The RDS Main Arena in Dublin provided the stage for an unforgettable afternoon of sport as the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland brought the 2025 edition of the RDS Dublin Horse Show, a Rolex Series event, to a thrilling close. Forty of the world’s finest riders — including past Rolex Grand Prix winners, Olympic champions, and rising stars — faced a demanding 1.60m track designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade, renowned for creating courses that are both fair and unforgiving. With 14 obstacles, 17 efforts and a tight time allowed of 77 seconds, the challenge demanded absolute precision, scope, and control. In front of a wildly passionate crowd and an incredible atmosphere, every round felt like a final.

From the very start, the course proved merciless. Dutch rider Kevin Jochems was first to go with Camilla van de Helle, but two early mistakes and a time penalty set the tone for a tough afternoon. Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam, the first home favourite to enter the arena, thrilled the crowd with a fast round of 74.39 seconds on Dhalida, but a single rail kept him from a faultless score. Even big names like Harrie Smolders (NED) and Aaron Vale (USA) — fresh from victory and runner-up honours in the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de Dinard — fell victim to the course’s technical questions.

As the class unfolded, rails kept falling. By start number 19, Sweetnam’s early 4-fault round still held the lead. Mexico’s Eugenio Garza Pérez came agonisingly close, only to drop the final fence. Young Irish talent Tom Wachman also posted 4 faults, with Tabasco de Toxandria Z, finishing exactly on the time allowed.

With no clear rounds yet on the scoreboard, the tension inside the RDS reached fever pitch. Brazilian legend Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom delivered a quick 4-fault performance to take over the provisional lead, while Canada’s Amy Millar looked strong until the double combination before the last fence, where a single rail dashed her hopes. Ireland’s final contender, Seamus Hughes Kennedy, finished with 8 faults — leaving just two riders to go.

Then came the decisive moment. Laura Kraut (USA), Olympic silver medallist and one of the sport’s most respected figures, entered the arena as the penultimate competitor. With Bisquetta, she delivered a round of perfect rhythm and precision, crossing the finish line in 73.97 seconds — the only clear of the entire competition. The RDS crowd erupted in celebration, knowing they had just witnessed something truly exceptional.

It was an immensely demanding contest, with 13 riders retiring before completing their round — a testament to Alan Wade’s masterful course design. No one could match Kraut’s brilliance, sealing a remarkable and historic victory in one of the most challenging Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland in recent years. 

Final Standings — Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland
Laura Kraut (USA) – Bisquetta – 0 faults – 73.97
Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) – Dhalida – 4 faults – 73.61
Shane Sweetnam (IRL) – James Kann Cruz – 4 faults – 74.39

IN THEIR OWN WORDS : CHAMPIONS REFLECT ON THEIR VICTORIES

Laura Kraut (USA) – 1st place with Bisquetta

“The Dublin Horse Show is one of those bucket list events — my husband Nick Skelton won it five times — so I’m absolutely thrilled. Alan Wade built a course that was careful but fair, and you had to be perfect to go clear. I was lucky to go late, which gave me the chance to study the others and decide exactly what I wanted to do. Bisquetta was ready and brilliant. She’s very brave, very careful, and this year she’s stepped up to another level. She has her quirks — she is terrified of other horses’ tails — but none of it affects her in the ring. In the stable she is sweet, and after today she might just become even more of a princess.”

Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) – 2nd place with Major Tom

“The course was exactly what you expect from a Grand Prix like this — tough but fair. I liked it for my horse, and going late let me really study the lines. My rail down was my mistake: I came in a little hot to the triple. After that, I just tried to be quick and take a few risks to set a strong time. When I saw my result, I was actually rooting for Laura to jump clear — I’d rather be second than go into a jump-off. The atmosphere, the footing, the conditions — everything was perfect for a fantastic afternoon.”

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) – 3rd place with James Kann Cruz

“My day was a bit unusual because I went second. Honestly, when I came out of the ring I thought it was over. But as the class went on, it felt old-school — like the days when there weren’t so many clears — and the tension just built. I think if I’d gone later, I might have jumped clear. I was too tight back to fence three, probably because I was thinking too much about avoiding a time fault after last year. Still, my horse jumped great, and I’m thrilled. Any placing in a Rolex Grand Prix is a good placing — especially here in Dublin.”