The curtain came down on the Longines Tops International Arena Summer Showcase in spectacular style as Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Kaleni Jo produced a flawless performance to claim victory in the CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix, mastering a high-quality field with the fastest jump-off of the afternoon.
With a demanding first-round track separating the contenders from the pretenders, only six combinations earned their place in the jump-off. As the pressure intensified, every fraction of a second proved decisive in a thrilling finale.
Germany’s Sophie Hinners and the 10-year-old mare Iron Dames Kaleni Jo set the benchmark with a brilliant round in 43.44 seconds, combining precision, bravery and speed to secure the Grand Prix title in emphatic fashion. Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander looked poised to challenge all the way aboard Caetlin vd Heffinck Z, delivering another polished clear round, but her time of 45.18 seconds left her just short of the winning pace, earning a well-deserved second place.
Just eight hundredths of a second further back, Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa guided Major Tom to third after another composed double-clear effort, underlining the depth of quality assembled for the Summer Showcase finale. French rider Antoine Ermann continued his consistent form to finish fourth with Jiamo VDS, while Germany’s Daniel Deusser rounded out the top five aboard Otello de Guldenboom after another faultless jump-off performance.
Dutchman Michael Greeve looked set to threaten the podium with the quickest time of the jump-off, but a single rail aboard Rubens relegated the pair to sixth despite stopping the clock in 43.52 seconds.
The CSI4* Grand Prix brought an outstanding weekend of international sport to a fitting conclusion, showcasing elite horses and riders in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Longines Tops International Arena. As attention now turns to the next chapter of the season, the Summer Showcase once again demonstrated why the venue continues to attract many of the world’s leading names in show jumping.
Sophie Hinners smiled: “I’m absolutely delighted. Kaleni Jo has been improving every time she steps into the ring, and today she showed just how much potential she has. She’s naturally incredibly careful, but she’s also becoming so much more confident. To win a Grand Prix like this is a special moment and a real reward for everyone involved. I have to say a huge thank you to Deborah Mayer and the entire Iron Dames team for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to ride such an amazing horse. Their support means so much, and it’s incredibly motivating to be part of a team that invests so much in both the horses and the riders”
