Style Edit: Young equestrian Rolex Testimonees Steve Guerdat, Martin Fuchs and Harry Charles speak about the Swiss watchmaker’s support for CHI Geneva and the world’s leading showjumping events

Nov 30 , 2023

Martin Fuchs at the CPKC International Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, after riding Leone Jei to victory. The legendary Swiss luxury watch brand is the presenting sponsor of CHI Geneva as well as the sponsor of the International Jumping Riders Club top 10 final and the Rolex Grand Prix, and continues to partner with outstanding young show jumpers, including Fuchs, Steve Guerdat and Harry Charles. Photos: Handout

Style Edit

Pat Smythe was made the first equestrian Rolex Testimonee back in 1957; today the watchmaker continues to partner with outstanding showjumping talents, including Steve Guerdat, Martin Fuchs and Harry Charles

The legendary Swiss luxury watch brand is the presenting sponsor of CHI Geneva as well as the sponsor of the International Jumping Riders Club Top 10 final and the Rolex Grand Prix

In 1957, Rolex signed up its first ever equestrian testimonee – what the brand calls its ambassadors – the remarkable show jumper Pat Smythe. An Olympic medallist who went on to become president of the British Show Jumping Association, she was also a prolific author of books on equestrian subjects. The world’s most iconic Swiss luxury watch brand’s decision to partner with her was the beginning of a story that has lasted more than six and a half decades, with Rolex lending its support to the leading riders, competitions and institutions across this most elegant of sports. The reason is clear: like Rolex, it’s a sport driven by tradition, whose finest practitioners are dedicated to constant innovation and incremental improvements to their performance under the most challenging conditions.

The Geneva International Horse Show is held every December at Palexpo, the world’s largest indoor show jumping arena

To add to its ever-growing family of testimonees from the sport, Rolex is the sponsor of numerous showjumping events. One highlight is its presenting sponsorship of the Geneva International Horse Show (CHI Geneva). Among the most prestigious indoor jumping events in the world, and based in Rolex’s hometown, it has been running since 1926. The latest edition takes place in December at Palexpo, the world’s biggest indoor show jumping arena, with more than 40,000 people in attendance, and features two of the jumping season’s most important competitions, both also sponsored by Rolex.

Steve Guerdat rides Dynamix de Belhême at the 2022 Rolex Grand Prix

First up is the Rolex International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) Top 10 final, a unique competition that sees the world’s top 10 riders face off in a two-round jump-off. Then, as the culmination of CHI Geneva, there’s the Rolex Grand Prix. It’s the final event in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, which marks its 10th anniversary this year, and is awarded to those rare riders who triumph consecutively in three of its four events: the Dutch Masters, the CHIO Aachen and the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters, in addition to CHI Geneva.

Martin Fuchs rides Leone Jei, with the pair emerging victorious at this year’s CPKC International Grand Prix, part of the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters

The possibility of winning the coveted title is on for one rider, Martin Fuchs of Switzerland, following his victory at the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters. A Rolex Testimonee, he became the only rider to win consecutive Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva in 2021, after also claiming victory at the last event, in 2019.

Rolex Testimonee Martin Fuchs is the first rider to have won consecutive Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva

“The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping has completely elevated the sport,” he says. “Rolex has partnered with four of the best shows in the world and helped create an excellent series. This is the ultimate prize in our sport.

“Competing at CHI Geneva is always incredible, and winning in 2019 and 2021 was just an extraordinary feeling. Being Swiss myself, it’s always very special riding at a major that takes place in front of my home crowd.”