Release date: 07/08/2016

On Sunday Tops International Arena offered multiple great competitions such as the VDL Groep Prix, which was won by Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts and his horse H&M Harley v. Bisschop. Runners-up were Hans-Dieter Dreher for Duitsland with Embassy II. Third place went to Jos Verlooy with Sunshine. The spectacular Global Champions League was the closing feature of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Valkenswaard. Winners were Alberto Zorzi and Pedro Veniss of the ‘Madrid in Motion’ team.
 
Fourteen-year-old Sarah Rose Berg (USA) won the CSI1* 1.15m Special Inviational by Magic Millions with Jarnac de Guldenboom. Sarah is riding Jarnac for seven months now and she completely fell in love with him. “He is just super, if I make a mistake he always tries to save me,” said Sarah. She trains with Jane Richard Philips and her husband Ignace Philips. “They ar the best,” said Sarah with a big smile.  
The public saw a very happy Sheikh Yousuf Al Sabah during the prizegiving. He won the Magic Millions Final (.35m) with Femke EC (BWP, Nonstop x Nabab de Reve). He rides the mare since last year and this was their first big class win. “I am so happy, best feeling ever.”
Ireland’s Darragh Kenny again won a class in Valkenswaard. Today he was victorious in the CSI2* Big Tour Final (1.45m) with the BWP mare Fixdesign Funke van ’t Heike. He was very satisfied with the result: “I only ride her for three weeks and it is just our second time out. She is really a super horse with a lot of quality.”
Claudine Van Duffel from Belgium narrowly beat wellknown Dutch international Harrie Smolders in the jump-off of the Medium Tour 1.40m competition. Her horse, the SF mare Question St Loise, was 0.06 second faster than Harrie’s EH Quick Nina. The 16-year-old was very happy with her victory because the course was a bit more technical than she is used to jump. The mare is not her top horse – which was sold to the USA – but she is also very satisfied with this horse. “She never lets me down,” she said about Question.
James Emblen from Great Britain scored his second win in the CSI1* 1.25m class with Skelwith Lady Delilah. James is very enthousiastic about the event: “I think it is great, just like today you ride next to the Global Champions League teams. I would love to slip into the arena and compete with these top riders. Maybe..... one day,” James smiled.
It were four fantastic days during the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard, where not only the world’s top riders performed spectacular sport, but where also the young horses and riders could show their talents in the versatile programme. The beautiful weather ensured that everybody was having a great time on the ‘Place du Concours’.
 
The whole team of Tops International Arena hopes to welcome you again next year!
 
Full results.