The 2025 Royal Windsor Horse Show wrapped up Sunday after four days of world-class equestrian competition, highlighted by a spectacular victory from Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet in the prestigious CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix.
Wathelet, riding Bond Jamesbond de Hay (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan), delivered a flawless and exhilarating performance to claim top honors in the show’s marquee event. Earlier in the day, Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf and Encore Toi du Linon (Kannan x Desir du Chateau) secured first place in the competitive CSI5* 1.50m Manama Rose Show Stakes.
The Rolex Grand Prix featured 32 of the globe’s elite horse-and-rider pairs navigating a challenging 1.60m course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral. Nine combinations advanced to the jump-off, battling against the clock for a share of the €500,000 prize fund.
Kim Emmern of the Netherlands, riding her Paris 2024 Olympic mount Imagine N.O.P. (Cassini Gold x Lord Z), was the first to attempt the jump-off but incurred four faults. The first clear round was posted by American Eve Jobs aboard Canto Bruno (Cantoblanco x Quality 9), who maintained a steady and faultless pace.
Ireland’s Billy Twomey on Jumping Jack van de Kalevallei (Kannan x Chin Chin) raised the tempo, trimming nearly three seconds off Jobs’ time. Britain’s Olympic team champion Harry Charles, riding Sherlock (Bisquet Balou C x Malito de Reve), then surpassed Twomey’s effort, thrilling the home crowd by seizing the lead midway through the jump-off.
The lead continued to shift as Harrie Smolders (NED) on Monaco (Cassini II x Contender) narrowly overtook Charles by less than half a second. Robert Whitaker (GBR) on Vermento (Argento x Skippy II) pushed hard but a wider turn near the end left him in fourth place, repeating his finish from last year.
Wathelet, last to enter the ring and a former winner of the event, rode Bond Jamesbond de Hay with precision and speed, executing tight turns and a powerful gallop to shave 0.06 seconds off Smolders’ time and secure victory.
Reflecting on his success, Wathelet said, “Competing at Royal Windsor over the last four years has been wonderful. Winning in 2022, finishing second in 2024, and now winning again this year—I’m very happy. The show is fantastic, and the crowd’s support means a lot.” He added, “Today’s course was very fair. Going last allowed me to observe the other riders and take calculated risks because I know my horse’s speed and ability.”
Runner-up Smolders praised the event’s prestige and challenging course design: “Royal Windsor offers a great atmosphere and a strong Rolex Grand Prix class with many clear rounds—a testament to the course designer’s skill. Monaco has great speed, but I felt I could have pushed a bit harder—that difference made all the difference.”
Earlier, the CSI5* 1.50m Manama Rose Show Stakes unfolded in the iconic Castle Arena, featuring 25 riders negotiating a swift 12-fence course. Shane Breen (IRL) set an early pace aboard BP Arctic Blue (A Piktachu de Muze x Chacco-Blue) with a clear round of 61.47 seconds, soon eclipsed by Germany’s Richard Vogel and Levi Noesar.
Italian Lorenzo de Luca, fresh off a CSI5* Defender Challenge Stakes win, posted a blistering 59.22 seconds on Nector vh Veldhof (Quite Easy 958 x Calido I). However, it was Victor Bettendorf of Luxembourg who ultimately claimed the title, delivering a polished and calculated round in 58.08 seconds on the 11-year-old Encore Toi du Linon.
Bettendorf expressed his excitement: “Royal Windsor is an amazing show—one of my favorites. Going early in the class made me nervous watching the others try to beat my time. I’ve ridden Encore Toi du Linon for a year now; she’s really careful, and I’m very excited about her future.”
The 2025 Royal Windsor Horse Show once again confirmed its place as a premier destination for elite international equestrian sport, showcasing thrilling competition and remarkable equine talent.
