A home victory for Gerben Morsink on day 3 of the Longines Global Future Champions

The final day of the Summer Festival 3 – Longines Global Future Champions proved thrilling till the final jump. In the CSI4* Grand Prix 1.50m, thirteen combinations rode clear in the first round, setting the stage for an epic jump off. 

Taking the win on home turf in the closing stages of the class, Gerben Morsink aboard his fifteen year old Navarone Z had the crowd on their feet and cheering from the grandstands. Built by Gregory Bodo, the courses were set to challenge the combinations and bring out the very best sporting action.

As the riders prepared to battle for victory in the jump off the scoreboard was reset to zero and it was all to play for.

Nicola Philippaerts looked to be on the hunt for a win as he entered the arena aboard Derby de Riverland. The Belgian talent rode full gas across the course, taking an early lead and stopping the clock at 36.21 seconds. Next to go in the jump off was Henk van de Pol of the Netherlands. Van de Pol laid down a quick round, but could not quite catch Philippaerts, tentatively jumping into second place.

Fellow Dutchman Leopold van Asten was next up. Van Asten looked to be on track for a win but was felled by the final fence. Despite four faults, Van Asten earned a top ten finish aboard VDL Groep Nino du Roton and was met by cheers from the home crowd as he left the arena. Italy was next to go with Gianni Govoni. Despite a fault on the final fence, the Italian rider secured a top ten finish aboard Kir Royaal Delta Mossel Z.

Enter, Laura Kraut. The crowd fell silent as the American show jumping star rode clear but could not quite match the pace of the lightning fast Philippaerts, jumping tentatively into third place. The Netherlands’ Marc Houtzager entered the arena aboard Sterrehof’s Dante. Despite four faults on course, the pair finished in the top ten.  

Next to go was fellow countryman Lars Kersten. Kersten delivered a quick round aboard Chuck Marienshof Z, tentatively claiming third place. Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca raced across the grass with his mount Don Vito.  De Luca stopped the clock at 37.58 seconds, tentatively claiming third place. Eduardo Pereira De Menezes of Brazil delivered a smooth and quick round aboard Hot N Spicy, taking fifth place.

Last to go in this 4* Grand Prix was Dutch hero Gerben Morsink. The Dutch rider was met by applause as he entered the arena. The tension was palpable and the crowd were on the edge of their seats as he started the course. Morsink flew across the arena Navarone Z, determined to better Philipaerts’ time and take the win. He stopped the clock at 35.48 seconds, claiming victory as the crowd erupted in cheers for the Dutch rider. Morsink said it was a special moment for him to win on home turf, “I am just so happy and incredibly proud of my horse. It was really nice, my parents and friends were here to watch and cheer me on. It was a super day, I am really happy!”

With an incredible home win, spirits were high as Summer Festival 3 – Longines Global Future Champions drew to a close. The Longines Tops International Arena now prepares for the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard, coming to LTIA in just two week’s time. 

Join us August 23 – 35 as the biggest names in show jumping descend on Valkenswaard to go head to head for top honors.

“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News

CSIYR Grand Prix 1.50m presented by Longines

In the CSIYR Grand Prix presented by Longines the course was set at 1.50m, a jump-off was not necessary. Canadian Cassidy Rein was the only competitor to go clear in the first round, rounding out her incredible weekend. 

The 20-year-old rider rode her 12-year-old KWPN gelding Habab W (Nabab de Reve x Padinus) in this important class. Taking home a Longiens watch, Cassidy Rein was presented the timepiece by Erik Schenk of Longines Netherlands. 

A great result especially considering she has only been riding this horse for less than three months. A beaming Rein couldn’t contain her excitement, “He was amazing! This was my first 1.50m with him. He is a new ride for me and I couldn’t be happier with him. We’re excited for the future.” 

The fastest four-faulter was Dutch Nikita Cheung and the 12-year-old mare Noberlina vd Laarseheide Z (Nabab de Reve x Chin Chin). They crossed the finish line in 71.45 seconds. Belgian rider Jef Peeters came third with Olina van ‘t Ruytershof (Jenson van ‘t Meulenhof x For Pleasure) with a time of 71.52 seconds.

CSI J Grand Prix 1.40m

The third day of the Longines Global Future Champions opened with the CSI J Grand Prix 1.40m. Nine combinations qualified for the jump-off which remained exciting until the very last moment with a Dutch winner, Yves Willems. Yoni van Santvoort (NED) and her Kathleen S (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x No Ski) went super-fast and fluid through the arena and stayed clear. With a time of 35.12 seconds, they took over the lead. Liv Linssen (NED) started very fast but a fault on the final fence meant fifth place with her nine-year-old mare Cini W Z (Zang, Comme Il Faut x Ginus). Marie Eder Ferrero (MON) made a good attempt to improve Van Santvoort’s time but came up just a little short. Her ride with O-Diamond (Diamant de Semilly x Replay) earned her third place. Belgium’s Helena Beyers rode a careful round with My Way du Sud Z (Mithras de Regor x Dulf van den Bisschop). She stayed clear and with a time of 39.96 seconds she finished in fourth place. Last to enter in LTIA’s beautiful grass arena was Yves Willems (NED). He was determined to go for the win and rode over the obstacles at a high pace. He and his 12-year-old mare Highway stayed clear in a time of 33.96 seconds and claimed victory.

CSI2* Against the Clock 1.20m

The CSI2* Against the Clock 1.20m class was won by Mayoof Abdulaziz Alromaihi (BRN) with the 14-year-old stallion Calvados des Vergers Z (Clapton VDL x Pitcher S). As the last starter he stayed clear and rode a fast round with his strong jumping stallion. They stopped the clock at 59.50 seconds, relegating Qatar’s Hussain Ali M.M. Al Kaabi to second place. Al Kaabi rode the 13-year-old mare Contenta della Verdina (Contendro x Lavaletto) clear across the finish line in 61.43 seconds. Third place went to American Alexandra Crown and Dorothy DH Z (Zang, Donckervoort DH x Va-Vite) with a clear round in 62.81 seconds.

“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News

CSI YR Against the Clock 1.35m

The CSI YR Against the Clock 1.35m on Sunday morning was won by Canadian Fares Azouni. He rode the 15-year-old KWPN gelding Edgar (Warrant x Purioso), previously ridden by top Dutch rider Kim Emmen, in this class. Azouni, who recently celebrated his 18th birthday, rode a nice and super-fast round in 59.05 seconds. Alara Türkay (TUR) came second with Calin 9 (Clinton x Pilot). They crossed the finish line in 66.54 seconds. Third place went to Italian Mattia Santini and the KWPN mare Japhira (Cardento x Mr Blue). Santini stayed clear but received two faults for time overrun (72.26 seconds).

CSI Ch Grand Prix 1.20m

In the CSI Ch Grand Prix 1.20m, there was fierce competition for victory. Seven young talents returned for the jump-off, which was eventually won by Dutch rider Imke Boden. She stayed clear with her only seven-year-old gelding Cominka Z (Comme Il Faut x Topas) and stopped the clock at 31.75 seconds. Only two others also managed to stay clear in the jump-off. Dutch rider Lieselot Kooremans (Nini van HD) and Qatari rider Mohammed Hamza M.A. Al Kuwari (Carte Blanche). They finished in second and third place respectively. Imke praised her horse to the skies afterwards: “It went fantastic! Cominka cooperates very well and he is very fast and careful. He’s a real clown, he’s funny and sweet. He always does his best.”

CSI J Against the Clock 1.25m

In the Juniors, Abdalla Hamad Ali Al Kirbi of the United Arab Emirates won convincingly with the 12-year-old grey mare Helaiza (Warrant x Casco). He was by far the fastest with a time of 49.90 seconds in this CSI J Against the Clock 1.25m class. An incredibly fast time and the only combination with a time under 50 seconds. Second place went to his compatriot Mabkhout Owaida Alkirbi with Billy Tiara (Billy Congo x Lux Z). This duo needed 53.57 seconds to cross the finish line with a clear round. Belgium’s Robin Vermeir came third with Beyonce van’t Hulgenrode Z (Bamako de Muze x Taran de la Pomme). They stopped the clock at 55.14 seconds.

CSI2* Against the Clock 1.30m

Great Britian’s Matthew Sampson of Maplepark Farms based in Valkenswaard was the winner of the CSI2* Against the Clock 1.30m class. He left big names like Maikel van der Vleuten, Denis Lynch, Daniel Deusser and Jessica Springsteen behind with his fast round of 60.84 seconds. Sampson achieved this victory with the 13-year-old gelding Geneve R (KWPN, Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Berlin) who he has had under saddle since 2018 and with whom he has won many classes. Second place went to Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani (QAT) who crossed the finish line in 61.81 seconds with Emiro Delle Sementarecce (Nonstop x Quidam de Revel). Third place went to bronze medal winner Maikel van der Vleuten who had saddled eight-year-old Lalique in this competition.

“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News

CSI2* Grand Prix 1.45m

The CSI2* Grand Prix 1.45m offered great sport with a super exciting jump-off. Out of 37 competitors, 12 managed to qualify for that jump-off. Brazil’s Eduardo Pereira De Menezes became the eventual winner of this hard-fought Grand Prix. The Dutch Leopold van Asten and brother Mathijs both rode a nice and smooth round but fell short of speed. Leopold came fifth with his time of 44.51 seconds with the elegant grey VDL Groep Kimbel (Casall x Nabab de Reve) and Mathijs came sixth with Sirocco (Balou du Rouet x Guidam). Then it was the turn of Teddy van de Rijt (NED) who always guarantees speed. She went full throttle through the course with 13-year-old Gino (Echo van ‘t Spieveld x Oklund), stopped the clock at 43.26 seconds and took the lead. But that did not last long. American Jessica Springsteen and her fierce mare RMF Coco de Talma (Baloubet du Rouet x Cento) entered the arena confidently and it was clear she was on the hunt for a victory. And they succeeded, the duo crossing the finish line in 40.86 seconds. Italian Lorenzo de Luca rode a nice round and was fast but unfortunately had a fault on course. Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) also made a good effort with Dixie Moon (Diamantino x Baltimore), but Jessica’s time proved difficult to improve. A third place for Philippaerts. Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani (QAT) and Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) could not catch Springsteen either. But Eduardo Pereira De Menezes showed it could be even faster with Calypso des Matis (Padock du Plessis HN x Tresor de Cheux). He flew over the fences with short turns and a fast pace and improved Springsteen’s time by 2 seconds. The combinations after him, Henk van de Pol (NED), Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) and Wilm Vermeir (BEL) could not match the Brazilian’s time. The 44-year-old Brazilian who lives in Belgium was happy with the result and his horse. “My horse felt great. He is one of those horses where when he is having a good day he is difficult to beat. He is really fast and really careful. I felt like after number 4 in the first round he stretched one time and it was a big ask in the triple but he was good and then I felt I had a chance to go. Once he is clear in the first round he is a real threat in the jump-off.”

CSI P Grand Prix 1.30m

In the CSI P Grand Prix 1.30m, no combination managed to stay clear in the first round. Therefore, all the four-faulters came back with their brave ponies to compete for victory. Dutch Renske van Middendorp, riding her last year in the ponies, was the first to stay clear in a time of 38.41 seconds with the 12-year-old gelding Dollar Boy II. Her compatriot Lieselot Kooremans could focus on that. And she did so with verve. Lieselot also stayed clear and crossed the finish line 0.12 seconds faster. That put her in the lead with her 15-year-old gelding Vertige de Belebat. Even the fastest of the first round, Italian Giorgio Marini, could not change that performance. Belgium’s Robin Vermeir came third with Kristal Sparkle van Begeveld.

CSI4* Against the Clock 1.45m 

Closing out the final day of the Longines Global Future Champions, Nicola Philippaerts claimed victory in the CSI4* Against the Clock 1.45m class. The Belgian rider posted an unbeatable time aboard his mount Klaartje Z, stopping the clock at 60.82 seconds. When asked about his win Philippaerts said, “I feel great to have won. I didn’t ride Klaartje for a few weeks, but she feels great and she’s always very quick naturally. I am always happy to be able to win a class here in Valkenswaard.” Close behind was the USA’s Jessica Springsteen riding Naomi van het Keizershof. Springsteen navigated the course in style, claiming second place. Rounding out the top thee was Matthew Sampson of Great Britian. Sampson came home on a clean sheet aboard Fabrice DN to take third. Lars Kersten (NED) aboard Boebka vh Marienshof Z and Vani Khosla (USA) riding Nerio de la Haute Bruyere claimed fourth and fifth place, respectively.

“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News

The “Mdmar” website for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.