It is final day at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses. Across two rounds, the BWP mare Vintage van de Heyveldhoeve (Kasanova de la Pomme x I Am Moerhoeve's Star), bred by Bert Stoop, jumped to victory with Sam Widger!
The Irish showjumper, Widger, and the five-year-old BWP mare stayed just a few hundredths of a second ahead of Coen Williams and the five-year-old gelding GLC Mr. President (Conthargos x Untouchable, breeder: Gareth Cassidy).
Sam Widger: “Vintage had been feeling good all week, but I hadn’t expected a victory in this final (laughs). Greg (Broderick) bought her from the breeder a year ago and I started riding her for him about six months ago. She’s a thoroughbred mare and, above all, very careful. She really fights for you in the arena. I’d like to thank Greg for allowing me to ride such a good horse at my age.”
In front of a home crowd, Rik Nauta jumped to the bronze medal! Nauta completed the top three in the saddle of the BWP gelding Vazan van Strijtem (Cazan van het Schaeck x Saros van 't Gestelhof, breeders: Marc and Kristof de Pauw).
Just outside the medals, Niamh McEvoy followed in fourth place with BP Bob Rock (Rock'n Roll ter Putte, breeder: Gbbs In Ltd.). The top five was rounded out by Maxime Thefenne and Rhodondence (Caribis Z, breeder: Stal Falkena).
Astrid Rooms also finished in the prize money within the top ten. Riding the BWP gelding Voodoo Child PA (Replay van 't Paradijs), bred by Paolo Andreolli, the East-Fllemish rider jumped to tenth place.
