James Chawke Wins the $32,000 CSI5*-W Welcome Speed in Thermal

Day one of international show jumping kicked off in Thermal, California, during Desert Circuit IV - one of the stops of the 2025/2026 World Cup Season.

In the $32,000 CSI5*-W Welcome Speed class on Wednesday, part of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League (NAL), it was Ireland's James Chawke and Daido van't Ruytershof Z, the 12-year-old Zangersheide mare, who won the 1.45 meter class by more than 1.5 seconds.

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ is a chance to earn points and qualify for the World Cup Final.

Two in the top five for Tiffany Foster

Canadian Tiffany Foster and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Battlecry finished second in the class sponsored by Aleron.

Foster also took fifth place with Anton at Desert International Horse Park.

Two in the top 12 for Skylar Wireman

California native Skylar Wireman and the 11-year-old American Warmblood gelding Cielo rounded out the top three in the field of 36.

Wireman also finished 11th with Tornado, the 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding with whom she won the $30,000 FarmVet Open Classic less than two weeks ago, during week two of the Desert Circuit in Thermal.

Aaron Vale is in the top ten

American Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25, who won the FEI CSI4* $200,000 Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) Ocala less than two weeks ago, stopped the clock good enough for seventh place.

Two Americans tie for ninth

Olivia Cliver aboard Connor 69 tied for ninth place with Alexandra Biederman and Cornet's Cookie, both stopping the timers at 74.14 seconds.

The fastest four-faulter was Kaitlin Campbell, piloting Cosm Questa vd Heffinck to 14th place.

Some of the riders clearly rode to place in the top ribbons, while others warmed up for bigger classes later in the week. Still, others did not go all out, yet ended up in the money nonetheless.

Watch the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ NAL - Thermal - Desert Circuit IV on ClipMyHorse.TV HERE.

Top Eight Placings

1 James Chawke (Ireland) - DAIDO VAN'T RUYTERSHOF Z - 0/61.78

2 Tiffany Foster (Canada) - BATTLECRY - 0/63.43

3 Skylar Wireman (USA) - CIELO - 0/64.50

4 Mathijs van Asten (The Netherlands) - NOBERLINA VD LAARSEHEIDE - 0/65.20

5 Tiffany Foster (Canada) - ANTON - 0/67.95

6 Nicolas Gamboa (Colombia) - TWILIGHT - 0/69.64

7 Aaron Vale (USA) - CARISSIMO 25 - 0/70.70

8 Laura Hite (USA) - AVIATOR Z - 0/72.13