 CSI4 Grand Prix of Gijón Podium:

Constant van Paesschen (BEL) owned the week with Diaz du Thot, claiming two separate Longines Ranking class victories—the €29,500 Volvo Trophy and the €28,200 Trofeo LACERA—showcasing exceptional form and versatility across different competition formats.

The EDCC issued critical alerts for West Nile Virus cases across Utah, Idaho, Kentucky, and Indiana (with two cases resulting in euthanasia), plus an Equine Infectious Anemia quarantine in California and Strangles outbreaks in Maryland, Washington, and Ontario. These developments underscore the importance of strict vaccination protocols and biosecurity measures for all equestrian facilities.

August 26 marked the deadline for National Federation feedback on proposed rule changes. The 2025 cycle includes a full revision of Jumping Rules, updated championship allocation processes, enhanced horse abuse reporting procedures, and mandatory influenza vaccination recording in FEI HorseApp beginning February 2025.

The crown jewel of the North American circuit and one of four Rolex Grand Slam Majors returns with over 4.1 million CAD in prize money. The iconic International Ring will test the world's best as European-based riders make their Atlantic crossing to challenge the North American elite on the historic grass arena. Ireland's recent dominance at the venue makes them the team to beat in Friday's BMO Nations Cup, while Sunday's CPKC 'International' Grand Prix presents one of the world's most challenging and lucrative 1.60m tests. The Masters represents the ultimate fusion of Old World tradition and New World innovation.

This week gets an impressive 8.4/10 for exceptional drama and the emergence of women as the week's dominant force. Two breakthrough 5* Grand Prix victories by young female riders, combined with technical courses that humbled the world's best, created compelling narratives across two continents. From Mallevaey's emotional first 5* GP win in Brussels to Mendoza's triumph at the Hampton Classic's milestone anniversary, the sport showcased its unpredictability and depth.

The retirement ceremonies for Tobago Z and Ladriano Z added poignant emotion, while the technical mastery required to succeed on Bodo's and Granat's demanding courses proved that precision and partnership remain the ultimate currency in our sport.

Know a showjumping fan who's always rushing to catch up on the sport's biggest moments? Share this newsletter with them! Every week, JumpOff.news delivers the most important elite showjumping news in a concise, easy-to-digest format—so they'll never miss another historic hat-trick or breakthrough performance.

Stay tuned to JumpOff.news for all the latest coverage... make sure to subscribe, share with fellow equestrians, and follow all the action as it unfolds, here at JumpOff.news, elite showjumping news, jump-off speed!