The first week Tops International Arena will again welcome well known riders like the current world’s number 8, Scott Brash. The 31-year-old Brit won the Olympic gold team medal in 2012 and is very successful in the Longines Global Champions Tour. Scott loves to come to Valkenswaard: “The facilities are perfect, all is well organized and the whole infra-structure is very horse-friendly. It is unbelievable what they have built here.”
Eric Sr, Eric Jr and Maikel van der Vleuten, Gerco Schröder, Kevin Jochems and Harrie Smolders will compete for the Netherlands. Maikel is enthusiastic about the events at Tops International Arena: “It is a very good concept for the riders whom are on tour during the weekend. We can jump our young horses on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in these beautiful arenas and they gain a lot of experience.”
Belgium is strongly represented by the brothers Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts and Jos Verlooy. The Italians Piergiorgio Bucci, who runs a stable in the Dutch town Budel together with the international Swiss rider Janika Sprunger, Alberto Zorzi, Marlon Zanotelli and Emanuele Gaudiano will also travel to Valkenswaard. Competing for Ireland are the popular Bertam Allen and Kenny Darragh and Marcus Ehning will represent Germany. Canada’s top rider Eric Lamaze and the USA’s Jessica Springsteen, who won the Grand Prix in the second event last year, will give some strong competition.
Every event will, besides topsport, also offer various entertainment and within the impressive complex a shopping village, refreshments and entertainment areas are available for all the family to enjoy.
More information: www.topsinternationalarena.com