14-year-old Rose de Balanda scores a victory in Valkenswaard

The youngest competitor in Valkenswaard, the 14-year-old French rider Rose de Balanda, won the 2* Medium Tour this afternoon with the mare Tzara Belin (SF, Toulon x Diamant de Semilly). Rose’s last name will sound familiar to many and indeed, Rose is the granddaughter of the famous French jumper Gilles de Balanda. Her granddad won, among others, team gold at the World Championships in Dublin in 1982 with the legendary Galoubet. Rose is trained by her mother, Ines de Balanda, who also jumped at high level (team silver at the European Championships for Young Riders in 1993). Rose has been successful as well. In 2017 she won individual silver at the European Championships for Children. Rose hopes to reach the top and “my mother taught me to never give up and the key to success is hard work.”

Ireland’s Jack O’Donohue finished runner-up with Larca van Erpecom (BWP, Kashmir van Schuttershof x Darco) followed by Holland’s Teddy van de Rijt with Gino (KWPN, Echo van ‘t Spieveld x Oklund).

The Small Tour was won by Germany’s Max Nieberg and the gelding Nabab de Revel (BWP, Nabab de Rêve x Heartbreaker). Belgium’s Jos Verlooy finished runner-up with Vendome Palordet (SF, Kannan x Quat’sous) and Bassem Hassan Mohammed took third place for Qatar with Argelith Squid (HANN, Salito x Gibraltar).

The Big Tour was won by Swiss top rider Pius Schwizer with Chaquilot (OS, Chacco-Blue x Quilot). Last week the combination also won the same class on the second day. Holland’s Lars Kersten (H-Cassino) and Teddy van de Rijt (Itcho  van ‘t Ruytershof) finished runner-up and third respectively.

CSI1*: Canseco Olvera wins Big Tour
The Mexican rider Ernesto Canseco Olvera won the Big Tour with the KWPN mare Houlana V.S. (Glasgow vh Merelsnest x Harley VDL). Houlana V.S. was bred by H.H. de Vries. Ernesto moved to the Netherlands 18 years ago and worked for VDL Stud for 16 years. He now had his own company and hires boxes at HBC Stables. He rides the mare for one year and has already had good results. “She is smart and careful and I just enjoy riding her as long as she is with me. I also enjoy being in Valkenswaard. You can see that it has all been built by real equestrian experts.”

The two following places went to Dutch riders: Albert Zoer finished runner-up with High Top (KWPN, Namelus R x Burggraaf) and Caroline Manders rode Avanti D (KWPN, Padinus x Concorde) to third place.

Britain’s Kelly Suzanne Lasarow won the Small Tour (1.10m) with the BWP mare Inschallah van de Pikkerie (Quadrillo x Cardino). Holland’s Bibi van Gehlen finished in runner-up with Victoria Secret (KWPN, Zambesi TN x Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve). Third place went to Arianna Kuligowski with Gimona (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Chin Chin) for Great Britain.

Victory in the Medium Tour went to Lucy Wood (GBR) and Homme (KWPN, Inshallah de Muze x Warrant). Wood also finished third with Heerdelon (KWPN, Toulon x Lux). Belgium’s Nathalie Willems took second place with Cabirose (v. Numero Uno).