The six-year-olds were first to go this morning. It was an exciting final with 13 combinations in the jump-off. Victory went to Portugal’s Rodrigo Giesteira de Almeida and his approved stallion King Kong Of Picobello Z (Zang, Kannan x Orlando), who is a half brother of Check Picolbello Z. Rodrigo and owner Loewie Joppen (Stal Joppen Maasbree) were very happy and proud. “Everything went according to plan. The course was technical, but fair. King Kong has done so well, I am very proud of him, he is just a future superstar,” Rodrigo said afterwards. “He has all you look for in a horse. He behaves like a real stallion, but at the stables he is a real good boy.”
Runner-up was Gaj Riossa from Slovenia with Burlington Riverland (SF, Mylord Carthago x Dollar du Murrier) followed by Holland’s Mischa Everse-van de Kraats with Google (Querlybet Hero x Carthago).
In the seven-year-old’s final Kyamant van ’t Spieveld (BWP, Diamant de Semilly x Toulon) and his Belgian rider Steven Van Meersche confirmed their form after yesterday’s victory. Steven was very happy: “When I walked the course, the fences seemed so high. In the initial round I still felt some tension, but in the jump-off he just jumped great.” According to Steven Kyamant is a real competition horse. “He has a great character, he is hot and wants to fight. At home however, he is really relaxed.” Steven and Kyamant will compete at the World Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken (BEL).
Dave Maarse took second place for the Netherlands with Falco (KWPN, Carambole x Indoctro) and Spain’s Paola Amilibia Puig finished in third place with Julieta (Holst, Canstakko x Casall).
Victory in the final for five-year-olds went to a Dutch combination, Rob van Bussel and his Zangersheide-mare Chica du Buisson Z. Rob na afloop, “She has jumped perfectly every day and also today she was in top form. In the first round she was a bit tense, but in the jump-off she felt at ease. She is very fast and she will do anything for you.”
Britain’s Pippa Goddard finished runner-up with Chilli (Brand., by Colestus) and third place was for Holland’s Geert-Jan Boer with Maestro van ’t Roosakker (BWP, Couletto x Diamant de Semilly).
The last final was for the eight-year-olds. Greece’s Aggelos Touloupis repeated his win on Monday in today’s final with the Holsteiner mare Be Aperle V. (Clarimo x Concerto II). The rider was impressed by his own performance. “I have no words, the first day she jumped super, yesterday she felt less confident, but today she was completely focused. I was a bit nervous in the first round, I thought the line towards the triple was tricky, but Be Aperle just went for it and I let it go.” The combination had the only clear round in the jump-off.
Second place went to Germany’s Maximilian Weishaupt with Rahmannshof Calina (Holst, Casall x Corrado I). Brazilian Eduardo Damiani Filizola in third place with Jella van ’t Kathof (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Calvados/Sable Rose).
Friday the young generation will take over at Tops International Arena with the fourth event, the Global Future Champions with competitions for Young Riders, U25, Juniors and Children.
Full results
