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The CSIO5* Rolex Grand Prix, presented by Audi, was won by rising French star Nina Mallevaey, who delivered the performance of her career at the Brussels Stephex Masters, a Rolex Series event. On Friday, she had already celebrated victory with Les Bleus in the Nations Cup, and on Sunday she crowned her unforgettable week by capturing the event’s ultimate prize, and her first 5* show.
The competition was held over two rounds, with the best 12 from the first round returning for the second. Five combinations managed to stay clear in both. Among them, it was 25-year-old Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour who delivered the fastest time, ahead of Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet with Bond Jamesbond de Hay. Great Britain’s Harry Charles and Sherlock completed the podium in third.
Currently world number one in the U25 ranking, Mallevaey is set to remain at the top after her brilliant performance in Brussels. She owes the start of her international career to Stephan Conter, the organiser of the Brussels Stephex Masters, who paved the way for her to train under Eric Lamaze in America. Fittingly, her very first show for Lamaze was at the Brussels Stephex Masters, at CSI3* level. Four years later, she returned as the overall champion and true Master of the 2025 edition.
Gregory Wathelet, at 45, was quick to recognise the talent of his younger rival after finishing second to her both in the Nations Cup and the Rolex Grand Prix: “Either I am getting too old, or too much of a gentleman,” he laughed. “This was her first big win but definitely not her last, and it keeps me sharp. I lost one distance in the second round and that cost me a second, which was enough for Nina to take the win. That’s sport. Still, I am very happy with the results of Jamesbond throughout the weekend.”
Harry Charles was delighted with his third place: “This was top-level sport at its very best. Gregory Bodo’s delicate and fair courses challenged us in the right way, and that brought out the finest in the horses, the riders, and the sport. I wouldn’t know what I could have done better, and I must admit defeat to Nina and Gregory.”
Andres Azcarraga (Contendros 2) and Trevor Breen (Highland President) also stayed double clear, but crossed the finish line four and six seconds slower than Mallevaey. Sweden’s Petronella Andersson (Olympke van ’t Merelsnest) was the fastest of those carrying one fault from the first round and still managed to take sixth place.
Record-breaking edition for the Brussels Stephex Masters
The Brussels Stephex Masters, a Rolex Series event, was a resounding success. Records were not only broken in the sport, but also in attendance.
At the closing press conference, organiser Stephan Conter could not hide his pride: “This top three represents everything this event is about: young talent alongside proven world stars, shining in our arena. To see this young lady from Lille stay so cool and beat two established names, I admire that enormously. None of them had success handed to them. They have all worked incredibly hard, and that proves that anyone has a chance to write history here. I organise shows to see this kind of talent succeed.”
More than 12,000 spectators attended the CSIO5* Rolex Grand Prix, presented by Audi, setting a record in the 11-year history of the event. Conter added: “I have big dreams, but I need my fantastic team to make them happen. We fight to improve with every edition. What I will remember most tomorrow when I wake up is the enormous crowd along the sidelines. They stayed until after the prize-giving, and not even a heavy rain shower could make them leave. That’s what we do it for.”
