A CSI3* international weekend concluded in Oliva with the Grand Prix of the CSI3* competition. 51 competitors came to the start of this Grand Prix and they were presented with a very tough basic course: only seven of them managed to clear the basic round without any jumping or time faults. In that jump-off, Christian Kukuk became the winner. He rode his 11-year-old BWP mare Nice van't Zorgvliet (by Emerald, b. Clarysse Van Coppenolle) clear through the jump-off in 36.57 seconds, leaving all competitors far behind.
""When I walked the course, I had a feeling we wouldn't have too many clears today," Kukuk said afterwards. "I would say the course was tough enough for a three-star Grand Prix. In the end, we had seven clear rounds, which is actually a nice number for a jump-off. I wasn't so lucky with my starting place in that jump-off, I had to start second, but I knew I have a fast horse. I won a Grand Prix with her here two years ago and I knew that if everything went well, she would be hard to beat. I wanted to have a good start, which actually worked out really well: I had a really good distance from one to two and then I just kept going and everything came exactly as I wanted. The corners were tight, the speed was good - in the end I'm the lucky winner," he analysed afterwards.
Trevor Breen took second place. He also rode his Highland President (by Clinton) clear through the jump-off, finishing in 39.04 seconds. Julio Arias Cueva and Peanuts by Baublo (by Corydon by T&L), also a BWP rider, completed the top three. The Spaniard was able to keep the clear and clocked off in 39.94 seconds.
Hannah Akerblom (Chodec) and Deirde Reilly (Derryglen Othello) finished fourth and fifth.
Source: Equnews/Press Release