In Stuttgart, the 1.50m Prize of Firma XXL-Sicherheit delivered top-level sport. This Table C (speed class) counted for Longines Ranking points, and the riders went all out. In the end, Rik Hemeryck ensured a Belgian celebration!
Belgium’s Rik Hemeryck had his sights set on victory with the 12-year-old BWP gelding Navarro van het Eelshof (Jappelloup vh Douwhof). Together with the BWP gelding bred by Wim and Tom Mertens, Hemeryck stopped the clock faultlessly in 61.06 seconds.
It all came down to the last pair in the ring, Evelyne Putters and the 11-year-old BWP gelding Oberon VDH (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve, breeder: Arnold Van den Houte), to see whether that time could be beaten. In the end, they were unable to improve on the leading time.
Richard Vogel came closest to Hemeryck’s time. Riding the BWP stallion Phenyo van het Keysersbos (Corydon van T&L), bred by Hans & Heide Van den Bossche–De Keyser, Vogel jumped into second place with a time of 61.39 seconds.
Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida followed with the 10-year-old KWPN mare Karonia.L (Harley VDL, breeder: Th. Lemmens).
Just outside the top three came Peder Fredricson with SV Vroom de la Pomme Z (Vigo d’Arsouilles), followed by Sophie Hinners and the nine-year-old mare Call Me Jabri (Call Me Pezi).
