WORLD number one and current World Champion Henrik von Eckermann can do no wrong in 2022. Adding to his already huge successes, he galloped to win his first Rolex Top 10 final in Geneva on Friday night with King Edward.

A capacity crowd in the Palexpo’s Geneva Arena watched the highly entertaining class of the world’s best show jumpers battle it out. Sadly, Ireland’s world number five Conor Swail was not jumping in the class due to an oversight in paying his free for the International Jumping Riders’ Club (IJRC).

Just four riders managed to complete the first round of the Gerard Lachat-designed course without picking up a fault; they were Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, Henrik von Eckermann, Simon Delestre and McLain Ward.

With all 10 to come back for the second round, everyone was still in contention, particularly Sweden’s Peder Fredricson who was on just one time penalty. Ward had one down in the second round to put him out of contention, but Fredricson put pressure on the rest with the first clear. Von Eckermann then became the first to go double clear with King Edward in 48.42 seconds.

Simon Delestre was the only other double clear in the competition, finishing just a second slower in 49.35 to slot into the runner-up place.

Thrilled after going one better than last year and achieving a bucket list goal, von Eckermann, commented: “It was one of my focuses after the World Championships when I gave King Edward a bit of a rest, and wanted to build up slowly again, and this was one of the targets.

“It has been a target for many years. Like I said when we had the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Stockholm when Daniel Deusser won it; I walked the course and spoke to Eleonora [Ottaviani] and said one day I would like to win this one, so it’s a very special moment for me.”