Ben Maher Soars to Victory on Day Two at the Longines Tops International Arena

The sun came out for day two of the Summer Classic as show jumping’s top talent went head to head at the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard.

It was blue skies for the CSI4* 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifier as class kicked off with Belgium’s Pieter Devos. Devos rode fast and found a good rhythm aboard Jarina J, setting the standard for the class with a foot-perfect clear round. British show jumping star Ben Maher was looking for a win as he entered the arena. Maher flew across the grass aboard Ginger-Blue and the pair posted a lightning fast clear round, taking an early lead with 64.19 seconds. 

When asked about his win, Maher said how impressed he was with his mount Ginger Blue, saying, “Ginger-Blue is a quite experienced horse now. She is very suited for this kind of competition and a naturally quite quick horse. Unfortunately Lorenzo de Luca was +0.01. It can’t get any closer than that but it was just on the ride side for me today.” Maher went on to say that he is cautiously optimistic for tomorrow’s 4* Grand Prix saying, “Ginger-Blue is an amazing horse. She is a winner. But it is a different competition and a new day tomorrow. Our sport brings new surprises and new winners every day.”

Despite yesterday’s rain, the grass arena was in top form for this evening’s class. The riders remarked on just how well the footing has held up. Winner Ben Maher said, “this grass arena is like no other. There are only two grass arenas that I know that can hold up to that kind of weather. Even yesterday we still could jump and today we were jumping like nothing ever happened. This is why we come here. The facilities are great.”

Next in the ring was Gilles Thomas riding Emitage Kalone, one of the best horses of the world at the moment. The young Belgian rider looked relaxed and confident as he navigated the course with the incredible Ermitage. The pair showed themselves to be a well oiled team that are truly a joy to watch. Thomas delivered a smooth clean round and was met by cheers as he crossed the finish line, tentatively claiming third place.

Brazil’s Eduardo Pereira De Menezes came home on a clean sheet aboard H5 Kastelle Memo, securing a top ten finish. Continuing his great form from yesterday, Khaled Almobty of Saudi Arabia raced across the course, delivering a clear round aboard Spacecake. 

German show jumping sensation Daniel Deusser was next up aboard Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z. Deusser posted a quick round, stopping the clock at 65.87 seconds. The German rider was fast, but it was not quite enough to take the lead from the lightning fast Maher. Italian’s Emanuele Gaudiano had his foot on the gas as he navigated the course with his mount Crack Balou. The pair delivered a fast, clear round, taking second place from Deusser. 

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Yesterday’s winner Rodrigo Pessoa was confident as he rode into the arena on Dhalida. The Brazilian rider posted the fastest time of the class, stopping the clock at 62.80 seconds, but an unfortunate fault on course dashed his hopes of another win. Dutch show jumping star Harrie Smolders expertly navigated the course aboard his mount Mr. Tac. Smolders strategically steered through the arena like a man with a plan. In the end, the Dutch rider could not quite match the pace of class leader Maher, stopping the clock at 66.76 seconds. 

Germany’s Marcus Ehning came flying onto the course. Ehning opted for tight turns and a quick pace as he hunted for the win aboard Flower Girl. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as they watched the pair fly over the course. Ultimately, the German rider could not catch Maher, finishing in third place, less than a second off the winning time. 

Enrique Gonzales of Mexico quickly navigated the course aboard his mount Origi van de Zeshoek. Gonzales delivered a clear round but ultimately could not match the pace set by Maher. Next up was Lorenzo de Luca of Italy. De Luca has already proved to be a strong contender this weekend. The Italian rider was looking for a win as he raced across the grass aboard Don Vito. Despite their quick pace, Maher proved untouchable, with De Luca coming home just 0.01 second slower than the class leader. 

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As the sun set over Valkenswaard, a DJ and saxophonist got the party going in the Place du Concours. Friends and riders gathered for a drink to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. As day two draws to a close, we eagerly await to learn who will take the top spot tomorrow on the final day of the Summer Classic at LTIA.

CSIYH1* Young Horse 1.30/1.35m

The sky was clearing up on the second day of Summer Festival 1 and the grass arena was in perfect shape for the young horses. The CSIYH1* Young Horse 1.30/1.35m class was won by Italian speedster Emanuele Gaudiano. You have to be pretty tough to beat this rider when it comes to speed. Gaudiano, who recently celebrated his 38th birthday, stopped the clock at 63.41 seconds with the seven-year-old grey stallion Diacentio PS. Germany’s Felix Hassmann was second with Cornetino WZ with a time of 67.06 seconds. British show jumping icon Ben Maher finished in third place with seven-year-old Maddox vh Haringvliet Z. Best six-year-old in this class was Tatou van het Wimpelhof Z with Great Britain’s Tamarin Christie in the saddle.

CSI1* Tabel A 1.25m

Dutchman Piet Raijmakers Jr stormed to victory in the CSI1* Table A 1.25m class in which combinations rode their jump-off immediately after their clear first round. The 41-year-old rider from Asten rode the feisty KWPN gelding Van Schijndel’s Hanibal. Their short turns and quick pace earned them the top spot with a time of 35.94 seconds. He thus relegated Friday’s winner, Frenchman Romain Potin with Brooklyn, to second place. Potin delivered a fast round, finishing on 37.03 seconds but he could not quite catch the flying Dutchman. Germany’s Christina Gierlich finished third with the still only seven-year-old United’s Lady 2 in a time of 37.26 seconds.

CSI2* Big Tour 1.45m Qualifier for 2* Grand Prix

The 1.45m Big Tour competition, a qualifier for the 2* Grand Prix, was won by American Natalie Dean with her 11-year-old mare Dotcom d’Authuit. The small feisty daughter of Diamant de Semilly shot through the course in a time of 64.85 seconds, dashing Koen Vereecke’s hopes of victory. The 21-year-old Dean, from Palo Alto, California, already won the U25 Grand Prix in Wellington. Belgian Koen Vereecke stopped the clock at 66.57 seconds with the 13-year-old stallion Lector vd Bisschop. Piet Raijmakers Jr from the Netherlands had to settle for third place this time with Van Schijndel’s Olaya Z.

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CSI1* Against the Clock 1.35m 

Dutch Aniek Diks took her revenge today in the CSI1* Against the Clock 1.35m class with the eight-year-old gelding Qointreau van’t Hoogeinde. Yesterday she came just short of first place but today she was by far the fastest with a time of 66.70 seconds. 34-year-old Aniek Diks from Vorstenbosch praised her horse’s speed: “I had a very good feeling. Yesterday he was also third. Qointreau is extremely fast by himself and so I was able to ride without having to take any extra risk. Tomorrow he will compete in the CSI1* Grand Prix.” But Qointreau is not her only iron in the fire: “I also have three young horses with me, one of which, a seven-year-old, has also been clear for two days.” Germany’s Christina Gierlich, who already took third place in the CSI1* 1.25m this morning, was now second with the grey Quelindo delivering a clear round in 69.30 seconds. Belgium’s Rune Reynders came third with the eight-year-old gelding Summerson Z.

CSI2* Against the Clock 1.40m

Italian Emanuele Gaudiano and his horses are in top form. In the morning he managed to win the young horses class and in the afternoon he repeated the feat. For the CSI2* Against the Clock 1.40m class, he had saddled the 10-year-old grey gelding Jaja. A successful combination, they have secured 19 victories together since March 2023. In this competition, they were almost 3.5 seconds faster than second-placed Belgian Yenthe Schrijvers and 12-year-old gelding Harrie. Gaudiano was very satisfied: “It’s great to be here again. Yesterday we had a lot of rain but the ground is just perfect. My horses feel good here and have now already won two classes. I hope it continues to go so well.” Third place was for Kim Emmen of the Netherlands and her nine-year-old mare Kandiama DMH.

CSI1* Direct Op Tijd  1.15m

Going to events with your dad and winning too. Lou Potin and her father Romain have had quite the weekend so far here at the Summer Classic. Romain Potin already won a class yesterday, as did daughter Lou, and she repeated her victory today. Lou claimed the top spot by nearly 10 seconds, winning the CSI1* Against the Clock 1.15m class with her speedy eight-year-old mare Greine des Neiges. They stopped the clock at 56.25 seconds. The 11-year-old French rider remarked on how exciting it is: “It feels very special to win here. This is not happening everyday which makes it very unique for me. Also competing next to all those great professional riders is really special.” Second place went to Germany’s Elisa Marlene von Hacht and her eight-year-old mare Janina VA with a time of 65.86 seconds. Her compatriot Ramona Hilliges came third with a time of 65.89 on Quorado 3.

CSI4* 1.45m

Germany’s Daniel Deusser was the first to go in the CSI4* 1.45m class. Deusser made quick work for the course aboard Otello de Guldenboom, claiming the top spot and knocking Dutch show jumping star Harrie Smolders into second place. Before Deusser entered the arena, Smolders had been on track for a home win aboard Darry Lou. Great Britian’s Robert Murphy claimed third aboard the ten year old stallion Catch-Me van Berkenbroeck. Hot on his heels were fourth place Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann of Germany riding Cornela and fifth place Pieter Devos of Belgium aboard Primo DV.

2* Small Tour 1.35m

First starter Sanne Thijssen of the Netherlands set the pace in the 2* Small Tour 1.35m class and stayed clear with the nine-year-old mare Lolandria Z, posting a time of 40.62 seconds in the jump off. Henk van de Pol, also from the Netherlands, entered the ring and delivered a lightning fast round. He recorded a time of 38.13 seconds with the 11-year-old mare No Fathers Girl. The time of the rider from Eindhoven turned out to be the winning time in the end. A total of six combinations managed to stay clear in the first round: winner Henk van de Pol, Dutch Hilde Veenstra and Infinity, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann and Tapioca, Mexican Enrique Gonzalez with H5 Messentus PS, and American Natalie Dean with Crescendo MB Z.

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