For you, why is the CHI Geneva such a special show? 

The atmosphere at the CHI Geneva is incredibly special – everything is under one roof, and is extremely well thought out. The Dutch Masters is similar, it has an incredible competition but the arena is much smaller. The CHI Geneva is known for its grandness and the size of its main arena – itis one of the largest indoor show jumping venues in the world. 

How special is it to design a course here at the best indoor show in the world?

The best horse and rider combinations in the world compete at the CHI Geneva, and therefore it can be a difficult task and high pressured job to design a course. The size of the main arena at the show is similar to some outdoor arenas which is amazing, and provides the opportunity to design really interesting courses. There are also a lot of other unique features here, such as the lake and the fountain which we need to consider when building the course – we have to make sure the fans can see all of the course and therefore managing plans correctly is very important. The course also needs to be able to test the riders – they are the best in the world and therefore finding this balance is key to producing exciting competitions. 

Can you tell us a little bit about the course that you’ve designed for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix? 

I think course is very classic – the double with a ‘Liverpool’ will once again be used in the course. Itwas used at the CHIO Aachen and at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament – I think it will be a very tricky combination to jump, it will be situated right by the lake. This is a new placement for the fence and so we will see how it jumps, however I think the more experience riders, such as those who competed in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final will be okay, but it will still test their technical ability. 

How did you become a course designer? 

I start designing courses at the national level, over time I built up my reputation and started designingsome top level national courses including the Swiss Grand Prix. When I started designing international courses, I was initially working as an assistant. I was incredibly fortunate to be able to work with some incredible designers including, Rolf Lüdi, who at the time was one of the bestdesigners in Europe.

Later on in my career, I started working with Frank Rothenberger and Louis Konickx. Louis is actually my assistant here this week – he has played a huge role in my career and I am incredibly grateful for his help. It is great to have someone else’s opinion on the courses, as it supports your ideas and helps make them become a reality. 

There are exams that course designers have to take in order to be a top designer, but I think the real learning comes from working as an assistant to an established designer – you use the theories that you have learnt, and experience them first hand. 

There are a number of young course designers who want to help at the CHI Geneva, and each year we select one or two to assist us – we provide the opportunity for them to gain experience at one of the best shows in the world. I was given chances like this in my career, and so I think it is incredibly important to do the same. This year we have two young and exciting designers from Switzerland joining us to learn about our processes. This is my ninth year as a course designer at the show, and it is great to have some younger designers with new ideas helping me. 

Which course are you most proud of? 

In my opinion, the Rolex Grand Prix at the CHI Geneva in 2021 was the best course I ever designed. The riders all praised the course, and the competition was incredible – this year I have really studied that course, and examined any aspects that I want to include. 

What are your passions away from course designing?

At the moment, I do not have many hobbies aside from course designing. I spend a lot of my time working at the breeding centre that my wife and I have. Last week, I became a grandfather for the first time which is very exciting and I am sure this will take up more of my time. 

How has the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping benefitted the sport of show jumping? 

I believe that the sport has truly benefited from the creation of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – it encompasses the best shows in the world and the level of competition is so high. The sport is constantly developing, and the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping really motivates riders to continue to push themselves to be the best and win a Major. It also opens doors to the riders, and ensures that the younger generations are provided with the opportunity to compete at some of the best competitions the world. 

Source: Press Release from Rolex Grand Slam

Photo: © Rolex Grand Slam / Thomas Lovelock

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