Press Release: October 12th 2025

Rene Dittmer Scores First MLSJ Grand Prix in Highlands Cup

Published

12 OCT 2025

Est. reading time

3 min

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2025 Contact: media@majorleagueshowjumping.com

Amenia, NY—During leg four of his debut year with The League, Germany’s Rene Dittmer brought home his first Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) grand prix win in the $340,000 Highlands Cup 5* Grand Prix on Saturday in New York Hudson Valley.

A member of team Helios, Dittmer has found immediate success in both team and individual competition this season and was determined to make MLSJ Hudson Valley his moment. Over courses designed by Gregory Bodo (FRA)—course builder for the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, France—Dittmer bested a dozen pairs in the jump-off.

“I only watched the first one in the jump-off and then made my own plan,” Dittmer reflected, as Gregory Wathelet (BEL) led with an impressive round aboard Ace of Hearts at the time he went in. “My teammates from Helios, Richard Vogel and Michael Duffy, were watching for me and told me what to do. I tried to do that as best I could, and it worked in the end.”

Major League Show Jumping highlighted the second week of the Highlands Horse Show, bringing its crowd favorite team competition to New York. The teamwork that extended beyond the team competition, however, proved effective as Dittmer’s time was less than two-tenths of a second faster than Wathelet to secure the win. Wathelet—of the DIHP Roadrunners—settled for second, and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) finished third on another double-clear effort with James Kann Cruz for Gizmo Partners.

Corsica X has been a stellar partner for Dittmer, who has spent the past few years traveling from his home in Europe to North America to not only compete, but to sweep international results.

“She doesn’t waste any time at the jump,” he said of the 12-year-old Holsteiner mare (Connor 48 x Corofino II) and her strengths. “I’ve had her for about three years and I’m super happy to be given the opportunity by her owner, Mark Miness. Today was a great day in our story.”

Dittmer now sits in a promising position both individually and as a team, with Team Helios currently in third in the season standings. He’s enjoying the team camaraderie and plans to keep jumping for Helios as the season goes on.

“It’s great being part of a team here,” he remarked. “I only watched [MLSJ] from afar before. Being on a team this year is exciting, and I think we have a good team. We have good team spirit and the team classes are very exciting. I really enjoy it; it’s great sport.”

View current team and individual standings here.

In conclusion of MLSJ’s debut at Highlands Horse Show, Event Director Pedro Torres noted, “The week was fantastic. It’s been an amazing effort by a huge team. The spectators really liked the Major League format that was brought here. The amount of talent we have here with all the riders is insane. We want to continue to grow the sport in the Northeast and keep it here. We’re excited about next year and hopefully we go bigger.”

Complete results from the $340,000 Highlands Cup 5* Grand Prix can be found here. MLSJ now heads to the Tryon (October 16-19) in New York’s Hudson Valley for Leg 5.

For more information on Major League Show Jumping and to view complete schedules, rosters and more, visit majorleagueshowjumping.com. Get in on the action by downloading the MLSJ App and tune in live all season at ClipMyHorse.tv.

Photos © MLSJ / Meraki Creative Group

Rene Dittmer & Corsica X