| Longines Tops International Arena

Ireland’s Max Wachman kicked off the Summer Showcase at Longines Tops International Arena in style, clinching victory in Thursday’s CSI4* 1.50m speed class with an electrifying round aboard GRS Lady Amaro.

The young Irish talent, produced a flawless and blisteringly quick round, stopping the clock at 65.74 seconds - just enough to edge out Spain’s Julio Arias Cueva and Filou du Manoir, who finished a breath behind in 65.86 seconds.

Wachman smiled: “It’s been a fantastic first day at the Longines Tops International Arena. Lady Amaro was flying on the grass arena and of course, it’s always a good way to start the weekend with a win. I always enjoy coming to shows here with the fantastic facilities, so i'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend!”

Dutch rider Niels Kersten secured third place with Rose of Ballmore, crossing the timers in 66.04 seconds, continuing a strong summer campaign on home soil. Olympic gold medallist Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) wasn’t far off the podium, placing fourth with Dhalida in 66.06 seconds, while fellow Dutchman Mathijs van Asten took fifth aboard Hotspot in 66.39 seconds.

The top ten was packed with world-class names, including Yuri Mansur (6th), Simon Delestre (7th), and Kevin Jochems (9th), all delivering clear rounds but unable to match Wachman’s fearless pace.

Top 10 Results – CSI4* 1.50m Speed Class

Max Wachman (IRL) & GRS Lady Amaro – 0 | 65.74

Julio Arias Cueva (ESP) & Filou du Manoir – 0 | 65.86

Niels Kersten (NED) & Rose of Ballmore – 0 | 66.04

Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) & Dhalida – 0 | 66.06

Mathijs van Asten (NED) & Hotspot – 0 | 66.39

Yuri Mansur (BRA) & Clariquada T – 0 | 66.87

Simon Delestre (FRA) & Golden Boy DK – 0 | 67.56

Eduardo Pereira De Menezes (BRA) & H5 Elvaro – 0 | 67.68

Kevin Jochems (NED) & Prada di Costa M – 0 | 67.75

Khaled Almobty (KSA) & Spacecake – 0 | 68.13

With such a high-calibre field and razor-thin margins, the stage is set for an exciting weekend of sport in Valkenswaard.

CSI2*

The 1998 World Champion and 2004 Olympic Champion, Rodrigo Pessoa won the 2* Big Tour, a qualifier for Sunday's Grand Prix. With his 11-year-old mare (SF, Vigo Cece x Ogano Sitte), the Brazilian was the fastest of the 35 riders in the field. In a beautiful round, he crossed the finish line in 63.31 seconds. Another well-known name had to settle for second place, American Natalie Dean, who is a member of the GCL all women's team Cannes Stars. The 26-year-old rider, who rides for Marigold Sporthorses LLC, stopped the clock at 63.67 seconds with her SF mare Dotcom d'Authuit (Diamant de Semilly x Quidam de Revel). Mexican Eduardo Sanchez Navarro came third with Gradje O (KWPN, VDL Cardento 933 x Voltaire) with a time of 65.42 seconds.

In the 2* Medium Tour (1.40m), victory went to Manon Hees from the Netherlands. The 36-year-old rider from Meterik in Limburg, who is married to international show jumper Emile Tacken, flew across the finish line in 26.34 seconds with the 10-year-old BWP mare Prinses van het Keizershof (Dakar VDL x For Pleasure). Her compatriot Yves Willems finished in second place with the KWPN mare Highway (Otangelo x Numero Uno). The rider from Koningsbosch, who won team silver at the European Junior Championships this year, recorded a time of 27.8 seconds. Alexandra Crown completed the podium. The American, who grew up in New York, rode her second phase with the 14-year-old mare Burdey of Mic (Diamant de Semilly x Heartbreaker) in 27.92 seconds.

In the 2* Small Tour competition, it was once again Dutch rider Tom Schellekens who took the lead at the award ceremony. This morning, he won the young horse class with Nala van de Zietfort, and at the end of the afternoon, he was the fastest in this class. He rode a beautiful round in 31.23 seconds with the 11-year-old mare Optima vd Bisschop (BWP, Denzel v't Meulenhof x Elvis ter Putte). The rider from Esbeek has only had the mare under saddle since this summer. Belgian rider Koen Vereecke came second with the eight-year-old BWP gelding Riverflow van't Ruytershof (Tornedo FCS x For Pleasure). The 55-year-old rider from Waarschoot achieved a time of 31.79 seconds. Third place went to Mexican Enrique Gonzalez and the Brazilian-bred H5 Quaman (Diamant de Semilly x Quidam's Rubin) with a time of 34.16 seconds.

CSI1*

The first competition for 1* combinations started this morning in the sand arena. The 47 riders rode an against the clock class (1.35m) and 28 of them managed to remain faultless. Abdulrahman Al Fuzae from Kuwait was the fastest with his 13-year-old KWPN gelding Gijsbrand (Arthos R x Hamilton). The pair crossed the finish line in 58.1 seconds, relegating Belgium's Helena Beyers to second place. It turned out to be the winning time. Beyers rode the seven-year-old BWP mare Sapphire van Stal Petit Breck (Elvis ter Putte x Eros Platiere) clear in 58.42 seconds. Cecile Klaassen-Van Den Broek upheld Dutch honour and finished in third place with Cilydi (KWPN, Contendro II x Quattro).

Sweden's Alma Ranebo took first prize in the 1* 1.20m competition, also a two-phases class. She set a super-fast time with her 10-year-old KWPN mare Karinda-S (Animo x Guidam). The 31-year-old rider, who runs her own stable, Alma Ranebo Sporthorses, in Bjärred near Malmo, already has several victories in Kronenberg, Opglabbeek, Eindhoven and Maastricht to her name with this horse. Second place went to Dutch rider Thalessa de Jong, who was already very successful two weeks ago at the Summer Classic. She crossed the finish line in 27.62 seconds with her 13-year-old KWPN mare Habrina (Eldorado vd Zeshoek TN x Phin-Phin). Third place went to her compatriot Rosanne Janssen and the nine-year-old mare Larizona (KWPN, Eldorado vd Zeshoek TN x Labor's VDL Indorado). They stopped the clock at 28.85 seconds.

CSIYH

The Summer Showcase weekend was opened by the young horses in the beautiful grass arena of Longines Tops International Arena. A total of 45 talented six- and seven-year-olds competed in this Two-Phases competition (1.30/1.35m). The seven-year-old AES mare Nala van de Zietfort (El Barone 111 Z x Lord Z Z) was the fastest in both phases with Dutch rider Tom Schellekens and made no mistakes. The mare, who already won two classes in Valkenswaard as a five-year-old in 2023, crossed the finish line in 27.44 seconds. Second place also went to a Dutch rider. Top rider Leopold van Asten from Stoeterij Duyselshof also managed to remain clear in a time of 28.11 seconds. He was riding the seven-year-old VDL Groep Noucha (KWPN, Diamant de Semilly x Balou de Rouet), born and bred at Stoeterij Duyselshof. Germany's Claricia Kendra Brinkop completed the podium. The 30-year-old rider, who rides for Stephex Stables in Wolvertem, Belgium, achieved a time of 28.77 seconds with Sniper Des Lilas Blancs (BWP, Hamilton Du Chapitre x Calvaro Z). The pair have already won several competitions in Lier, Fontainebleau and Deauville. The best six-year-old was the Zangersheide stallion ELdoranos C-G Z (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Lordanos), who finished in fifth place under the saddle of winner Tom Schellekens.

Wachman Wows in Lightning-Fast CSI4* Speed Class Opener at Longines Tops International Arena