The Spring MET 3 concluded on Sunday with the CSI3* €46.000 Grand Prix presented by Suzuki, with Dutch rider Ruben Romp winning by the smallest of margins riding Audi’s Teavanta II C Z (Treasure x Ahorn). Several of the world’s best riders had lined up for the 1.50m Grand Prix set in the big Oliva Nova grass ring; legends John and Michael Whitaker (GBR) were on the start list, as were famous names such as Marc Houtzager (NED), Janne-Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER), Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE), Gerco Schröder (NED) and Julia Kayser (AUT). Mixed with young talents such as Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR), Laura Klaphake (GER), Michael G. Duffy (IRL) and Stephanie Holmén (SWE) the class had it all. The Grand Prix track build by course designer Gregory Body (FRA) consisted of 13 fences and 16 obstacles, which in the end was cleared by 18 out of the 59 riders in the class. The shortened track had seven fences in it including a combination, and gave the horses several possibilities to stretch out. It was 23-year-old Laura Klaphake that took an early lead riding Silverstone G (Diamant de Semilly x Vancouver) after having a great flow from the beginning to the end of the jump-off course, crossing the finish line in 40,95 seconds putting some pressure on those to come. Several riders tried to catch Klaphake, but did not succeed – if their time was better it came at the expense of a rail down. Nine riders later, 27-year-old Ruben Romp entered the ring with the 12-year-old mare Audi’s Teavanta II C Z (Treasure x Ahorn) and took over the lead with the smallest margin possible – 0,01 seconds – pushing Klaphake down to runner-up position. The third place went to Samantha McIntosh (NZL) with the bouncy stallion Check In 2 (Böckmann’s Cordalme Z x Lord Pezi) after recording a time of 41.32 seconds in the jump-off. “There were quite a lot of riders in the jump-off,” said Ruben Romp after. “I had my brother there helping me, and he was watching a few of those before me. He told me the other riders were going fast – but not crazy fast, so I kept that in mind when I went in the ring. In the end I was also a bit lucky, being 0,01 seconds quicker than Laura,” the winner smiled. With the Dutch Championships coming up in a few weeks’ time, Romp is one of many riders that have taken the trip from the Netherlands to Spain for the Spring MET 3 getting the form right ahead of this important occasion. “We have been several Dutch riders here for the last three weeks, and today I really had the support from all of them which was very nice,” said the sympathetic winner who is part of the Audi-team and based at The Margaretha Hoeve in Dinteloord, Netherlands. Romp now has his eyes set on the Dutch Championships. “I hope it goes as well there,” he laughed. “But for now, I am really happy with the result today. My mare has a lot of blood and can be quite hot, so we have spent our weeks here in Oliva to give her time to get calm and quiet and today she was just perfect!” The Dutch rider was full of praise for the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour after his win. “It’s not too big here, but still you have two large sand rings and a beautiful grass ring for the competitions as well as lots of space to work your horses. Then there is of course the beach, that is so nice for the horses. I also like the program here, the length of each tour is perfect. On top it is well organized, nice weather, good stabling facilities and high-standard course builders,” Romp closed off. The Spring MET now takes a break, and competition resumes on the 11th of April for the last part of the Tour – the Spring MET 4.
The Spring MET 3 concluded on Sunday with the CSI3* €46.000 Grand Prix presented by Suzuki, with Dutch rider Ruben Romp winning by the smallest of margins riding Audi’s Teavanta II C Z (Treasure x Ahorn). Several of the world’s best riders had lined up for the 1.50m Grand Prix set in the big Oliva Nova grass ring; legends John and Michael Whitaker (GBR) were on the start list, as were famous names such as Marc Houtzager (NED), Janne-Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER), Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE), Gerco Schröder (NED) and Julia Kayser (AUT). Mixed with young talents such as Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR), Laura Klaphake (GER), Michael G. Duffy (IRL) and Stephanie Holmén (SWE) the class had it all. The Grand Prix track build by course designer Gregory Body (FRA) consisted of 13 fences and 16 obstacles, which in the end was cleared by 18 out of the 59 riders in the class. The shortened track had seven fences in it including a combination, and gave the horses several possibilities to stretch out. It was 23-year-old Laura Klaphake that took an early lead riding Silverstone G (Diamant de Semilly x Vancouver) after having a great flow from the beginning to the end of the jump-off course, crossing the finish line in 40,95 seconds putting some pressure on those to come. Several riders tried to catch Klaphake, but did not succeed – if their time was better it came at the expense of a rail down. Nine riders later, 27-year-old Ruben Romp entered the ring with the 12-year-old mare Audi’s Teavanta II C Z (Treasure x Ahorn) and took over the lead with the smallest margin possible – 0,01 seconds – pushing Klaphake down to runner-up position. The third place went to Samantha McIntosh (NZL) with the bouncy stallion Check In 2 (Böckmann’s Cordalme Z x Lord Pezi) after recording a time of 41.32 seconds in the jump-off. “There were quite a lot of riders in the jump-off,” said Ruben Romp after. “I had my brother there helping me, and he was watching a few of those before me. He told me the other riders were going fast – but not crazy fast, so I kept that in mind when I went in the ring. In the end I was also a bit lucky, being 0,01 seconds quicker than Laura,” the winner smiled. With the Dutch Championships coming up in a few weeks’ time, Romp is one of many riders that have taken the trip from the Netherlands to Spain for the Spring MET 3 getting the form right ahead of this important occasion. “We have been several Dutch riders here for the last three weeks, and today I really had the support from all of them which was very nice,” said the sympathetic winner who is part of the Audi-team and based at The Margaretha Hoeve in Dinteloord, Netherlands. Romp now has his eyes set on the Dutch Championships. “I hope it goes as well there,” he laughed. “But for now, I am really happy with the result today. My mare has a lot of blood and can be quite hot, so we have spent our weeks here in Oliva to give her time to get calm and quiet and today she was just perfect!” The Dutch rider was full of praise for the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour after his win. “It’s not too big here, but still you have two large sand rings and a beautiful grass ring for the competitions as well as lots of space to work your horses. Then there is of course the beach, that is so nice for the horses. I also like the program here, the length of each tour is perfect. On top it is well organized, nice weather, good stabling facilities and high-standard course builders,” Romp closed off. The Spring MET now takes a break, and competition resumes on the 11th of April for the last part of the Tour – the Spring MET 4.