In Rotterdam, a busy international weekend at the highest level just concluded with one of the highlights of the weekend: the CSI5* Longines Grand Prix. A Longines Grand Prix would not be a Longines Grand Prix if the fences were not built 1m60 high, so of course that was the case today. In the end, 11 combinations managed to get through the first round without jumping or time faults, including six Dutch riders. So the chances of the Dutch public seeing one of 'their' orange riders win were very high. For a long time it looked like the Dutch winner was not going to come but.... that was beyond Willem Greve! He had to start last with Highway M TN (by Eldorado vd Zeshoek) and did what seemed to be an impossible task: tighten the time of Daniel Coyle, who had been in the lead until then.
With the 11-year-old stallion, Greve was the only one who managed to stop the chrono under 40 seconds. As the last starter, his time of 39.57 seconds thus earned him first place. Danniel Coyle thus had to make do with second place. He was also able to set a nice time with Legacy (by Chippendale Z). The duo left the wood untouched and clocked off in 40.47 seconds. Aurlien Leroy completed the podium. Riding Croqsel de Blaignac (by Ugano Sitte), he was able to keep the clear on the scoreboard and finished in 44.26 seconds.
Kars Bonhof also put in a fine performance. His Hernandez TN (by Kannan) did not come close to the wood and clocked off in 47.92 seconds. Third place went to Sanne Thijssen and Hi There (by Nabab de Reve). This combination also set a dazzling time but knocked one pole out of the spoons in the process.
Photo: Claus Close Up