In an unprecedented display of skill, partnership, and nerves of steel, New Zealand’s Tim Price made history on October 25, 2026, by clinching his second consecutive Les Etoiles de Pau CCI5*-L title aboard the remarkable 12-year-old liver chestnut gelding, Jarillo. This victory not only solidified Price’s standing as one of eventing’s living legends but also marked a unique achievement in his illustrious career: winning the same five-star event twice on the same horse. The thrilling finale saw Price navigate a demanding show jumping course under immense pressure, maintaining his lead against formidable challengers, including his wife Jonelle Price and Great Britain’s rising star Bubby Upton, who completed the podium.
The Les Etoiles de Pau CCI5*-L, held annually in Pau, France, stands as one of only seven elite five-star events in the global eventing calendar. Renowned for its challenging cross-country course and technical show jumping tracks, it serves as a crucible for the world’s best eventing combinations. The 2026 edition proved no exception, testing the mettle of horse and rider across three gruelling phases: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. Conditions throughout the event were notably damp, adding an extra layer of complexity to the already demanding terrain and footing.
The Road to Redemption and Record-Breaking Success
The journey to Sunday’s show jumping crescendo began with the dressage phase, where combinations aimed for precision and harmony to lay a strong foundation. While specific scores for each phase were not detailed, the top contenders, including Tim Price, Jonelle Price, and Bubby Upton, would have needed competitive marks to position themselves favourably for the subsequent cross-country challenge. For Tim Price and Jarillo, who had already claimed the Pau title in 2025, a strong dressage performance was crucial in their bid for a repeat victory.
The cross-country phase, often dubbed the heart of eventing, proved to be a pivotal test of bravery, endurance, and technical acumen. The course, designed to push partnerships to their limits, featured a myriad of imposing fences, complex combinations, and undulating terrain. Successful navigation within the optimum time is paramount, as time penalties can significantly alter standings. Tim Price and Jarillo demonstrated their profound partnership, delivering a flawless cross-country round to retain their leading position. The pair’s exceptional cross-country prowess has been a consistent hallmark of their success, allowing them to absorb pressure heading into the final phase. Tim Price further showcased his expertise by piloting his second ride, the mercurial Happy Boy, to the fastest cross-country round of the day, incurring only 3.2 time penalties, a testament to his strategic riding despite the challenging conditions.
Bubby Upton, astride the double Bramham winner Its Cooley Time, also delivered a stellar cross-country performance, maintaining her second-place standing. This was particularly significant for Upton, who had faced a challenging outing at Pau in 2025, failing to complete the event with any of her three entries. Her determination for redemption was palpable, and her clear cross-country round set the stage for a dramatic final day. Jonelle Price, with her three rides, including Senor Crocodillo, Grappa Nera, and Capitaine de Hus Z, also showcased her formidable cross-country skills, ensuring she remained a strong contender within the top ranks, with Senor Crocodillo securing third place after this phase.
Nail-Biting Show Jumping Finale
Sunday’s show jumping finale unfolded under palpable tension, with the leaderboard remaining tightly contested. Riders entered the arena in reverse order of merit, amplifying the pressure on those at the top. The course itself was designed to be technical, featuring delicate planks, wide oxers, and demanding lines that required both power and precision. Adding to the challenge was the fact that several combinations had already produced clear rounds inside the time, meaning that any dropped rail could prove catastrophic for those vying for the top spots.
As Tim Price prepared for his final round with Jarillo, the stakes were incredibly high. His closest rivals, Bubby Upton and Jonelle Price, had already delivered immaculate clear rounds, leaving Price with no room for error. A single rail down would have cost him the title. Despite his outwardly calm demeanour, Price later confessed to feeling the immense pressure. "I was really nervous this time – normally I’m quite under control," he admitted, reflecting on his mental state before entering the ring. "I didn’t really find my rhythm the way I wanted to."
However, it was Jarillo’s extraordinary athleticism and partnership that ultimately sealed their fate. Mid-course, Price found himself "gunning for a stride that didn’t exist," a moment where a less experienced or forgiving horse might have faltered. But Jarillo, renowned for his scope and intelligent jumping, "overruled his pilot’s decision-making." Despite a hard rub on an oxer, the pole miraculously stayed in its cups, allowing the formidable pair to continue flawlessly to the finish. Price light-heartedly acknowledged his horse’s save, stating, "I tried to muck him up today, but he wasn’t having a bar of it. This is why we sit on fantastic horses. He looked after me for a change, because I don’t think I rode particularly well."
This display of Jarillo’s exceptional talent and resilience underscored why Price has maintained such faith in the gelding, even after a surprising two rails at Luhmühlen’s CCI4*-S earlier in the summer, which arguably contributed to his omission from the New Zealand team at the World Championships. Price remained pragmatic, emphasizing, "He’s been feeling a million dollars for almost all year… He’s such a class horse, and it makes my job easy to pilot him around, but there had been so many clear rounds that the pressure was coming further and further on. I had the faith in him, but I had to try to keep myself quite relaxed."
A Podium of Power and Perseverance
Dividing the Price power duo on the podium was Great Britain’s Bubby Upton, whose clear round with Its Cooley Time secured her a career-best second-place finish at the five-star level. This result was a profound vindication for Upton, who had endured a challenging year, including a fall on cross-country at Kronenberg CCI4*-S. Her journey to Pau 2026 was one of redemption and meticulous preparation. "Last year it was completely my fault in Its Cooley Time’s five-star debut, so to come back on his second attempt to finish second… his performance all week has been flawless, and the future is incredibly bright," Upton shared.
Upton openly discussed the unique challenges and learning curve associated with Its Cooley Time. She explained his "extreme way with his head carriage, which is incredibly high," often giving a "false feeling about how far you are away from the fence." This quirk had led to past difficulties, particularly at Kronenberg. Recognizing the need for a systematic change, Upton sought guidance from seasoned eventing legends, stating, "I got on the phone to Andrew Nicholson – and Chris Bartle has been a huge help to me as well. They’ve really rallied around me and given me the time in terms of analysing the rounds and distinguishing between how he’s so different from my other horses." Upton also highlighted the horse’s distinct jumping styles: an "orbital, stylish jumper" in show jumping versus a "lower and more economical" approach on cross-country, leading her to switch to open-fronted boots for the latter to enhance his feel over brush fences. She embraces his feisty nature, drawing parallels to William Fox-Pitt’s description of Chilli Morning: "The feistier he is, the better he is."
Jonelle Price, Tim’s wife, demonstrated the depth of the Price yard’s talent by securing third place with Senor Crocodillo, adding nothing to their cross-country score. She also claimed eighth place with the 2022 champion Grappa Nera, despite a four-fault round, and ninth with her newer ride, Capitaine de Hus Z, who had a "light touch at the plank." Reflecting on her multiple top-ten finishes, Jonelle commented, "Your performance is relative to your expectation. With Crocodillo, he has a really good record on the last day, but in some ways that makes it harder. It’s getting to the point where he’s jumped so many clear rounds that you almost feel more pressure. But I jumped a couple of fences and thought, ‘he’s on’. He was a pleasure to ride." Her ability to pilot three horses to such high placings at a five-star event is a testament to her horsemanship and strategic planning.
Further Notable Performances and the Demands of Pau
The show jumping phase at Pau 2026 was marked by an exceptional number of clear rounds. A total of eight combinations produced faultless performances within the time, predominantly from those at the sharp end of the leaderboard. This impressive statistic ensured that the top five placings after cross-country remained unchanged, highlighting the consistent quality of the leading pairs.
Beyond the podium, Tim Price further cemented his dominance by securing fourth place with Happy Boy, whose clear show jumping round after incurring only 3.2 cross-country time penalties underscored the horse’s talent. His third ride, Garcon, the greenest of his entries, finished in a respectable 16th place with just one rail down in the pathfinder round. The sheer workload for Tim Price, transitioning seamlessly from one horse to the next with only 29 combinations remaining in the class, was immense, a true test of physical and mental endurance.
The top five was rounded out by Great Britain’s Tom McEwen and the promising nine-year-old debutant Quintus, who added nothing to their score sheet on the final day, showcasing a bright future for this pair. Lizzie Baugh (GBR) and Piltown Concorde executed a remarkable climb from 38th after dressage to a final sixth place, courtesy of a clear round inside the time. Willa Newton (GBR) on Hartacker mirrored this impressive ascent, moving from 20th to seventh. Sweden’s Sofia Sjoborg, with her Olympic ride Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z, delivered a smart clear round with only 1.6 time penalties, climbing significantly from 47th after dressage to a final tenth place.
The sole remaining American competitor, Hallie Coon, riding Kapriccio, added eight faults in the show jumping, moving them to a respectable 12th place. This marked a solid sophomore run at the five-star level for Kapriccio, narrowly missing another top-ten five-star placing for their resume.
Broader Implications and Season Conclusion
Tim Price’s historic back-to-back victory at Pau CCI5*-L profoundly impacts his legacy in eventing. This unique achievement with Jarillo not only cements his status as a master of the sport but also positions Jarillo as one of the most consistent and reliable five-star horses currently competing. The pair’s demonstrated ability to perform under pressure, particularly Jarillo’s knack for saving his rider, makes them formidable contenders for future championships and potential team selection for New Zealand.
For Bubby Upton, her second-place finish represents a significant breakthrough. It validates her dedicated training, strategic adjustments, and the invaluable mentorship she received. This performance will undoubtedly boost her confidence and elevate her standing within the competitive eventing circuit, marking her as a serious contender for future top-level events.
The collective success of Tim and Jonelle Price, who secured five of the top ten placings, highlights an unparalleled period of dominance for the New Zealand power couple. Their ability to consistently produce top results across multiple horses at the highest level of the sport speaks volumes about their horsemanship, training programmes, and strategic approach. Such a concentrated display of talent from one family is rare and serves as an inspiration within the equestrian world.
The 2026 Les Etoiles de Pau CCI5*-L emphatically reiterated the event’s reputation as anything but "easy." The challenging course design across all phases, coupled with the high-stakes show jumping finale, demanded peak performance from every combination. The resilience shown by both horses and riders, particularly those who made significant climbs up the leaderboard, underscored the unforgiving nature of five-star eventing.
As the European eventing season draws to a close with Pau, riders and teams now transition into the off-season. This period will be crucial for rest, reflection, and planning for the upcoming year, with the lessons learned and successes celebrated at Pau undoubtedly shaping their strategies for the 2027 season. The event has once again delivered a thrilling spectacle, showcasing the pinnacle of equestrian sport and reminding all of the dedication, skill, and sheer partnership required to excel at this elite level.
