Wiesbaden, Germany – June 08, 2025 – Italian fans haad been waiting 61 years for this moment until they could once again experience the Italian anthem for the winner of the €105,500 Longines Grand Prix, Grand Prix of the State Capital of Wiesbaden CSI 4*. In 1964, it was Stefano Angioni (ITA) who had led the big lap of honor in the Schlosspark, in 2025 the winner was Elia Simonetti.
Twenty-eight riders from 13 nations competed for honors, prize money and world ranking points in the Grand Prix on Whit Monday. Five of them reached the jump-off with clear rounds in this 1.60-metre jumping competition – and then came the 31-year-old Italian Simonetti (ITA) as the last rider in the jump-off. With the 13-year-old Li La Bo, he completed the jump-off course without any faults in 37.47 seconds – victory! It was Simonetti’s first victory in a Grand Prix at four-star level. “This horse is a real winner, I’ve had him for two years now and my career has been going uphill with him ever since.”
The 27-year-old Georgia Tame (GBR) jumped to second place with the nine-year-old Be Golden Lynx. Their round actually looked safe, but almost slow – in the end, the pair delivered the second-fastest time. “He’s still very young and just starting out at this high level,” explained Georgia. “That’s why I can’t ride him really fast yet, but he has a very big canter jump – that helps.” The British rider left school at 14 because she knew even then that she wanted to ride professionally. She spent eight years at the stables of Irish show jumper Shane Breen, three years with Karel Cox in Belgium and then returned to Breen, who is also the owner of her sport partner in Wiesbaden. “It was my first time in Wiesbaden, it’s a great show! I would love to come back.”
Maximilian Lill (GER) from Bavaria had saddled the ten-year-old Casallco’s George PS. “I haven’t had the horse that long, we’re just getting to grips with this level, so I’m very satisfied.” He collected time faults at the last show. He is happy that he made it through without any time faults or obstacle faults and is looking forward to the future with the horse.
In the final press conference, ‘Maxi’ Lill proved that he has a very dry sense of humor. Winner Simonetti had just said that he doesn’t have a driver’s license because he is afraid of driving. Lill’s comment: “I’d rather he had a driver’s license and was afraid of riding fast.”
The riders were unanimous: despite the rain in between, the Wiesbaden course team kept the large grass arena in top condition with the help of rollers – right up to the last jump. WRFC President Kristina Dyckerhoff was particularly pleased with this praise from the show jumpers, as was the international podium of the Grand Prix: “This internationality is great, we are a truly international horse show. We always have a lot of international riders, but we haven’t had as many nations as this year – there were 21 in the show jumping alone – for a long time. That makes it even more exciting and interesting. I can only say: the variety of disciplines, the nations, our whole Whitsun tournament – for me it remains the most beautiful tournament ever.”
“People, animals, emotions”
As in previous years, Wiesbaden’s Lord Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende was an enthusiastic spectator at the Whitsun Tournament and watched the Grand Prix with great interest: “People, animals, emotions – the PfingstTurnier simply has a great atmosphere. I think it is unique in its kind. I was at the dressage earlier, with the castle as a backdrop, and then the exciting competition in the show jumping. It all just fits together wonderfully.”
Final Results – €105,500 Longines Grand Prix of Wiesbaden – Grand Prix of Capital Wiesbaden CSI 4*
1) Elia Simonetti (ITA) & Li la Bo – 0 / 0 – 37.47
2) Georgia Tame (GBR) & Be Golden Lynx – 0 / 0 – 37.60
3) Maximilian Lill (GER) & Casallco’s George PS – 0 / 0 – 38.18
Source: Press Release from Pfingstturnier
Photo: © Tomspic
