ROLEX GRAND SLAM: THE MAJORS, A SPORT’S ULTIMATE TEST
Photo : Rolex Grand Slam / Ashley Neuhof
The sporting Majors are considered to be the finest competitions in the world – from the Masters in golf, to the French Open in tennis and the 4 majors of the Rolex Grand Slam in show jumping – these are the events that the best athletes strive not only to compete in, but to win and write their names in the history books of their sport.
The Majors have the finest history and long standing traditions that make them sensational and unmissable sporting occasions which are iconic fixtures in peoples’ calendars. Alongside tennis and golf, show jumping has its own Grand Slam calendar which is made up of four Majors – The Dutch Masters, the CHIO Aachen, the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, and the CHI Geneva – which come together to make-up the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
In tennis, the term Grand Slam refers to the accomplishment of winning all four Majors across a one-year cycle, something that has been achieved six times by five different players across both the men and women’s game. In golf, the rules remain the same and to date the first and only player in the men’s game to have won a Grand Slam was Bobby Jones in 1930. To win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – the sport’s ultimate challenge – riders must win three out the four Majors consecutively. Thus far in the concept’s 10-year history, only Britain’s Scott Brash has achieved this incredible feat.
Much like in tennis where each Major has its own unique court and surface – from the distinctive blue surface of the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open to the manicured grass courts of The Championships, Wimbledon – each of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors have their own unique settings and surfaces that truly test the courage, skill and athleticism of the horse and rider combinations that compete.
Following his memorable victory in the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters, Dutch rider Willem Greve heads to the CHIO Aachen as the live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Greve who was victorious in the indoor arena of the Brabanthallen in the Netherlands will now have to adapt to one the sport’s ultimate stages, the CHIO Aachen where riders will compete in a large grass arena. Often compared to The Championships, Wimbledon – this venue attracts more than 350,000 passionate supporters across 10 days of competition – a record attendance among equestrian events.
Like the winners of the Australian Open, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, who this week will be looking to continue their Grand Slam story at The French Open (20 May – 9 June), Greve will hoping be continuing his quest for perfection to become only the second rider in history to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
Press release Rolex Grand Slam
