Release date: 06/08/2016

Today the visitors enjoyed another day of exciting sport at Tops International Arena. Before the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix many great riders and horses in multiple other classes entered the arenas. The first class, the CSI1*, 1.35m, was won by Australia’s Savanna Hopkinson with the KWPN mare Ad Blanez. Savanna trains with Edwina Tops-Alexandra and her horse is owned by Athina Onassis. “My horse is really great, she gave me more self-confidence,” Savanne smiled. Just a bit later she also won the Magic Millions 1.15m, this time with Zain Z (Zandor Z x Indoctro). This mare is owned by Stable Tops and only recently competing. “She is a really obedient horse, she is only six-years-old but behaves like a 10-year-old,” according to Savanna.
 
Germany’s Katharina Offel won the Big Tour CSI2* 1.45m class with Sakann (Kannan x Nidor Platière). “This is our first victory. I don’t have her that long yet, but today we had a match,” said a satisfied Katharina.  
 
Holland’s Marc Houtzager took victory in the CSIYH1* 1.30/1.35m competition with his KWPN stallion Mr. Europe (Mr. Blue x Cassini I). Marc rides the horse for two years now, but did not yet compete much at international events. “The horse has a super character and has never jumped better than today in the jump-off. He has all it needs to become a Grand Prix horse,” Marc said afterwards.
 
Abbie Summers (GBR) and her Oldenburg mare Quantas were relieved when the last combination left the arena and her win was secured in the Magic Millions 1.25m competition. Abbie is trained by international Laura Renwick, who is, according to the 16-year-old, an example to her. “Laura has tought me to be fast, but, even more important, she also tought me to especially enjoy it all,” the young talent smiled.  
 
Mark Armstrong turned out to be the strongest in the CSI2* Small Tour with the AES gelding Balougio III (by Baloubet du Rouet). During the prizegiving Mark was accompangied by his son Charlie, who was, of course, very proud of his father, and Fredrik Fisher, son of international jumping rider James Fisher.
 
Tomorrow the public can enjoy another day with great sport and of the afternoon’s highlight the Global Champions League. 
 
Tomorrow’s programme.

Full results.