Willem Greve Stamps His Authority in Stuttgart
Willem Greve (NED) delivered a masterclass in showjumping to claim victory in the fourth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup 2025/2026 qualifier in Stuttgart (GER), riding the impressive 10-year-old mare Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs N.O.P. The Dutch rider capitalised on his advantageous final draw in a thrilling seven-strong jump-off on Sunday, relegating Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida (POR) and Karonia.L to second place whilst Peder Fredricson (SWE) secured third aboard Alcapone des Carmille.
A Demanding First Round
Course designer Christa Jung presented athletes with a technical 13-fence track that tested every aspect of horse and rider partnerships. The course incorporated three combinations – including a double of verticals, a vertical-oxer-vertical treble, and a Liverpool oxer to vertical double – demanding accurate riding, a fine balance of power and finesse alongside top rideability and obedience from equine athletes.
Martin Fuchs (SUI) was the first to navigate a clear round, setting the standard for those to follow. Testament to Jung’s course building prowess, four faults proved par for the course with fallen fences evenly distributed around the track. Fifteen of the 17 jumping efforts claimed at least one rail during the first round.
Two brilliant rounds from Alain Jufer (SUI) with Dante MM and Christian Ahlmann (GER) aboard Untouched LB were marred only by time faults, showcasing exceptional jumping at the expense of speed.
Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida, already a winner at Stuttgart earlier in the week and enjoying an incredible year that has seen him rise to 69th in the Longines Rankings, produced the second clear sheet with the 10-year-old Karonia.L from their 17th draw.
Home Favourites Fall Short
The host nation’s hopes suffered a blow when both Daniel Deusser (GER) aboard Gangster v/h Noddevelt – last week’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup winner in Verona (ITA) – and Richard Vogel (GER) with his dual Stuttgart World Cup winner and reigning Individual European Champion United Touch S both collected a rail, dashing their jump-off aspirations.
Max Kühner (AUT) with Blues d’Aveline, Kevin Staut (FRA) on Visconti du Telman, and Peder Fredricson demonstrated their class and experience with clear rounds three, four and five respectively.
The final two combinations to secure jump-off berths came from the closing stages of round one. Yuri Mansur (BRA) showcased the experience of the 18-year-old QH Alfons Santo Antonio, whose spring-heeled performance belied his age. Drawn 37th of the 40 pre-qualified athletes, Willem Greve then produced a textbook round epitomising horsemanship and harmony to secure the seventh and final clear, cementing pole position for the jump-off.
A Dramatic Jump-Off
Jung’s unusually long jump-off track comprised nine fences and ten efforts. Martin Fuchs set the pace with a classy clear aboard the 10-year-old stallion L&L Lorde in 47.00 seconds.
Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida followed with his exciting partner, the 10-year-old grey mare Karonia.L. The pair impressed with athleticism, adjustability and quick reactions, speeding around the track’s twists, turns and long gallops in total harmony. The clock stopped at 45.08 seconds, awarding them a commanding lead.
Kühner faulted early in his attempt whilst Staut and Fredricson challenged with smart clears in 46.47 seconds and 45.29 seconds respectively – both falling short of Giesteira Almeida’s standard. When Mansur faulted, only one rider remained who could deny the Portuguese star the greatest win of his career.
Greve’s Winning Moment
Aboard another eye-catching 10-year-old mare in Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs, Greve seized his golden opportunity as last to go. The ever-competitive Dutchman set sail from the start, matching the tight turn back to the vertical at fence three and the six strides down to the wall that followed.
Then he switched into sports mode, setting a formidable pace to the oxer at fence five. Seeing a risky forward distance, he committed decisively, instilling such belief and confidence in the game chestnut mare that she didn’t hesitate. She took off a long way back from the fence amid gasps from the sell-out crowd.
Greve’s belief in Pretty Woman’s ability wasn’t misplaced. She grew wings to clear the fence, maintain balance and steal precious fractions of a second. As they followed Giesteira Almeida’s path for the remaining fences, all eyes turned to the clock. They broke the beam at 44.62 seconds and the stadium erupted in appreciation of the scintillating round. Greve could not hide his joy in sealing his second Longines FEI Jumping World Cup victory within the year.
Gracious in Defeat
After an agonising wait in which he so nearly realised the greatest win of his career, Giesteira Almeida had to concede to Greve but was both gracious and generous in defeat.
“What a fantastic weekend it has been with all my horses; it has been incredible, especially finishing with a double clear in a World Cup!” he reflected. “I knew my jump-off was not unbeatable, but ok, I’m against the best horses and riders in the world! I knew from one to two I saw one longer distance but decided to go one more (stride). Then I tried to make up my time as much as I could until the end and it worked out… until the last rider! But that was Willem Greve, one of the best riders in the world. I have no word to describe how proud I am of Karonia.”
An emotional Willem Greve summed up the significance of his victory: “This feeling, this is what we do it for. The adrenaline is unbelievable and the relief. It’s been a long week with just two horses here but winning as the last competitor in the jump-off for the amazing crowd here in Stuttgart is a dream come true.”
Greve expressed gratitude to the crowd, describing them as “full of horse people”: “For all the disciplines the stands were full which I think says a lot about the people. We have an amazing sport, we work together with an amazing animal, and we are all here because we love that animal and nothing else. That is what bonds us together here in this amazing show.”
A sentiment shared by the 8,000-capacity crowd and needing no further explanation.
World Cup Standings
After four legs of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2025/2026 Western European League, Yuri Mansur heads the standings with 28 points. Alain Jufer takes second position on 26 points just ahead of Daniel Deusser and Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR) who share third place with 25 points apiece. Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Sanne Thijssen (NED) lie in fifth and sixth place with 23 and 22 points respectively.
All eyes now turn to A Coruña next month as the Spanish city hosts leg five of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League on 7 December. London (GBR) and Mechelen (BEL) stage the festive favourite legs six and seven on 21 and 30 December to close out the calendar year.