The CSI3* competition has just been concluded with the highlight of the weekend: the Grand Prix. 53 combinations entered the show ring for this class with jump-off. Getting in that jump-off was not an easy thing to do: the audience had to wait a very long time for the first clear round but in the end it was Gudrun Patteet who jumped a clear round first with Sea Coast Valdemadre Clooney (f. Centeuer Z). When Maxime Harmegnies jumped a clear round a bit later, the audience was sure there would be a jump-off.
Quick results
1. Frederic Vernaet - Dieu Merci van T&L
2. Giulia Martinengo Marquet - Elzas
3. Maxime Harmegnies - Easy Boy
In the jump-off it wasn't easy either to keep the zero on the score board. Gudrun Patteet and Maxime Harmegnies did jump very fast rounds (respectively 43,59 and 41,76 seconds) but got one penalty for jumping each. The same thing happened to Gilles Thomas (Konak) and Joe Clee (Alzu Ohio).
Eventually it was the Belgian rider Frédéric Vernaet who jumped a clear jump-off. He rode Dieu Merci Van T&L (f. Toulon) to the finish line in 43,50 seconds, a very fast time but if you considered the times of Harmegnies and Thomas, you knew rider faster was possible. The Italian lady rider Giulia Martinengo Marquet did ride a faster round with Elzas (f. Diamant de Semilly) and seemed to take a smashing win, but her KWPN gelding knocked the last fence down. Her time of 39,93 seconds already was enough to take home a top three placing.
That means all pressure was on Elisa Strubbe. If she and Scato van de Molenburg (f. Scendix) jumped a clear round, she would end of second place. If she managed to ride faster than Vernaet, she would take the victory home. Eventually Strubbe finished in a time of 43,59 seconds with four points behind her name.
Quick results
1. Frederic Vernaet - Dieu Merci van T&L
2. Giulia Martinengo Marquet - Elzas
3. Maxime Harmegnies - Easy Boy
In the jump-off it wasn't easy either to keep the zero on the score board. Gudrun Patteet and Maxime Harmegnies did jump very fast rounds (respectively 43,59 and 41,76 seconds) but got one penalty for jumping each. The same thing happened to Gilles Thomas (Konak) and Joe Clee (Alzu Ohio).
Eventually it was the Belgian rider Frédéric Vernaet who jumped a clear jump-off. He rode Dieu Merci Van T&L (f. Toulon) to the finish line in 43,50 seconds, a very fast time but if you considered the times of Harmegnies and Thomas, you knew rider faster was possible. The Italian lady rider Giulia Martinengo Marquet did ride a faster round with Elzas (f. Diamant de Semilly) and seemed to take a smashing win, but her KWPN gelding knocked the last fence down. Her time of 39,93 seconds already was enough to take home a top three placing.
That means all pressure was on Elisa Strubbe. If she and Scato van de Molenburg (f. Scendix) jumped a clear round, she would end of second place. If she managed to ride faster than Vernaet, she would take the victory home. Eventually Strubbe finished in a time of 43,59 seconds with four points behind her name.