JUMPING INTERNATIONAL DE LA BAULE A ROLEX SERIES EVENT
The Jumping International de La Baule – Official de France (11 – 14 June) will welcome an exceptional field, including 11 of the world’s top 15 riders. Most of the world’s best riders and horses will be present for a competition that is crucial just two months before the World Championships.
The event has become a premium fixture in the rider’s season. With the Aachen World Championships (19 – 23 August for showjumping) only two months away and with the first Olympic qualification quotas for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games at stake for the leading nations - the Jumping International de La Baule – Official de France is considered by riders and team managers alike to be a key milestone.
Teams entered in the Barrière Nations Cup
GERMANY
Seven wins in the La Baule Nations Cup: 1974, 1977, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2024.
Defending champions from 2024, Otto Becker’s German team returns to La Baule with a world-class squad led by Richard Vogel, recent winner of the last two Rolex Grand Slam Grand Prix in Aachen and at the Dutch Masters (also winner in Geneva in 2023), and reigning European Champion. He will be joined by Daniel Deusser, winner of the latest Rolex Grand Prix of La Baule, Andre Thieme, 2023 European Champion, Sophie Hinners (runner-up in Aachen), and Stefan Engbers.
SAUDI ARABIA
The Saudi Arabian team will field its four highest-ranked riders at La Baule: Abdullah Alsharbatly, 2010 World Championship silver medallist and team bronze medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games, Ramzy Al Duhami, who was also part of the team in London, Abdulrahman Alrajhi and Khaled Almobty.
BELGIUM
Four wins in the La Baule Nations Cup: 1999, 2008, 2012 and 2022.
At only 28 years old, individual bronze medallist at the latest European Championships, Gilles Thomas will lead the Belgian team, reigning European Champions, who won the Nations Cup in La Baule in 2022 and finished second in 2023 and 2025 (third in 2024). Nicola Philippaerts, winner of the Rolex Grand Prix of La Baule in 2023, will also be present, along with Grégory Wathelet, third in the 2024 Rolex Grand Prix of La Baule, Pieter Devos, and Emilie Conter.
UNITED STATES
One victory in the La Baule Nations Cup: 2005.
McLain Ward, winner of the La Baule Grand Prix in 2010, and Laura Kraut, who was part of the only American team to win the Nations Cup here, will bring all their experience. Both were team Olympic silver medallists at Paris 2024 and have won multiple Olympic and World Championship medals. Lillie Keenan, Nathalie Dean, and Jessica Springsteen (team Olympic silver medallist in 2021) will also compete.
FRANCE
Ten victories in the La Baule Nations Cup: 1987, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2010, 2014 and 2017.
Team bronze medallists at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, Simon Delestre, Julien Épaillard , winner of the 2025 World Cup Final, and Olivier Perreau will wear the French team jacket. Team manager Edouard Couperie will also rely on the world’s highest-ranked female rider, Nina Mallevaey at just 26 years old, and Antoine Ermann. Runners-up in the 2024 Barrière Nations Cup, the French team will be eager to return to the top step of the podium for the first time since 2017.
GREAT BRITAIN
One victory in the La Baule Nations Cup: 2015.
The British team will field Scott Brash, double Olympic team champion (2012 and 2024), reigning European silver medallist, and winner of numerous five-star Grand Prix events in recent months. Alongside him, Di Lampard has selected Jessica Mendoza, Harry Charles (team Olympic gold medallist in 2024) and Joseph Stockdale.
IRELAND
Three victories in the La Baule Nations Cup: 1994, 2011 and 2025.
Defending champions of the Barrière Nations Cup, Ireland returns aiming for back-to-back victories, including three members of the winning 2025 team: Cian O’Connor, Bertram Allen, and Tom Wachman. Shane Sweetnam, Ireland’s highest-ranked rider, winner of the Derby in 2024 and the Prix Saur in 2025, will also compete alongside Darragh Kenny.
ITALY
Italy’s highest-ranked rider, Piergiorgio Bucci, winner of last weekend’s Rolex Grand Prix of Rome, will lead the Italian squad, which also includes Riccardo Pisani, Giampiero Garofalo, Paolo Paini, and Fabio Brotto.
SWEDEN
Seeking their first-ever win in La Baule, reigning World Champions Sweden will count on Henrik von Eckermann, Petronella Andersson, Thomas Ryan, Amanda Landeblad, and Linda Heed have also been selected.
SWITZERLAND
Three victories in the La Baule Nations Cup: 2009, 2019 and 2021.
Olympic Champion in 2012, three-time World Cup winner, winner of numerous Rolex Grand Slam and Rolex Series events, Steve Guerdat, who won the Derby Demeures de Campagne last year, will return to La Baule. Alongside him in a Swiss team that achieved back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2021 (there was no edition in 2020), are Martin Fuchs, 2019 Individual European Champion, Barbara Schnieper, Gaëtan Joliat, and Adrian Schmid.
18 French Riders in the starting list
Several riders competing as individuals will also be among the leading contenders. In addition to the riders selected for the Barrière Nations Cup team, France will present a strong contingent including: Roger-Yves Bost (2016 Olympic team champion, 1990 World team champion, 2013 Individual European Champion), François-Xavier Boudant, Marie Demonte, Marc Dilasser, Cédric Hurel, Nicolas Layec (runner-up in last year’s Derby Demeures de Campagne), Robin Le Squeren, Charlotte Léoni, Edward Levy, Mégane Moissonnier, Kevin Staut (2016 Olympic team champion, 2009 Individual European Champion), Nicolas Sers, Lara Tryba .
Among the international riders, René Lopez of Colombia, runner-up in last year’s Rolex Grand Prix of La Baule, will return.
For the first time, Egypt’s No. 1 Nayel Nassar will be competing.
Brazilian stars Rodrigo Pessoa, 2004 Olympic Champion, 1998 World Champion, three-time World Cup winner, and winner of the La Baule Derby in 1999, as well as Pedro Muylaert Junqueira, who triumphed at Stade François André in 2017 with MFS Prince Royal Z, will also compete.
Also worth following are Mexico’s Federico Fernandez and Patricio Pasquel, Canada’s Kyle Timm, Spain’s top-ranked rider Armando Trapote, and South Africa’s Oliver Lazarus.
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Edited by HT
Poster via La Baule