Germany’s Richard Vogel Crowned European Show Jumping Champion in A Coruña
The German rider secured victory with the lowest score in the last 20 years at a European Championship. The podium was completed by Scott Brash and Gilles Thomas.
Sunday in A Coruña delivered an unforgettable experience for equestrian fans—especially for the thousands who gathered at the Casas Novas Equestrian Center to witness the individual final of the Longines FEI European Show Jumping Championship.
No one wanted to miss the most important individual event of the year on the European circuit, and the packed stands at Casas Novas were a testament to that. In front of the crowd, on one of the world’s finest outdoor arenas, 25 riderswaited for their turn, all chasing the same dream: the gold medal.
The first round of the grand final began at 2:00 PM, featuring jumps at 1.60 meters. Only 12 out of the 25 riders could qualify for the second and final round. After a series of thrilling rides that repeatedly brought the crowd to its feet, the riders who advanced to the medal round were: Richard Vogel, Scott Brash, Gilles Thomas, Ben Maher, Seamus Hughes Kennedy, Sophie Hinners, Darragh Kenny, Kim Emmen, Jessica Mendoza, Thibeau Spits, Donald Whitaker, and Steve Guerdat.
At around 4:30 PM, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived: the final round of the weekend, the championship decider. One name rose above the rest—the new king of European show jumping: Richard Vogel.
The German rider delivered a near-perfect performance from start to finish. As the competition progressed, his dominance became more and more evident, culminating in a final round that showcased absolute mastery. Thanks to the lead he had built up in previous rounds, Vogel was the last to go, and as the saying goes, they saved the best for last. With United Touch S, Vogel thrilled the audience at every jump and completed the championship with a total of 0.01 penalty points—the lowest score recorded in the last two decades of the competition.
This incredible performance earned the duo Germany’s 16th individual gold medal in the history of the European Championship. Vogel and United Touch S showed an unmatched synergy and poise—no surprise from a pair that has already won six five-star Grand Prix events at the 1.60-meter height.
Silver Medal for Scott Brash, and a Sensational Championship Finale at Casas Novas
Scott Brash claimed the silver medal riding Hello Folie, the horse with which he has already won four Grand Prix titles in 2025. The British rider delivered an outstanding performance throughout the competition, offering some of the most spectacular jumps witnessed by the crowd at Casas Novas.
Brash finished with a final score of 1.08, securing a podium spot he had been targeting since his very first entry onto the outdoor arena in A Coruña. His performance confirmed the exceptional form of Hello Folie, who has never knocked down more than one rail in any 1.60m five-star Grand Prix to date.
The bronze medal went to Belgium’s Gilles Thomas, one of the standout talents of the championship. He played a crucial role in securing the team gold for Belgium and capped off his week with a strong individual performance, scoring 1.37 points aboard Ermitage Kalone—one of the world’s top 10 ranked horses, with whom he became Belgian Champion in 2023.
Gilles proved to be in excellent form, having competed in 25 five-star 1.60m events over the past 12 months with an impressive 60% clear round rate. His bronze marks Belgium’s fifth individual European medal, though the elusive individual gold continues to slip through the country's fingers.
With that, Casas Novas concludes the third edition of the Longines FEI European Show Jumping Championship held in Spain, coinciding with the venue's 25th anniversary. The event delivered a week full of excitement, world-class jumping, and entertainment for all ages. It was a competition that brought together the elite of international show jumping and ultimately showcased a clear dominance by Germany, Belgium, and Great Britain—both in team and individual events.