The majority of the participating combinations managed to complete the first round without faults. The second round, however, proved slightly more difficult. After the first round, Simon Delestre was leading the standings with Cayman Jolly Jumper (Hickstead, breeder: Nathalie Chevalier). This gave the French rider - who had already suffered bad luck earlier in the week when the clasp of his riding helmet broke - the favourable last starting position for the second round.

Halfway through the second round, Abdel Said took the lead with the 12-year-old mare Bonne Amie (A Big Boy, breeder: Trooja Hobune Ou). The duo delivered the performance to beat: one jumping fault in 62.43 seconds. Starting fourth from last, Gerrit Nieberg came very close with his BWP gelding Ping Pong van de Lentamel (Emerald). Riding the gelding bred by Hulde Aan de Bok, the German finished with one jumping fault in 63.01 seconds.

Tension until the very last rider

With only Scott Brash (GBR) and Simon Delestre (FRA) left to start, the standings were: Abdel Said in first, Gerrit Nieberg in second, and Nicola Philippaerts with L. Vermeulen’s homebred mare Katanga vh Dingeshof (Cardento) in third.

Brash entered the arena with Paul Schockemöhle’s 12-year-old mare Hello Chadora Lady (Chacco-Blue) faultlessly. The pair finished with one jumping fault in 62.81 seconds, placing themselves between Abdel Said and Gerrit Nieberg. Delestre and Cayman Jolly Jumper (Hickstead) managed to better Brash’s performance and eventually finished second.

With Brash in third, Gerrit Nieberg ended in fourth place, ahead of Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga vh Dingeshof. Harrie Smolders followed with the 16-year-old Monaco (Cassini II), ultimately placing sixth.

More insider info to come later…

result