BY JEAN LLEWELLN (PRESS RELEASE)
PHOTOGRAPHY: CHI GENEVA/SCOOPDYGA.COM
The CHI Geneva (Concours Hippique International de Genève) turns 100 this year, and to celebrate the event’s century of existence, the organising committee has created an outstanding program that will bring the past and the present together over five days of festivities
Alongside the competitions that have shaped the global reputation of the CHIG over the years, among them the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final and the Rolex Grand Prix, a number of iconic competitions will be making their return to Palexpo as well as new ones designed to bring the public even closer to the event. It all kicks off with the Centenary Parade, led by the Compagnie 1602, the official starting point of this year’s celebrations.
The centenary edition of the CHI Geneva will take spectators through the landmark moments that have shaped the event’s long and illustrious history. Setting the tone as early as Wednesday will be the legendary Six-Barres, a gravity-defying challenge that returns to the programme after a nine-year absence and marks the start of a week of excitement and nods to the past. Before the riders even take to the stage, however, falconry, dog dancing and dressage displays will create a festival atmosphere on day one at Palexpo, while Switzerland’s homegrown talents will also have their moment in the spotlight earlier in the morning. Bringing the opening day to a close will be two major competitions, including the Prix des Communes Genevoises, a qualifier for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix.
The Centenary Parade with Compagnie 1602
Late on Thursday morning, the Swiss riders will make way for their international counterparts and the first of the U-25 CSI competitions. The Centenary Parade will then provide one of the symbolic high points of this year’s celebrations. Led by the Compagnie 1602, which is also celebrating its centenary, it will pay tribute to the event’s Genevan roots. Out in the arena, a sidesaddle rider representing the figure depicted in the very first CHI Geneva poster in 1926 will hand an invitation to this year’s event to a young, modern-day rider, symbolising the desire to connect one generation to another. That handover will be followed by two high-profile events: the Grande Chasse, where the bank and water obstacle will put horses and riders to the test; and the Trophée de Genève, another qualifying event for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix.
While the centenary celebrates the past, it also puts the spotlight on the cream of world jumping today, with the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final – to be held for the 21st time in Geneva – celebrating its 25th birthday on Friday. Firmly established as one of the high points of the CHIG, it will be contested by the ten best riders on the planet. Also taking place on Friday evening is the Prix des Familles, a special centenary event featuring several major dynasties from the world of international jumping, some of them big names from the CHIG’s history, with each team comprising talented riders from two different generations. The evening’s entertainment will begin with the indoor cross, presented by La Tribune de Genève. With its technical layout, two arenas and natural, cross-country-style fences, it is one of the most electrifying competitions of the week.
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