Robert Murphy takes the top spot on day 2 at the Longines Tops International Arena
The sun was shining for day two of the Summer Festival 3 – Longines Global Future Champions in Valkenswaard. An impressive lineup of 29 riders took to the expansive grass arena to battle it out for top honors in the CSI4* Against the Clock 1.50m class built by Gregory Bodo.
Leopold van Asten was first to go aboard VDL Groep Kiara. The Dutch rider made quick work of the course but acquired an unfortunate four faults. USA’s Laura Kraut delivered a beautiful, smooth round aboard Dorado 212, posting the first clean round of the class but acquired 1 fault for time. Next up was Mike Kawai of Japan riding Saxo de la Cour. The young gun from Japan expertly piloted his chestnut gelding through the course, ultimately finishing in the top ten.
The Netherland’s Gerben Morsink took no prisoners riding Navarone Z. The Dutch rider delivered the first clear round of the class, tentatively jumping into first place, and was met by cheers from the home crowd as he crossed the finish line. Fellow Dutch rider Marc Houtzager found a good rhythm aboard Sterrehof’s Calimero, securing a top ten finish. Lorenzo de Luca of Italy made quick work of the course with Violino Il Palazetto. Despite a fault on course, the Italian rider finished in eighth place.
Next up was Great Britain’s fiercely competitive Matthew Sampson. Sampson looked to be on the hunt for a win aboard Fabrice DN, tentatively claiming first place. Fellow countryman Robert Murphy was next in the ring.
Murphy expertly piloted Hulde G through the challenging course, designed by the renowned Gregory Bodo, jumping into first place. When asked about his win, Murphy said, “I’m super thrilled with my mare. She actually won the 2* class here at the same show last year so I am really pleased with how she is progressing.” He went on to say, “It is always a treat to jump on this arena here at LTIA and I certainly always try to bring my best horses as it really is an important part of their progression.”
Lars Kersten of the Netherlands delivered a clear but careful round aboard Chuck Marienshof Z, securing fourth place. Ireland’s Denis Lynch looked to be on track for a win but was felled but the penultimate fence, nevertheless securing a top ten finish.
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As the sun set over the Longines Tops International arena, the DJ set the mood as friends and riders gathered in the Place du Concours to enjoy the incredible atmosphere. All eyes now turn to day three as we eagerly await to learn who will claim victory on the final day of the Longines Global Future Champions in Valkenswaard.
CSI J Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.20m
The first class for Juniors on day two of the Longines Global Future Champions, the CSI J Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.20m, became a complete Dutch party. The top five went to Dutch combinations. The fastest jump-off round was ridden by Yoni van Santvoort, who also took victory in the Young Riders class yesterday. Yoni and her seven-year-old KWPN gelding Majeur S (Bamako de Muze x L’Esprit) bettered Logan Fiechter’s time by 0.87 seconds. Fiechter, who rode into the arena as first starter, stopped the clock at 33.23 seconds with his 10-year-old gelding Corlouville PS (Cornet’s Balou x Galoubet A). Third place went to Marie Schalken who achieved a very fast time with Sensation Z (Zang, Starpower x Kannan), 30.91 seconds, despite four faults on course.
CSI2* Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.30m
For a while it looked like top Irish rider Denis Lynch would be the winner of the CSI2* class with immediate jump-off (1.30m) but somewhere at the back of the field of competitors, German rider David Will emerged and bettered Lynch’s time by 0.90 seconds. The 36-year-old Will from Marburg went through the course like a rocket with very short turns, which his elegant grey mare DSP Concordia (Colorit x San Patrignano Cassini) executed perfectly, to claim victory. Lynch had saddled the eight-year-old AES stallion Four Seasons (For Pleasure x Cassini II), previously ridden by the likes of Roelof Bril and Bertram Allen, for this class. Third place went to brand-new bronze medal winner Maikel van der Vleuten with Lalique (by Berlin).
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CSI YR Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.35m
Canadian Cassidy Rein was the very fastest in the CSI YR Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.35m class. She was happy with the performance of her 11-year-old mare Diablotine Jump (SF, Vivaldi du Seigneur x Grand Cru): “This is her first show back in a few months, so we just jumped some smaller classes. Yesterday didn’t go so well but today she felt really good and back in form.” The 20-year-old Rein first got Diablotine Jump under saddle in March 2023 and immediately won their first international competition, the 2* Grand Prix at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach, in April the same year. Second place went to Dutch rider Nikita Cheung and the seven-year-old stallion Maestro Gusto vd Laarse Heide (Comme Il Faut x Bustique). Emma Sophia Spanko (CZE) came third with Leclerc 5 (London x Stakkato).
CSI YR Against the Clock 1.45m
After the prize-giving ceremony of the Young Riders 1.35m class, Cassidy Rein rushed on to the next competition. She was clearly in the winning mood as she also won this against the clock CSI YR Against the Clock 1.45m class. For this competition, she had saddled her 12-year-old Habab-W (KWPN, Nabab de Reve x Padinus). The duo put down a great round and the easy-jumping gelding crossed the finish line in 58.20 seconds. Second place went to yesterday’s winners Kasper De Boeck (BEL) and Hachiko (KWPN, Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Heartbreaker). They stopped the clock in 58.26 seconds. Dutchman Logan Fiechter came third with Quebec vd Middelstede (Otangelo x Emerald). They completed their course in 64.15 seconds.
CSI J Against the Clock 1.35m
Belgian Kasper De Boeck repeated his victory from yesterday in the CSI J Against the Clock 1.35m class. With his 14-year-old BWP gelding Kiarado (Diarado x Coreggio), he proved too quick for the other competitors. In an incredibly fast time, over three seconds faster than second-placed Robin Vermeir, of 56.80 seconds, he also won the class. A great performance especially considering he competed this horse for the first time internationally only a week ago in Lier, Belgium. Vermeir crossed the finish line in 60.04 seconds with the 10-year-old mare Diamantina Z (Zang, Diamant de Semilly x Narcos II). Yves Willems claimed third place for the Dutch with Highway (Otangelo x Numero Uno), coming home just slightly slower than Vermeir: 60.24 seconds.
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CSI2* Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.20m
Dutch rider Vronie van de Rijt stormed to victory in the CSI2* Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.20m class where riders rode their jump-off straight after a clear round. With a smooth round with her 11-year-old gelding Neil Diamo d’Art (Zang, Andiamo Z x Narcos II), she stopped the clock at 29.42 seconds. The 29-year-old rider from Gerwen in Brabant has been competing in Valkenswaard since 2021 and was delighted with the result: “I am very happy with this victory. He is very fast and he is a great jumper. He always goes full steam towards the finish line.” Second place went to Spain’s Pilar Lucrecia Cordon who posted a time of 31.32 seconds with Machiavelli B (Untouchable x Clarimo). Dutch Thalessa de Jong came home third with L’Extreme BH (Canturo x Calvaro) with a time of 35.01 seconds.
| CSI2* Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.45m Spain’s Pilar Lucrecia Cordon was the fastest in the CSI2* Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.45m class just like yesterday. Out of 36 combinations, 21 managed to stay clear. The 51-year-old rider who stays in Wolvertem, Belgium with her horses was the fastest of them. Her fluid and fast round with the 11-year-old BWP mare Noblesse du Palis (Baltic VDL x Indorado) yielded a time of 59. 51 seconds. In doing so, she relegated top Italian rider Lorenzo de Luca to the runner-up spot. The Italian, who is based in England, rode 11-year-old Dirka de Blondel (SF, Very Berlin de Castel x Lauterbach) in this competition, with whom he already has won many classes. De Luca finished in a time of 59.65 seconds. Third place went to Belgium’s Rik Hemeryck who crossed the finish line in 61.30 seconds with Caristello JPZ (Clintissimo Z x Popcorn). CSI Ch Against the Clock 1.20m In the Children category, three young ladies were on the podium. The best in this CSI Ch Against the Clock 1.20m class was Dutch Imke Boden with her seven-year-old gelding Cominka Z (Comme Il Faut x Topas). The 13-year-old Imke is no newcomer. In 2021, she was Dutch Champion in the ponies class CL. The young talent rode a super-fast round in 51.26 seconds. Second place was also for a Dutch rider, Sanne van Hoof. She rode a clear round with Filandria (Indoctro x Quidam de Revel) in a time of 52.54 seconds. Germany’s Mia Cara Brugge came third with Candela L 2 (Cormint x Landritter). They too stayed clear in a time of 53.09 seconds. CSI4* Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.45m Belgium’s Wilm Vermeir claimed first place aboard Eytuka of Two Notes Z in the CSI4* Against the Clock with Immediate Jump Off 1.45m class. Vermeir delivered a lightning fast jump off, stopping the clock at 30.75 seconds. Close behind was Daniel Deusser of Germany. Deusser rode a quick jump off with his stallion Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z but cold not quite catch Vermeir. Rounding out the top three was Ireland’s Denis Lynch aboard Mr Boombastic who posted a quick, clean jump off. Lars Kersten of the Netherlands riding Boebka vh Marienshof Z and Tomas Yofre of Argentina riding Cardora completed the top five. |
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