KARL COOK CORVETTES HIS WAY THROUGH TO WIN THE ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT THE FALSTERBO HORSE SHOW
The Rolex Grand Prix of Falsterbro presented by Agria witnessed 50 of the world’s top showjumping riders queuing up to compete at a sold-out south Swedish stadium pulsating with energy. The show delivered an unforgettable afternoon of sport at the Falsterbo Horse Show, now part of the prestigious Rolex Series. Under returning sunshine, the two-round 1.60m challenge tested both talent and composure to their limits.
The course quickly proved demanding, as José María Larocca, the first to go, carried 8 faults. However, Sanne Thijssen made a statement with a swift, clear round aboard Con Quidam RB in 83.83 seconds. She was soon joined by riders like Max Kühner, Pius Schwizer, Simon Crippen, and Trevor Breen, who set an early lead in 82.99 seconds.
The home crowd erupted as Amanda Eriksson became the first Swede to go clear, followed by stellar performances from Henrik von Eckermann on Minute Man and Malin Baryard-Johnsson, who posted the second-fastest clear in 80.18 seconds.
With 14 clear rounds and only 13 spots available in the jump-off, speed was as crucial as accuracy. Karl Cook and his Caracole de la Roque stole the spotlight with a flawless round in 77.69 seconds—the fastest of round one. Also progressing were Steve Guerdat, Peder Fredricson, Pedro Junqueira Muylaert, Matias Larocca, and Andreas Schou. Despite a perfect round, Amanda Eriksson narrowly missed out on a spot, finishing 14th after carrying time faults.
In the fiercely competitive second round, double clears came rapidly. Max Kühner set a strong benchmark, followed by Andreas Schou, while Sanne Thijssen electrified the arena with an incredible time of 43.74 seconds, seemingly unbeatable.
Steve Guerdat was close behind in 44.20 seconds with Dynamix de Belheme, and Malin Baryard-Johnsson thrilled the home crowd by clearing in 45.64 seconds with H&M Indiana.
However, the victory ultimately went to the last rider, Karl Cook, who delivered a masterclass in precision and pace, stopping the clock at an impressive 43.28 seconds to secure a brilliant win with Caracole de la Roque.
--ENDS—
Edited by HT
Top 3 Results:
Karl Cook (USA) – Caracole de la Roque – 0/0 – 43.28s
Sanne Thijssen (NED) – Con Quidam RB – 0/0 – 43.74s
Steve Guerdat (SUI) – Dynamix de Belheme – 0/0 – 44.20s
Photo via Falsterbo Horse Show
Next stop on the Rolex Series:
Jumping International de Dinard, France | 24 – 27 July, 2025