Willem Greve Gets the Gold with World Cup Victory at Stuttgart

By Jumper News on 2025-11-16

Stuttgart, Germany – November 16, 2025 – An elated Willem Greve (NED) capitalised on his pole position of final draw in a seven-strong jump-off to take victory in the fourth leg of the 2025/2026 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier held in Stuttgart (GER) aboard the exciting 10-year-old mare Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs N.O.P.. In doing so he relegated Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida’s (POR) early target-setting round to second with the exciting grey mare Karonia.L whilst Peder Fredricson (SWE) claimed the final podium position aboard Alcapone des Carmille.

Martin Fuchs (SUI) was the first athlete to provide all the answers to Christa Jung’s 13-fence track. Incorporating three combinations including a double of verticals, a vertical-oxer- vertical treble and a Liverpool oxer to vertical double, her course demanded accurate riding, a fine balance of power and finesse alongside top rideability and obedience from equine athletes. Testament to her course building prowess, four faults was par for the course and many brilliant rounds were denied a clear round with the dislodging of a rail.

Fallen fences were evenly distributed around the course with 15 of the 17 jumping efforts hotting the pristine surface over the duration of the first round. Two brilliant rounds of Jumping were marred only by the clock as Alain Jufer (SUI) and Dante MM and Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Untouched LB gave exhibitions of Jumping at the expense of a time fault.

Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida (POR), already a winner this week at Stuttgart and enjoying an incredible year which has seen him rise to 69th in the Longines Rankings, produced the second clean sheet with the 10-year-old Karonia.L from their 17th draw.

**Willem Greve** (NED) & **Pretty Woman van’T Paradijs N.O.P.**

Two of the host nations’ pre-class favourites’ chances fell by the wayside in quick succession when both last week’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ of Verona (ITA) victors, Daniel Deusser (GER) and Gangster v/h Noddevelt and Richard Vogel (GER) aboard his dual Stuttgart World Cup winner and reigning Individual European Champion United Touch S both succumbed to a rail down having looked certain of gaining a spot in the jump-off.

Max Kühner (AUT) & (Blues d’Aveline), Kevin Staut & (FRA) (Visconti du Telman) and Peder Fredricson (SWE) showed their class and experience when producing clear rounds number three, four and five. But it wasn’t until the final few athletes of round one that the sixth and seventh combinations added their names to the start list for round two’s decider against the clock.

Yuri Mansur (BRA) showcased the experience of the ever-green QH Alfons Santo Antonio as the spring- heeled gelding skipped around the track in a manner that belied his 18 years of age. Drawn 37th of the 40 pre-qualified athletes, Willem Greve them produced a textbook round that epitomised horsemanship and harmony between horse and athlete to produce the seventh and final clear thus cementing their place with pole-position in the jump-off.

Jung presented athletes with an unusually long jump-off track comprising nine fences and ten efforts. Martin Fuchs set the pace with a classy quick clear aboard the 10-year-old stallion L&L Lorde in 47.00 seconds. The on-form Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida (POR) followed with his exciting partner, the 10-year-old grey mare Karonia.L. Having impressed in round one with her athleticism, adjustability and quick reactions, she once again matched her jockey’s enthusiasm stride for stride as she sped around the track’s twists, turns and long gallops; ears pricked, attentive, the pair in total harmony. The clock stopped at 45.08 seconds to award them with a commanding lead.

Kühner faulted early in his attempt to catch the leading pair before Staut and Fredricson challenged with smart clears in 46.47 seconds and 45.29 seconds respectively; both falling short of the standard demanded by Giesteira Almeida. When Mansur faulted there was only one man that could deny the Portuguese star of the greatest win of his career. Aboard another eye-catching 10-year-old mare in Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs, Greve was not about to throw away this golden opportunity of last to go in a Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier.

Ever the competitor he set sail from the off and matched the tight turn back to the vertical at fence three and the six strides down to the wall that followed. Then he switched his mount into sports mode, setting a formidable pace on the run down to the oxer at fence five. He saw a risky forward distance to it a way back and committed, his decisiveness instilling such belief and confidence in the game chestnut mare that she didn’t have time to question him and took off a long way back from the fence amid gasps of disbelief from the sell out crowd.

Greve’s belief in Pretty Woman’s ability wasn’t misplaced as she grew wings to clear the fence, maintain balance and stole a good fraction of a second in doing so. As they followed Giesteira Almeida’s hoof prints for the remaining few fences all eyes turned to the clock. They broke the beam as the clock displayed 44.62 seconds and the stadium erupted with appreciation of the scintillating round that they had just witnessed. Greve could not hide his joy in sealing his second Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ victory within the space of the year.

After an agonising wait in which he so nearly realised the greatest win of his career, Giesteira Almeida had to concede to Greve but despite the disappointment was both gracious and generous with praise in defeat: “What a fantastic weekend it has been with all my horses; it has been incredible, especially finishing with a double clear in a World Cup!”, he reflected.

“I knew my jump-off was not unbeatable, but ok, I’m against the best horses and riders in the world! I knew from one to two I saw one longer distance but decided to go one more (stride). Then I tried to make up my time as much as I could until the the end and it worked out… until the last rider!” he smiled ruefully. “But that was Willem Greve, one of the best riders in the world. I have no word to describe how proud I am of Karonia.”

An emotional Willem Greve (NED) summed up how much today’s win means to him and his team:

“This feeling, this is what we do it for. The adrenaline is unbelievable and the relief. It’s been a long week with just two horses here but winning as the last competitor in the jump-off for the amazing crowd here in Stuttgart is a dream come true.” -Willem Greve (NED)

Greve expressed his gratitude to the crowd which he described as ‘full of horse people’: “For all the disciplines the stands were full which I think says a lot about the people” he explained, before summing up the ethos of all horsemen: “We have an amazing sport, we work together with an amazing animal, and we are all here because we love that animal and nothing else. That is what bond us together here in this amazing show.”

A sentiment shared by the 8,000-capacity crowd and needing no further explanation.

After four legs of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2025/2026 Western European League, Yuri Mansur heads the standings with 28 points. Alain Jufer takes over second position on 26 points just ahead of Daniel Deusser and Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR) who share third place with 25 points apiece. Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Sanne Thijssen (NED) lie in fifth and sixth place with 23 and 22 points respectively.

All eyes turn to A Coruña next month as the Spanish city will host leg five of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League on 7 December. London (GBR) and Mechelen (BEL) stage the festive favourite legs six and seven on 21 and 30 December to close out the calendar year.

Stay tuned for all the action…