Grand Prix Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ : THE FIRST LADY !
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Grand Prix of Bordeaux had long stood as one of the last strongholds on the international circuit never conquered by a female rider.
Until tonight…
At the peak of her career, then world number one, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum had come very close, finishing second.
The rider who made history in Bordeaux on Saturday night, February 7, 2026, was far less high-profile than the German champion had been at the time. Ranked 171st in the world, Ireland’s Jessica Burke (34), a former mathematics teacher, achieved the feat just four months after making her CSI 5* debut in Oslo.
Thirty-five riders lined up at the start, only eight of them women in a Grand Prix that had never before been won by a female rider in Bordeaux. The French made up for one third of the list therefore statistically giving the host nation the highest chances of success. Thirteen fences, three combinations, seventeen jumping efforts, all verticals set at 1.60 m and a final oxer at 1.65 m. A magnificent course designed by Yann Royant, technically challenging, complicated yet never pushing the horses to their limits. A successful first World Cup course.
The initial round proved unforgiving, starting with the leader of the European league in this World Cup, defending champion, winner the day before and favourite tonight, Julien Épaillard from Normandy: two faults for his protégé Donatello d'Auge, who had perhaps given his all on Friday evening.
However, the first clear round soon arrived: that of the young German Tom Schewe (28), fourth to start, whose CSI 5* debut also only dates back to 2025, in Aachen – in other words, a serious opening – partnered with his very young Congress Blue PS (9 years old). Then came the worry: no more clear rounds until the 21st rider, his compatriot and former winner in Bordeaux in 2019, Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom). Brazil’s Yuri Mansur with Yutiki and Jessica Burke, partnered with Good Star du Bary, joined them for a four-way jump-off.
Or rather a four-fault jump-off, because that was the score with which the three men left the arena, rolling out the red carpet so to speak for the Irishwoman, who, without seeking to ensure a clear round at all costs (“I just wanted to ride my course as usual, without trying anything special”), delivered what could be called a “non-tactical winning ride”. The only rider to jump double clear, she wrote a major chapter in the history of the Jumping de Bordeaux, becoming the first woman to win the Grand Prix since 1978.
“To be honest, I didn’t realise straight away that I was actually the first woman to win here. It was only my second time competing here. I had already come two years ago and was ranked best rider overall, so I felt good coming back this year. My horse is only ten years old, but he has already competed in six World Cup classes: five times with just four faults, and today double clear. I was particularly motivated.”
A victory made all the more significant as the Irish came ahead of a former world number one, World Cup winner (Lyon, 2014) and Olympic medallist, Daniel Deusser.
“I was extremely nervous watching Daniel, as I thought I could never go as fast as him. When the last fence fell, I told myself I had to seize this opportunity - it doesn’t come around very often.” Now the goal is the World Cup Final for which Jessica Burke, thanks to this victory, has now qualified."
Daniel Deusser also made history by becoming... the first man to be beaten by a woman in the Bordeaux World Cup Grand Prix:
“Thank you for pointing that out (laughs). But today, I’m still very happy with this second place. As you said, I was riding the son of the horse that won here seven years ago, Tobago Z. Tonight, I was the second to go in the jump-off and I tried to go very fast. I was a little short on the penultimate fence, which forced me to lengthen my stride towards the last one. I may have pushed my horse a little too hard, which meant he didn't have enough time to jump properly. That said, he jumped very well on both rounds and I’m really pleased with him. And I’m happy for Jessica. I’ve seen her horse several times, he’s always jumped very well, and he’s often been a bit unlucky. Today was their day, and their victory is thoroughly deserved.”
As for the young German Tom Schewe, who is clearly very talented, he was competing with
Congress Blue PS for the first time in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup:
“Yes, he’s only nine years old, which is quite young for this level. To be honest, this trip to Bordeaux wasn’t really planned. A place became available, and our national coach Otto Becker called me at the last minute to ask if I could make the trip. My top horse, Lester, had jumped in the World Cup in Leipzig and wasn’t 100%, so Congress had to step in. I knew he was capable, it was a bit of a risk, but I wanted to give him the experience. He’s a real fighter and the experience has been positive.”
It was a historic day for Jumping International de Bordeaux, and a big night for the woman
who will forever remain the ‘First Lady’:
“That this should happen to me... I don’t think I’ve really taken it in yet. Above all, it will remain an emotionally charged victory for me. My owner is here, it’s her sixtieth birthday, and Good Star du Bary has given her this wonderful gift. He came with his family this weekend, and most of mine are here too. So this is a moment that will mark my career forever.”