THE highlight of the international jumping at the Royal Windsor Horse Show came from Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix when, under glorious sunshine, the world’s best rider took on the challenge, eventually won out by Martin Fuchs, with Ireland’s Bertram Allen on the podium in third place.

Allen was second into the arena in the first round and showed the rest how the clear could be jumped over the technical and up-to-height track set by Portuguese course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral. Allen was joined by eight others for the jump-off and was first to take it on against the clock. Riding Aiden McGrory’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Pacino Amiro (Pacino x NC Amiro), he once again set the standard against the clock with a clear in 34.50 seconds.

Four more combinations were clear, but when Britain’s Ben Maher and his Olympic champion Explosion W went into the lead, the crowd went wild. Having just come back after a shoulder injury, Maher didn’t look any way ring rusty, and the victory looked all but secured in 33.77 seconds. However, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs is one of the most competitive riders in the world and he set off at speed with Conner Jei, eventually crossing the line in 33.37 to clinch victory by 0.40 of a second.

A delighted Fuchs said: “Connor Jei was fantastic today. He’s back after quite a long break since Geneva as he did a lot of shows last year, so we gave him the indoor season off.”

Allen commented: “I was first to go in the jump-off and with the line-up we have here, it was always going to be very difficult. I gave it a good go and I’m very happy with my horse.”

Commandant Geoff Curran was joint winner of the Puissance competition on Thursday. Riding the Minister for Defence’s Bishops Quarter, he jumped clear in all five rounds to share victory with Britain’s Derek Morton and KBS High Quality. The pair both earned £2,500.