Grand Prix Glory and Home Wins Bring Valkenswaard to a Thrilling Close

The Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday, with Grand Prix victories, impressive young horses and plenty of home success bringing three days of international show jumping at the Longines Tops International Arena to a memorable close.

The Dutch crowd had an early reason to celebrate as Yoni van Santvoort claimed the CSI1* Grand Prix, presented by GCTV. From 28 starters, 16 combinations progressed to the jump-off, setting up a fiercely contested battle for the title.

Aboard Mainly San Peppy (Brantzau x Carambole), Van Santvoort produced the round to beat, stopping the clock in a lightning-fast 36.34 seconds. A string of international challengers followed, but none could match the Dutch rider’s pace, handing Van Santvoort another victory after an already impressive weekend in Valkenswaard.

Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf continued his strong form in the CSI2* Small Tour over 1.35m. Riding Champion de la Roque Z (Comilfo Plus Z x Coltaire Z), Bettendorf dominated the 22-strong field with an untouchable time of 57.45 seconds. Qatar’s Mohammed Khalifa A Al Baker finished second with Emiro Delle Sementarecca in 59.94 seconds, while American rider Madison Wu and Corona Z completed the podium in 60.23 seconds.

Another Dutch victory followed in the Prix Barons de Rothschild Young Horses Final, where Kevin Jochems saved the best for last. Entering as the final starter in the jump-off, Jochems and Comthago’s Jewel (Comthago VDL x Emerald) raced across the finish in 35.17 seconds.

The performance pushed Belgium’s Thibeau Spits and Cute van ’t Vossenhof Z into second place by just 0.21 seconds. Germany’s Christian Ahlmann finished third aboard Ambassador Z in 35.75 seconds, with the stallion also finishing as the highest-placed six-year-old.

Competition was equally fierce in the CSI2* Medium Tour, where 52 combinations came forward and 23 advanced to the immediate jump-off. Britain’s George Whitaker proved fastest aboard Peanut, producing a sharp round in 27.67 seconds.

Belgium occupied the remaining podium positions, with Thibeau Spits taking second aboard Remus de Muze in 28.83 seconds and Pieter Devos finishing third with Courage DV Z in 29.21 seconds.

After finishing runner-up on both Friday and Saturday, Norway’s Karoline Lien finally went one better in the CSI1* 1.25m. Riding the experienced Castlefield Jess, Lien delivered a fast and fluent jump-off in 29.23 seconds to claim a well-deserved victory.

Belgium’s Helena Beyers finished second with six-year-old Bella du Sud Z in 29.99 seconds, while Great Britain’s Gemma Wright and Meiminka completed another all-female podium in 30.98 seconds.

The sporting highlight of the afternoon came in the CSI2 Grand Prix, presented by GC TV*, where 50 combinations tackled the demanding course. Eleven riders produced clear first rounds, with eight returning for the jump-off.

Italy’s Giampiero Garofalo set an early benchmark aboard Kadessa Z, jumping clear in 36.49 seconds. Dutch favourite Sanne Thijssen and Brazil’s Eduardo Pereira de Menezes were among those to challenge, but the winning performance came from France’s Simon Delestre.

Entering as the penultimate starter aboard Olga van de Kruishoeve (El Torreo de Muze x Nabab de Reve), Delestre attacked from the opening fence. Sharp turns and relentless pace saw him stop the clock in 35.36 seconds, more than a second faster than Garofalo, to claim the Grand Prix victory in spectacular style.

The final win of the weekend went to Czech rider Dominika Knox in the CSI1* 1.15m. Five combinations reached the jump-off, but Knox and Abraham Lincoln proved unbeatable with a winning time of 30.82 seconds. Hungary’s Nóra Jázmin Nagy finished second aboard Orite 2 in 33.61 seconds, with Gemma Wright and Its Comming taking third in 35.08 seconds.

With Grand Prix glory for Simon Delestre, home victories for Yoni van Santvoort and Kevin Jochems, and international winners throughout the programme, the final day provided a fitting conclusion to an action-packed weekend of sport at the Longines Tops International Arena.