A historic three in a row for Martin Fuchs

Lucky number three! Switzerland's Martin Fuchs has won the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ stage in Lyon for the third time in a row. After two wins with Clooney 51 in 2018 and 2019, the silver-medallist at the last world championships, European champion and world number 3 won with his bay Chaplin, almost flying over the 8 obstacles in the jump-off in a time of 34''50.

This amazing performance enabled Martin Fuchs to record a historic first, as the only rider to win the FEI Longines World Cup stage in Lyon three times (at the aged of just 29, no less). "I am so happy to have achieved three wins in one of the most amazing indoor competitions in the world," said the Swiss rider. "Before I was riding Clooney, now it's his stable neighbour Chaplin. He is a horse with so much heart, who gives his all, so I can take some risks," he added.

Indeed, Martin Fuchs took some risks during this jump-off involving 11 riders, as he tightened the turns and lengthened the strides. The Swiss rider managed to shave a few tenths of a second off the time posted by the in-form Brazilian Eduardo Pereira De Menezes, who was leading up to then with H5 Chaganus (35''14). "When I came off the course, I knew I had left a little door open and that the time could still be lowered," admitted the recent winner of the Hubside Jumping 5* Grand Prix in Grimaud. The South American still managed a fantastic second place, ahead of the Austrian Max Kühner on Elektric Blue P (35''87), the last rider to have completed two rounds without a penalty. "It all came down to a few strides. You can always do better, but to be honest, so can the other riders. So, I have no regrets about my third place. It was a great class, with the perfect number of riders in the jump-off," he said.

As regards the French riders, Edward Levy produced the best performance, finishing sixth with his faithful Rebeca LS. "I am happy to have been involved in this class and to have taken part in this competition, which sort of brought us back to normal life in a way. The atmosphere was just incredible."

This Grand Prix (with 1.60m obstacles) was the second stage of the FEI Longines Show Jumping circuit. For the course designer Grégory Bodo: "the objective was clear: to meet the standard of the riders and horses who were taking part in the event. And to add to the entertainment and show in the jump-off by injecting a dose of risk-taking. Mission accomplished! As Sylvie Robert, President of GL events Equestrian Sport, the organiser of Longines Equita Lyon, reminded us: "We enjoyed some great sport. We are so happy that the FEI Longines Show-Jumping circuit has been able to start up again and delighted to see the public back at the show again. I would like to thank the FEI, Longines, our partners and of course the riders for their trust. " She concluded by adding: "We are all on the road to Paris 2024. Our aim is to produce champions and to move forward in the same direction together."

1. Martin Fuchs & Chaplin 0/0 34’’50

2. Eduardo Pereira De Menezes & H5 Chaganus 0/0 35’’14

3. Max Kühner & Elektric Blue P 0/0 35’’87