FEI WORLD CUP FINAL BASEL

The 45th Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final delivered a masterclass in drama, strategy, and pure grit at St. Jakobshalle in Basel. Julien Epaillard led wire-to-wire to claim France's first title in 21 years, while Ben Maher somehow secured silver on a broken foot and Kevin Staut ensured double French representation on the podium. Let's break down exactly how it all unfolded.

DAY 1: Speed Competition (Thursday, April 3)

Swiss course designer Gérard Lachat set the tone immediately with a technical 1.60m Table C speed course featuring delicate materials—flimsy planks, shallow cups, and short poles—designed to test careful jumping even during a speed round. The mental challenge for riders: How fast to push without flattening your horse for the bigger tests to come?

When Henrik von Eckermann entered as the fourth starter with King Edward's successor Iliana, we got our first benchmark—a clean 61.26s that looked hard to beat. The crowd roared for home favorite Edouard Schmitz when his foot-perfect round aboard Gamin van't Naastveldhof took the early lead (63.47s).

But the "Flying Frenchman" had other plans. Julien Epaillard, revving Donatello d'Auge into a gallop before the start beams, attacked the course with his trademark half-seat position, slicing turns with a relentless rhythm. The scoreboard flashed 60.30 seconds—a blistering time that sent the audience into rapturous applause.

Britain's Ben Maher came closest to catching him, piloting Point Break to a clear 60.43s—just 0.13 seconds behind—all the more remarkable given his revelation afterward: "I'm struggling to walk with a broken foot, but I can ride with my stirrup in a different position." Talk about understatement.

American Lillie Keenan provided the day's biggest surprise in her first World Cup Final. She and her 11-year-old stallion Fasther (nicknamed "Kick On") executed their plan flawlessly, stopping the clock at 60.69s for third. "My coach McLain Ward is here—we walked a plan to win... I'm going to enjoy this moment, then reset and take it day by day," she beamed afterward.

Swiss fans suffered heartbreak when Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei, on pace for the fastest time (60.54s), clipped the back rail of the final oxer. That 3-second penalty dropped them from potential first to outside the top five—but with plenty of jumping ahead, Fuchs remained composed.

Day 1 Results (Top 5):

1. Julien Epaillard (FRA) – Donatello d'Auge – 0 faults/60.30s

2. Ben Maher (GBR) – Point Break – 0/60.43s

3. Lillie Keenan (USA) – Fasther – 0/60.69s

4. Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) – Iliana – 0/61.26s

5. Kevin Staut (FRA) – Visconti du Telman – 0/61.33s

DAY 2: Jump-Off Competition (Friday, April 4)

Friday's class significantly upped the ante. Lachat crafted a 1.60m track that had "riders snaking around every inch of the arena," demanding total concentration through 12 obstacles (17 jumping efforts). The technical challenges were relentless: a triple combination with oxers at both entry and exit, liverpool verticals on a short curving five-stride line, and a diabolical final sequence featuring a rollback to a wall followed by a tough decision—six, seven, or eight strides to a tight three-stride combination of oxers.

The results spoke volumes about the difficulty—only 6 of 38 starters managed clear rounds. Ireland's Daniel Coyle (riding appropriately-named Incredible) was first to solve the puzzle, despite a heart-stopping moment at the last fence where he lost a stirrup. Veteran Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) followed suit shortly after, then Austria's Max Kühner aboard Elektric Blue P.

American Alessandra Volpi continued her remarkable Final debut, producing the only rider to jump clear rounds on both Days 1 and 2—an extraordinary feat of consistency from the 24-year-old rookie. "I've blown my expectations for the week already without it being over!" she exclaimed.

Then came the moment Swiss fans had waited for: Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei delivered a brilliant clear, wiping away the previous day's disappointment and sending the partisan crowd into a frenzy of red-and-white flags. Their reaction was nothing compared to what was coming.

In an unprecedented turn, every single rider ranked 2nd through 9th after Day 1 faulted—including Olympic gold medalists Kevin Staut, Henrik von Eckermann, and Ben Maher. This left the door wide open for overnight leader Epaillard, who rode last.

The Frenchman executed a calculated round, adding strides where others had chosen riskier options. When he crossed the finish line clear, the crowd expected an exciting six-horse jump-off. Instead, in a strategic masterstroke, Epaillard announced he would abstain from jumping off.

His rationale was brilliant: the World Cup point system meant that even finishing last in the jump-off (6th) would still keep him atop the overall standings going into Sunday. By skipping it entirely, he kept Donatello fresh for the decisive rounds—prioritizing the championship over the daily victory.

The five-horse jump-off delivered Swiss jubilation as Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei scorched around in approximately 41 seconds, beating Kühner (42.32s) and Volpi (45.78s). The strategic nature of the Final was never more evident than in the overall standings after points conversion:

Standings After Day 2:

• Julien Epaillard (FRA) – 0 penalties

• Martin Fuchs (SUI) – 2 penalties

• Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) – 2 penalties

• Kevin Staut (FRA) – 3 penalties

• Lillie Keenan (USA) – 3 penalties

• Ben Maher (GBR) – 3 penalties

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DAY 3: Two-Round Final (Sunday, April 6)

A sold-out crowd of 6,500 spectators packed St. Jakobshalle for Sunday's championship-deciding rounds. Lachat's Round A course was challenging but fair—10 of 24 starters jumped clear, setting the stage for a dramatic final round.

The leaderboard shuffled dramatically when both contenders sitting on 2 penalties faltered. Martin Fuchs saw Swiss dreams fade when Leone Jei clipped the final oxer, adding 4 faults to his total. Von Eckermann likewise had a rail at fence 7, both moving to 6 penalties overall.

Meanwhile, Ben Maher, Kevin Staut, and Lillie Keenan all delivered clutch clear rounds to maintain their 3-fault scores, while Epaillard maintained his perfect record, still on zero heading into the final round.

Round B was genuinely brutal. Fence 9—a massive Liverpool oxer following a bending line from the triple combination—became the heartbreaker, claiming victim after victim. Katie Dinan (USA) produced the round of her life, jumping the only double-clear of the day to rocket from 15th to 8th overall.

The podium drama intensified as Staut entered with his 16-year-old mare Visconti. They were brilliant until—you guessed it—fence 9 claimed another victim. Four faults added brought Staut to 7 total.

Keenan's fairytale ended when Kick On, perhaps feeling the pressure of four big rounds, collected three rails for a total of 15. Maher followed with Point Break, delivering a masterful performance until lightly tapping the first element of the triple combination. His 4 faults matched Staut's 7 total, but faster combined times put him in silver position.

Then came the moment of truth. Epaillard entered with a 7-fault cushion over Maher and Staut (who each had accumulated 7 penalties total), meaning he could afford one rail but not two. The Frenchman cleared fences 1 through 10 immaculately, the crowd holding their collective breath with each jump.

At fence 11a, the first part of the double, Donatello hit the upright, and down it came. Suddenly Epaillard had zero margin for error on the remaining two elements. The entire arena fell silent as he gathered himself, cleared 11b perfectly, then soared over the final vertical.

As the pole stayed in its cups, Epaillard thrust his arm skyward—a wire-to-wire victory secured by the narrowest of margins. The usually composed Frenchman shed tears as 21 years of French World Cup drought ended in spectacular fashion.

Final Podium:

🥇 Julien Epaillard (FRA) – 4 faults

🥈 Ben Maher (GBR) – 7 faults (faster time)

🥉 Kevin Staut (FRA) – 7 faults

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Quick Hits

DINAN'S DOUBLE-CLEAR

Katie Dinan produced the only double-clear performance on Sunday, a masterclass aboard At Out Of The Blue SCF that launched her from 15th to 8th overall. "That double-clear earned her about €30,000 extra in prize money," quipped one observer.

VOLPI'S DEBUT

24-year-old Alessandra Volpi was the only rider to jump clear in both Thursday's speed and Friday's jump-off round. The North American East Coast qualifier winner showed the world stage isn't too big for her, though she opted not to contest Sunday's final round after securing an impressive result.

NATION PERFORMANCE

France dominated with gold and bronze medal positions (1st and 3rd). Great Britain secured the silver medal through Maher's gutsy performance. The USA brought the largest contingent (8 riders) but had only one rider in the top ten with Katie Dinan finishing 8th (Lillie Keenan placed 11th). Switzerland had mixed fortunes—Fuchs claimed victory in Friday's competition but finished 9th overall, with Schmitz in 16th. Germany impressed with two riders in the top six (Sophie Hinners 5th and Richard Vogel 6th), while Sweden's von Eckermann (4th) couldn't replicate his victories of the previous two years. Ireland's Daniel Coyle placed 12th. The gap between major leagues and developing regions remained evident, with riders from Arab League, Asia-Pacific, and Central/South America finishing mostly in the 20s.

BREEDING BREAKDOWN

The podium showcased diversity in European breeding: Epaillard's winner Donatello d'Auge is a Selle Français bred by his wife, Maher's Point Break is a Swedish Warmblood, while Staut's Visconti du Telman is also Selle Français. Beyond the podium, von Eckermann's Iliana and Fuchs's Leone Jei are both KWPN, Keenan's Kick On is a British Sport Horse, and Dinan's star performer At Out Of The Blue SCF is a Belgian Warmblood. This variety underscores the international nature of breeding for elite show jumping performance, with no single studbook dominating the top ranks.

Industry News

COURSE DESIGN MASTERY: Gérard Lachat earned universal praise for courses that were both challenging and fair. His "Cherry Blossom" triple combination became infamous on Sunday, while his careful attention to related distances forced riders to make strategic choices throughout.

FOOTING FOCUS: Epaillard specifically praised Basel's footing quality, noting "Donatello is barefoot so good ground is very important for him." Indeed, the arena's fiber-sand mixture drew positive comments from many riders, allowing older horses like 16-year-old Visconti to stay sound through five demanding rounds.

HORSE WELFARE SPOTLIGHT: Kevin Staut highlighted how the sport showcased proper horse management: "At 16 years old Visconti is still improving, which gives me huge satisfaction... when it's really important, she's not making mistakes." The two veterinary inspections (Tuesday and Saturday) saw all 28 presented horses pass on the final check—a testament to rider care.

RANKINGS RUMBLE: The World Cup Final results will significantly shake up the Longines FEI World Rankings. Julien Epaillard entered Basel ranked 14th but should rocket up several positions after his championship victory. Ben Maher's silver medal performance could push him from 4th into the top 3, potentially overtaking Christian Kukuk. Henrik von Eckermann, already world #1, will likely extend his lead over Kent Farrington (who didn't compete in Basel) after his 4th place finish. Perhaps most dramatic will be Kevin Staut's move—his bronze medal should propel him from his current 15th position toward the top 10. With so many ranking points at stake in a World Cup Final, April's list will reflect these significant shifts in the sport's hierarchy.

Looking Ahead

With the indoor season now concluded and winter circuits like Wellington wrapped up, riders turn their attention to the outdoor season. The only 5* event this week takes place in Abu Dhabi with the UAE Presidents Cup from April 10-13.

Rating: 8.7/10

This World Cup Final had everything—strategy, sportsmanship, surprises, and nail-biting drama. Epaillard's wire-to-wire victory required both speed and nerves of steel, while the Frenchman's mid-competition strategy of skipping Friday's jump-off showed the chess match happening alongside the athletic contest.

The courses progressively separated the field, with clear rounds dropping from 14 on Day 1 to just 4 in the final round—exactly as a championship should unfold. Maher's superhuman performance despite a broken foot and Staut showcasing a 16-year-old mare at peak fitness added compelling human elements.

The only thing missing was a Swiss podium finish to truly send the home crowd into raptures—though Fuchs' Friday win provided a memorable moment. This Final will be remembered for Epaillard's tactical masterclass and France's emphatic return to the World Cup throne.

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