February 9, 2026 
You never forget your first five-star Grand Prix win. History won’t forget Jessica Burke’s.
On Saturday, the 34-year-old Irishwoman cemented her place in the show jumping annals as the first female athlete to win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup at Bordeaux.
She’s also the first female Irish show jumper to win a five-star Grand Prix in more than a decade.
And it was her career first five-star and World Cup win. On the only five-star horse currently in her string.
“It is a very emotional win for me actually,” said a teary eyed Burke. “My owner is here, and it is his 60th birthday this weekend, and he came with his family, and my family is here as well; it is very special.”
Just four of the 35 starters found clear path around Yann Royant’s challenging first round track.
Daniel Deusser (GER) on Otello de Guldenboom, Yuri Mansur (BRA) with veteran Vitiki, and Tom Schewe aboard Congress Blue PS each pulled a rail on the short course, leaving the door open for Burke and the 10-year-old gelding Good Star du Bary. A clear would clinch the win and they delivered, leaving all the rails in the cups and crossing the timers in a steady 42.40 seconds.
Good Star du Bar has been a regular on the World Cup trail this season and, according to Burke, is the best horse of her career.
“My horse is only ten, but he has just six World Cups now. Five times one down, but today we were clear. To have patience and wait for your day to come is very hard, so the fact that it has come, I don’t think it has sunk in yet to be honest” she said.
“He is the best horse I’ve ever had. He has a massive heart, and he is just so special. There aren’t many horses like him, and I am very lucky to have him at the moment. I only have one horse at this level.”
Saturday’s win moves Burke up to seventh on the Western European League leaderboard with 46 points and all but assures her of a spot at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth (USA).
“With today’s result we should be able to go to the Final. Securing my qualification has been the goal for a while,” Burke said.
Defending champion Julien Epaillard (FRA) remains in pole position on the leaderboard with 69 points. Max Kühner moves into second place on 64 points following his fifth-place finish.
The penultimate qualifying leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2025/2026 Western European League will take place in Göteborg, Sweden, in two weeks’ time.
Tickets for the 2026 Longines FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, this April 8–12 are on sale now at fortworth2026.com.
