Home hero Koen Vereecke and Ina van de Nieuwburghoeve (Nabab de Reve x Coriano) are unstoppable at Knokke Hippique, and on Sunday morning the pair won the CSI2* 1.45m Super Cup Grand Prix presented by RR Interior.
“It’s been very good,” understated the winner. “With Ina I won the first Grand Prix qualification, was second on day two and now we win the Grand Prix. My other horses that have jumped the three-star were also super this weekend!”
Only five of the 50 riders in the Super Cup Grand Prix qualified for the jump-off after producing clear rounds over the first round track that counted thirteen fences, with a tight time allowed that forced many into mistakes or time penalties.
The first to return to the jump-off was Stefanie van den Brink (NED) aboard Unex Omega Star (Quick Star x Quatoubet du Rouet), another rider that has had a successful weekend in Knokke including winning the Future Stars 6-year-old final yesterday. Van den Brink set off in top gear around the shortened track, making sure to cover ground on all the open stretches to cross the finish line in 38.06 seconds.
As next to go, the young super talent Jack Whitaker (GBR) – son of Michael – went for a steady clear on Valentin R (Heartbreaker x Labor's VDL Indorado) stopping the clock at 39.21 seconds. That was also the option that Emil Hallundbæk (DEN) opted for on Uno’s Safier (Numero Uno x Amor), as he crossed the finish line in 39.58 seconds slotting in behind the previous two riders.
Then it was time for Vereecke with his quick and feisty bay mare Ina van de Nieuwburghoeve. Cheered on by the home crowds the two went all in to bring the time down to 37.85 seconds to take over the lead. As last to go, Taylor Alexander (USA) had the chance to snatch the victory but it did not work out as planned and the top honours once again went to the hosts.
Of his incredible winning mare, Vereecke said: “Ina is a very competitive horse, but she can be a bit difficult – she has a special mouth. At the beginning of the year she won a 1.50m at Zangersheide, and then I put her in a few 1.50m Grand Prix classes but it was a bit too early for her so I stepped her down again and now she is jumping great. Now I will continue like this, with the two-star Grand Prix classes and then I think I will make the step up again with her after a while."
Results from all classes can be found via this link.
Home hero Koen Vereecke and Ina van de Nieuwburghoeve (Nabab de Reve x Coriano) are unstoppable at Knokke Hippique, and on Sunday morning the pair won the CSI2* 1.45m Super Cup Grand Prix presented by RR Interior.
“It’s been very good,” understated the winner. “With Ina I won the first Grand Prix qualification, was second on day two and now we win the Grand Prix. My other horses that have jumped the three-star were also super this weekend!”
Only five of the 50 riders in the Super Cup Grand Prix qualified for the jump-off after producing clear rounds over the first round track that counted thirteen fences, with a tight time allowed that forced many into mistakes or time penalties.
The first to return to the jump-off was Stefanie van den Brink (NED) aboard Unex Omega Star (Quick Star x Quatoubet du Rouet), another rider that has had a successful weekend in Knokke including winning the Future Stars 6-year-old final yesterday. Van den Brink set off in top gear around the shortened track, making sure to cover ground on all the open stretches to cross the finish line in 38.06 seconds.
As next to go, the young super talent Jack Whitaker (GBR) – son of Michael – went for a steady clear on Valentin R (Heartbreaker x Labor's VDL Indorado) stopping the clock at 39.21 seconds. That was also the option that Emil Hallundbæk (DEN) opted for on Uno’s Safier (Numero Uno x Amor), as he crossed the finish line in 39.58 seconds slotting in behind the previous two riders.
Then it was time for Vereecke with his quick and feisty bay mare Ina van de Nieuwburghoeve. Cheered on by the home crowds the two went all in to bring the time down to 37.85 seconds to take over the lead. As last to go, Taylor Alexander (USA) had the chance to snatch the victory but it did not work out as planned and the top honours once again went to the hosts.
Of his incredible winning mare, Vereecke said: “Ina is a very competitive horse, but she can be a bit difficult – she has a special mouth. At the beginning of the year she won a 1.50m at Zangersheide, and then I put her in a few 1.50m Grand Prix classes but it was a bit too early for her so I stepped her down again and now she is jumping great. Now I will continue like this, with the two-star Grand Prix classes and then I think I will make the step up again with her after a while."
Results from all classes can be found via this link.