The final class of the day came down to a thrilling four-man jump-off with local Belgium talent Mathieu Bourdeaud’hui putting himself top of mind for next year’s GCL U25 signings by taking the win on Napoli van 't Klavertje Vier. Up-and-coming talent Shane Dwan rode the only other double clear of the U25 1.50m Grand Prix Cormalico to secure silver and although Irishman Matt Garrington was the fastest of all in the exciting jump-off one down as first to go meant he had to settle for third place today.
Speaking after his win today once he was presented with his Longines watch Mathieu explained: “It is an amazing feeling to win here in Valkenswaard on the beautiful grass arena. The atmosphere is super and its really great prizes! It’s a great opportunity to ride here as a young rider in such a big arena and amazing to have a chance like this. My horse Napoli is still young. He has a fantastic mind and I think I can have a super future with him. I would like to thank the organisation for this fantastic show.”
The closing event of the busy Tops International Arena season kicks off in just 3 weeks' time as the Longines Global Champions Tour returns to Valkenswaard for the highest level of sporting action. Join %8 riders and teams at this buzzing event full of entertainment, food and drinks, music and fun for all the family to enjoy from 26 - 28 August.
CSI2*: Van de Rijt very happy with victory in Grand Prix
Only 6 combinations stayed clear in the first round and qualified for the jump-off. Belgian rider Gilles Thomas was the first to stay clear with a neat round with the SF stallion Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan). Their time of 38.27 seconds was the 'time to beat'. The British Ellie Guy also managed to stay clear but lacked some pace with Lyonel D (NRPS, Little Joe x Chacco-Blue) and stopped the clock at 40.44 seconds. This result was eventually good enough for third place. It was up to last starter Teddy van de Rijt to beat the time of Thomas with her KWPN gelding Explosion (Applaus x Numero Uno). And she did that with verve. Explosion did his name justice and went through the beautiful grass arena with big and powerful strides. Together they crossed the finish line in 37.48 seconds. A wonderful victory for the 25-year-old rider from Nuenen.
"I am very happy to finally win my first 2* Grand Prix and that at such a beautiful show makes it even better," said a happy Teddy afterwards. "For us as young riders it is difficult to start at competitions where there is such an atmosphere. That's why it's great that they organize a youth weekend! I think it is one of the most beautiful shows, especially the grass arena is wonderful. I hope to ride here for many years to come!" She has only been riding Explosion for 3 months but "we are already a team and he always goes for the win. He is very special to me."
Gilles Thomas left no doubt, he and the beautiful chestnut mare Miu Miu van Overis (BWP, Inshallah de Muze x Darco) seem unbeatable at the moment. Friday, Saturday and also today they convincingly won the 1.35m competition. The Belgian rider stayed clear in 59.40 seconds. His compatriot Rik Nauta came second with Limestone Grey (ISH, by Try-Time). Dutch rider Teddy van de Rijt finished in third place with the KWPN mare Herma (Ukato x Oklund).
Young Riders: Munsberg on top
Four combinations managed to qualify for the jump-off of the Grand Prix. German rider Henry Munsberg was the first to enter the arena and had the difficult task of staying clear and setting a target time. He did this in grandiose fashion with a super fast round with the BWP mare Nola van St Maarten (Kannan x Harley). Not a single pole fell and they crossed the finish line in 41.14 seconds. Dutch rider Nikita Cheung was not so lucky and left the ring with Noberlina vd Laarseheide Z (Zang, Nabab de Reve x Chin Chin) with 12 faults. This earned her fourth place. The British Nicole Lockhead Anderson, who had already performed well in the previous days, went over the obstacles at full speed and was faster but at the cost of one fault. She came second with Miss Aragona PS (OS, Messenger x Aragorn W) with a time of 40.44 seconds. Belgian Mathieu Bourdeaud'Hui came third with Oscar The Homage (BWP, Quint vh Maarlo Z x Elton) with 8 faults in a time of 46.21 seconds.
British Nicole Lockhead Anderson scored a hat-trick in the 1.35m class with her grey mare Chilli (Brand, Colestus x Colorit). Once again she was the fastest with an incredible time of 59.18 seconds. A time that, by 0.01 second, was 10 seconds faster than Anastasiya Bondarieva (UKR) with Esthete du Cellier La (SF, Balou du Rouet x Quick Star). Dutch rider Iris Michels finished third with Izabelle (KWPN, Comme Il Faut 5 x Carentino).
Juniors: Milan Morssinkhof fastest in Grand Prix
The jump off for this Grand Prix also had 6 competitors and it was Dutch Milan Morssinkhof who shot through the course like an arrow with the gelding Leonidas (OS, Leonce x Silbersee) to claim victory in a time of 46.73 seconds. He bettered the time of Switzerland's Géraldine Straumann and Casalor (Holst, Casall x Acodetto) who took second place on the podium. The 16-year-old Dutch Junior Champion comes from a real horse family. His sisters and brothers all ride internationally as well.
Third place was for the Swedish Robin Carey and Carrera Denfer (SCSL, Connor x For Pleasure).
Friday she was still second, today Claudia Moore took the lead in the 1.25m class (against the clock). The British rider rode a perfect round with H Quainton Xtra Factor (KWPN, Namelus R x Nissan Catango Z) and finished in 57.18 seconds. The Mexican Lorena Nieto Rullan came second with Cataline de la Bastide (SCSL, Conway II x Baloubet du Rouet). Third place was for the Dutch Emma Bocken and Sympathie.
Children: Hennes Mühlenbeck
The audience saw four young ladies and two young men return in the jump off of the Grand Prix in the Children category. Statistically, there was a real chance that one of the young ladies would be on the top step of the podium, but it was Germany's Hennes Mühlenbeck who beat all the female talent. The 14-year-old from Oeversee rode a pretty fast round in 38.29 seconds with the Holstein gelding Lord Jaegerkrug M (Lord Ludwigsburg x Cassini II). Jesse Beckers made a serious attempt to take over the lead, but fell short of the pace and came second with Aragon Happhira (KWPN, Corland x Mr. Blue). Third place was for the Belgian Clémentine Lux with Cash de l'Ecuyer (SCSL, by Cassander C).
The 1.20m competition, against the clock, was won by Dutch rider Jesse Berkers and Cillbhrid Julie (ISH, Querlybet Hero x Laughton's Flight). The 14-year-old from Lattrop rode a nice fast round in 58.50 seconds. The talented Jesse rides for Stal 't Hofstee and is trained by his father Pieter-Jan. Second place was for Liv Linssen (NED) and Quantas (Holst, Quintero x Laurin) followed by Leticia Hirmer and Encore (KWPN, Nabab de Reve x Damiro B).
Ponies: clear victory for Ruby Barrs
In the Grand Prix for ponies no jump-off was needed at all. Ruby Barrs from Great Britain was the only one to go clear in the first round with her pony Faith (KWPN, Q.Breitling LS x Ekstein). She already found taking part in an event at Tops International Arena an unforgettable experience and that will now have taken on an extra dimension. Her compatriot Anstee Marriott Xanthe came second with Ardough Boy. Dutch rider Renske van Middendorp came third with Bosvallei's Tiego (Welsh, Kielshoop Honeymill x Vita Nova's Hanassie).
The 1.15m class was won by Belgium's Clémentine Lux and her NRPS mare Bounty. Victory in the 1.10m competition was for the British Abigail Wicks with Zodianne van de Doevenbree (NRPS, Zodiak x Khadiboj van Klaverborch).
