Christian Heineking rode NKH Cento Blue to victory in the $100,000 1.45m FEI Grand Prix to close the Split Rock Jumping Tour’s (SRJT) Columbus International II CSI2*culminating two weeks of world-class show jumping competition at the Brave Horse Equestrian Center.
Out of a starting field of 51 horses, Heineking was one of eight to reach the tiebreaking jump-off by riding without penalty over the 13-jump, first-round course designed by Oscar Soberon. Seven entries then turned in another clean round over the seven jump, jump-off course with Heineking claiming the win with the fastest time of 36.750 seconds. Placing second was Harrie Smolders with zero faults in 37.490 seconds on Hocus Pocus De Muze with third going to Hunter Holloway who finished with zero faults
in 38.070 seconds on Pepita Con Spita.
“I saw the round and I thought I would give it a try,” said Heineking.
Following the Grand Prix, Georgina Bloomberg was named winner of the Restylane® Leading Rider Award. Continuing a Split Rock Jumping Tour tradition, $1,000 was awarded to Jeffery Welles as winner of the Horseflight Fist Pump Award.
