Release date: 16/05/2016

The second competition week at the Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard had again a flying start with great winners and promising future stars.
 
The main class of the first day, the CSI2* Big Tour class, 1.45m, saw an all American top three. Wellington based Kent Farrington took first prize aboard the 12-year-old KWPN mare Zafira (Nassau x Cappucino van Berkenbroek) after a nail biting jump-off. Jessica Springsteen and the BWP mare Davendy S (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Pachat II) gave it their best shot, but were 0.11 seconds slower to finish runners-up. The USA’s Catherine Pasmore and Z Canta (KWPN, Casantos x Abantos) finished in third.
 
The opening class in the CSI2*, Small Tour (1.35m) was won by Ireland’s Bertram Allen with Tryba du Lerchenberg (SF, Kashmir Van ‘t Schuttershof x Cento). They finished the course in 34.31 seconds just ahead of Maikel van der Vleuten with the eight-year-old mare Dana Blue (Mr. Blue x Hemmingway). Anna Edwards, who, later in the afternoon, also won the CSI1* Big Tour competition, came out on top in the Medium Tour class (1.40m) with Darling HDH (KWPN, Douglas x Oklund). The USA’s Carly Anthony finished runner-up with Double Quick, an eight-year-old KWPN mare by Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve x Phin Phin.
 
CSI1* Tour
Victory in the Small Tour competition, 1.10m, went to Britain’s Caroline Breen, who finished the two phases course in 34.37 seconds. She rode the 11-year-old ISH gelding Kilmastulla Douglas (Ard VDL Douglas). A close runner-up was Koen De Waele with Cookie (KWPN, Hickstead x Silverston) for Belgium. The fastest combination in the Big Tour competition (1.35m) was Anna Edwards with the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding Chesterfield Z (Chippendale Z x Sir Caletto). Best Dutch pair were Maikel van der Vleuten en Exit of Ice Z (ZANG, Emilion x Tornado) in second place. The last CSI1* competition of today was the Medium Tour class and Switzerland’s Stefanie Breitenstein took top honours with Louisiana B (ISH, Wandango x Feo).
 
Young Horses
Today all young horses, five-, six- and seven-year-olds, jumped a Two Phases competition. The seven-year-old horses opened the series and Tim Wilks won with Joker S (BWP, Toulon x Poor Boy) for Great Britain. Olympic and World Cup Champion Steve Guerdat finished runner-up with Vaya de Brenil Chaine (SF, Quidam de Revel x Cento). Emma Augier de Moussac (CZE) won the class for six-year-old horses with Brighton Bay (KWPN, Ultimo x Kreator) ahead of Egypt’s Karim Elzoghby with Scotch (HANN, Stolzenberg x Escudo).  In the five-year-olds competition it was Britain’s Anna Wilks, Tim’s sister, who was over two seconds faster with L. Primero di Gala (BWP, Toulon x Calato) than runners-up Jan Geukens and Lola Palousa de Goedereed (BWP, Nabab de Reve x Argentinus) for Belgium.
 
Full results day 1