The Brabanthallen in Den Bosch just concluded the third day of an international CSI5* competition with Audi Prize. In this 1m50 class with jump-off, 39 combinations ventured their chance. Of those 39, nine managed to jump a clear round. A jump-off with nine had to decide who would go home with the victory. With top riders such as Scott Brash, Jur Vrieling and McLain Ward in the jump-off, one thing was already written in the stars: it was going to be a great denouement!
Quick results
1. Max Kühner - Up Too Jacco Blue
2. Victor Bettendorf - Astuce de la Roque
3. Hendrik von Eckermann - Glamour Girl
Stating that the audience got value for money was perhaps an understatement. Every rider threw everything into the fray to clinch victory. Victor Bettendorf was the first to succeed in setting a killer time. In the saddle of Astuce de la Roque (by Kannan), he managed to keep the now. He clocked off in 32.94 seconds. It seemed that no one would manage to shave that time but that was beyond Max Kühner. He managed to be almost a full second faster with Up Too Jacco Blue (by Chacco-Blue). The duo stopped the chrono after 31.93 seconds.
Third place went to Henrik von Eckermann. The Swedish world number one rode Glamour Girl (by VDL Zirocco Blue) clear in 33.14 seconds.
The rest of the top five remained entirely in the hands of Dutch riders. Jeroen Dubbeldam counted on the relatively inexperienced Investment (by Kannan) to jump to fourth place. The stallion does not yet have much experience at this level but managed to record a clear jump-off behind his name in 34.01 seconds. Jur Vrieling and Comme-Laude W (by Comme Il Faut) completed the top five after a clear round in 34.09 seconds.