CSI Twente had a very challenging four-star Grand Prix planned tonight. The course was made extremely dificult by the very tightly set allowed time, and that became more and more obvious as the class progressed. Eventually only two pairs managed to go clear within the allowed time, so the jump-off was even more thrilling. A Mercedes was waiting for the winner and the rider in second place. The two riders in the jump-off were Italy's Antonio Alfonso and home rider Gert Jan Bruggink. Bruggink was the first to return to the arena, and he gave it his all to win that Mercedes CLA. Two weeks ago, he won the Grand Prix of Tubbergen. Unfortunately, his Casparo 26 (Calato) didn't quite make a very tight turn, and put one rail to the ground. They finished in 40,26 seconds with four penalties. Then it was up to Antonio Alfonso, who only needed to go clear on his Chic Hin D'Hyrencourt (Tarzan de la Pomme) to claim the victory. The rider chose to play it safe, which earned him the first place in this Grand Prix of Twente in 47,78 seconds. With that result, the Mercedes CLA was his while Gert Jan Bruggink had no reason to be unhappy with his second place and his Mercedes A Class. Bruggink about his jump-off round: "It's always hard to go first in the jump-off. In hindsight, I was probably a bit too enthusiastic and put a bit too much pressure on my horse. We had a small miscommunication in the turn towards the oxer and so he didn't really get what I meant. That is of course the risk in the jump-off. I would have liked to see Alfonso fail of course, but I'm also really happy about my second place. Even though it didn't work out in the jump-off I showed my new car that I know how to put the pedal to the metal! I'm going home with a great feeling." Switzerland's Paul Estermann and his Curtis Sitte (Ugano Sitte) finished third with one penalty in 78,12 seconds. The allowed time was 78 seconds. Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof's Baccarat (Padinus) took the fourth place for the Netherlands, Guillaume Foutrier and Spike vd Withoeve (Sting vd Withoeve) finished fifth. Click here for the complete result. Photo: Loes Wielheesen
CSI Twente had a very challenging four-star Grand Prix planned tonight. The course was made extremely dificult by the very tightly set allowed time, and that became more and more obvious as the class progressed. Eventually only two pairs managed to go clear within the allowed time, so the jump-off was even more thrilling. A Mercedes was waiting for the winner and the rider in second place. The two riders in the jump-off were Italy's Antonio Alfonso and home rider Gert Jan Bruggink. Bruggink was the first to return to the arena, and he gave it his all to win that Mercedes CLA. Two weeks ago, he won the Grand Prix of Tubbergen. Unfortunately, his Casparo 26 (Calato) didn't quite make a very tight turn, and put one rail to the ground. They finished in 40,26 seconds with four penalties. Then it was up to Antonio Alfonso, who only needed to go clear on his Chic Hin D'Hyrencourt (Tarzan de la Pomme) to claim the victory. The rider chose to play it safe, which earned him the first place in this Grand Prix of Twente in 47,78 seconds. With that result, the Mercedes CLA was his while Gert Jan Bruggink had no reason to be unhappy with his second place and his Mercedes A Class. Bruggink about his jump-off round: "It's always hard to go first in the jump-off. In hindsight, I was probably a bit too enthusiastic and put a bit too much pressure on my horse. We had a small miscommunication in the turn towards the oxer and so he didn't really get what I meant. That is of course the risk in the jump-off. I would have liked to see Alfonso fail of course, but I'm also really happy about my second place. Even though it didn't work out in the jump-off I showed my new car that I know how to put the pedal to the metal! I'm going home with a great feeling." Switzerland's Paul Estermann and his Curtis Sitte (Ugano Sitte) finished third with one penalty in 78,12 seconds. The allowed time was 78 seconds. Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof's Baccarat (Padinus) took the fourth place for the Netherlands, Guillaume Foutrier and Spike vd Withoeve (Sting vd Withoeve) finished fifth. Click here for the complete result. Photo: Loes Wielheesen