Frank Rothenberger built a proper test for the 40 combinations that entered Sunday's Longines FEI Jumping World Cup at Leipzig's Partner Pferd. The 1.60m track featured early questions - a vertical to oxer with liverpool tray off a short corner at fences 3A and 3B that immediately separated those who could handle technical combinations under time pressure. The green triple combination late in the course caught out multiple top riders, contributing to six retirements or eliminations and thinning the field to just 11 clear rounds.

But it was what happened in the jump-off that defines championship riding. Steve Guerdat (SUI) drew the short straw - first to go in an 11-horse speed class. Most riders hate going early; you set a target with no reference point, and then you watch helplessly as 10 competitors dissect your round looking for time. Guerdat didn't flinch.

Riding Albfuehren's Iashin Sitte, the Swiss legend stopped the clock at 42.21 seconds. Not a reckless time - Guerdat never rides reckless - but a calculated, efficient round that left minimal room for improvement. The 57-second time allowed in the jump-off meant riders had to commit, and Guerdat trusted his 12-year-old gelding's footspeed and his own ability to find the tightest lines without sacrificing carefulness.

Simon Delestre (FRA) came the closest. On Gatsby du Tillard, Delestre's signature aggressive style produced a 43.25-second effort - fast, but over a full second behind. Gerrit Nieberg (GER) rounded out the podium at 44.54 seconds aboard Ping Pong van de Lentamel, and the rest of the field couldn't crack the 45-second barrier.

Guerdat walked out of Leipzig with his first World Cup win of the season, 20 crucial qualifying points, and a reminder to everyone that at 42 years old, he's still operating at the highest level of the sport.

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Podium: FEI Results

But Sunday's World Cup wasn't Guerdat's only triumph in Leipzig. The Swiss ace had already warmed up on Saturday by winning the Championat der Stadt Leipzig aboard Is-Minka, stopping the clock at 36.13 seconds in the 1.55m jump-off to beat home favourite Gerrit Nieberg on IB Queen (38.58s) and Belgium's Rik Hemeryck on Navarro van het Elshof (39.62s). Two wins in two days, two different horses - that's the mark of a rider operating at peak form.

Friday's Range Rover Cup saw Dutch veteran Jur Vrieling continue his dominance of the Leipzig qualifiers, winning aboard the 15-year-old stallion Grand Slam VDL with a clear round in 63.72 seconds. Michael Jung (GER) placed second on Fischerheros Z, while Victor Bettendorf (LUX) took third on Doha de Riverland.

Saturday Championat Results | Friday Range Rover Cup Results

Aaron Vale reminded everyone why the World Equestrian Center in Ocala feels like home turf. In Saturday's $200,000 Grand Prix, Vale faced a jump-off that included Daniel Bluman (ISR), who went first and set a blistering target. Vale's response? Take out a stride in the first line - a high-risk maneuver that requires absolute trust in your horse's scope and your own eye. Riding Carissimo 25, Vale executed perfectly and stopped the clock at 37.58 seconds to claim the $60,000 winner's check.

Earlier in the week, Bluman had won Thursday's $117,000 Qualifier aboard Gemma W with a 33.21-second jump-off, showing the depth of talent competing at the upgraded CSI4* level in Ocala.

$200,000 Grand Prix Podium: Results

Peter Lutz (USA) dominated Wellington's challenging Derby Field to win the $140,000 Southern Arches Grand Prix aboard Katriona. The grass arena provided its traditional test of scope and adjustability, and Lutz's 43.69-second jump-off round held off Philip McGuane (IRL) on Paso Doble SCF and Alexandra Worthington (USA) on De L'Oiseliere. Earlier in the week, Colombian rider Luis Fernando Larrazabal won the $32,000 WEF Challenge Round 2 on Baroness.

$140,000 Southern Arches GP Podium: Results

The Guangming International Equestrian Center hosted the China Equestrian Tour Annual Finals from January 15-18, with domestic riders claiming the top three positions. Rimo Da won aboard Sola, followed by Xingjia Zhang and Yaofeng Li, demonstrating the continued growth of China's competitive showjumping infrastructure.

Results

Lyjanair Joins Richard Spooner's String

In the week's most significant market move, American veteran Richard Spooner acquired the 11-year-old Holsteiner Lyjanair (Lyjanero x Coriano) from Swedish Olympian Rolf-Göran Bengtsson. The purchase immediately paid dividends - Spooner placed third in Ocala's $117,000 CSI4* Qualifier aboard the gelding, validating the acquisition of a horse already proven at the 1.60m level. For Spooner, this represents a serious push to return to US Team consideration ahead of major championships.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5-W Amsterdam 🇳🇱 (Netherlands, January 22-25)

The Dutch take center stage as the World Cup circuit moves to Amsterdam. Following Guerdat's Leipzig win, the Western European League remains wide open. Willem Greve will look to build on his strong performances, while the home crowd will push Dutch riders to defend their turf. Championship positioning intensifies with Basel Final approaching.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5/CSI2 Thermal 🇺🇸 (USA, January 21-25)

The West Coast hosts five-star competition at the Desert Horse Park. This will draw top North American talent away from Florida, splitting the talent pool and offering riders like Conor Swail and Gregory Wathelet a chance to compete in premium California conditions.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5/CSI3 Doha 🇶🇦 (Qatar, January 21-24)

The Middle Eastern swing continues with Doha's Al Shaqab venue providing its traditional warm-weather alternative for European riders.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI4/CSI2 Wellington 🇺🇸 (USA, January 20-25)

WEF Week 3 upgrades to four-star status with the $215,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix as the marquee class. The Derby Field will feature prominently, favoring horses with European-style gallop and natural balance on grass.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI4/CSI2 Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 (UAE, January 22-25)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Guangzhou 🇨🇳 (China, January 22-25)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Oliva 🇪🇸 (Spain, January 20-25)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Ocala 🇺🇸 (USA, January 20-25)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Vejer de la Frontera 🇪🇸 (Spain, January 22-25)

This week earns a solid 7.8/10 for delivering quality sport with compelling veteran performances. Guerdat's Leipzig double - winning Saturday's Championat and then going first in Sunday's 11-horse World Cup jump-off to withstand 10 challengers - showcased championship-level riding that defined the week. Vale's tactical brilliance in Ocala and the depth of competition across both Florida venues provided strong supporting storylines.

However, the week lacked the electric drama and international variety that pushes ratings into the 8.5+ range. With only one five-star event and limited cross-continental star power (no major Asian or South American riders competing in the headline classes), the week felt solid rather than spectacular. The technical quality was there, the winners were deserving, but we're still waiting for the season to build toward the type of multi-venue, high-stakes weeks that define elite showjumping at its best.

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