New Rolex Grand Slam for showjumping

Showjumpers will be competing for high prize money thanks to Rolex in a new “grand slam” of the sport.

The €1,000,000 Rolex Grand Slam of showjumping  was announced today (Friday 26 April) — bringing it in line with high-profile sports such as golf and tennis.

This new initiative unites three of the world’s top shows — the CHIO in Aachen, Germany, the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament in Canada and the CHI Geneva, Switzerland.

Any rider who manages to win all three grands prix consecutively will collect a €1,000,000 bonus.

And there is a further €500,000 up for grabs if a rider achieves two grand prix wins in a row and €250,000 for two non-consecutive wins out of three.

On top of these bonuses, the new deal will also boost the three events’ overall prize-money to €5.72million euros, with the Rolex grand prix prize-fund in Aachen rising from €350,000euros to €1,000,000.

And as only the rider’s results count, it is possible to land the bonus on different horses.

The Grand Slam was devised as a means to set the ultimate equestrian challenge — with riders competing indoors and out at these three unique venues — and start a new chapter in the sport.

For more information about the new Grand Slam don’t miss next week’s H&H magazine (Thursday 2 May).

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.