Release date: 10/05/2017

The last day of the first event at Tops Internationl Arena was full of top sport  in a very relaxed atmosphere. In total 165 riders took part and they travelled with 478 horses to Valkenswaard. A challenge, but not for Valkenswaard, it all went perfectly.
 
CSI2*
She sat on her horse with a big smile on her face, Bianca Schoenmakers was thrilled with her victory in the CSI2* Grand Prix. “This is only my fourth Grand Prix win in a two star event. To win here, in my own region, makes it even more special. In the jump-off I was able to keep going and at one of the fences I could cut the corner and that made me faster than Bertram.” Asking her how she experienced her three days at Tops International Arena she said “it is incredible!!”
Bertram Allen finished second for Ireland with GK Casper, a Holsteiner stallion by Canto. Third place went to Belgium’s Karline De Brabander with Fantomas de Muze (BWP, Sandro Boy x For Pleasure).
 
Patrick McEntee, who lives in Belgium and rides for Azerbaijan, won the Small Tour competition (1.35m) The 43-year-old rider, who rides for Mury Marais Stud since 1998, rode the 11-year-old mare Alice Mury Marais Z. “The mare was born on our stud and I trained her from the beginning. The first years she was a bit insecure and spooky, but now she is self-confident and jumps great.”
Second place was for Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and the eight-year-old mare Casanova Z (Zang, Coltaire Z x Caretino). The Belgian rider Jos Verlooy finished in third with Gaston van ‘t Steentje (BWP, Action-Breaker x Heartbreaker).
 
Victory in the Medium Tour (1.40m) was for Ireland’s Darragh Kenny with the eight-year-old SF mare Vragance Manciaise (Cassini II x Power Light). Kenny, who runs his own stable in Meijel, the Netherlands, said after his round:  I ride this horse for four months now. I will train him up to Grand Prix level and then his owner will take over the ride.”
Holland’s Harrie Smolders took the runner-up spot with Artois d’Avillon, an 11-year-old SBS gelding by the stallion Kashmir van Schuttershof. Third place was for Marcus Ehning and Cristy (Zang, Canturo x Landlord) for Germany.
 
CSI1*
The Small Tour competition’s top three was completely Belgian and female. Winner was the 25-year-old Nathalie De Martin with her 14-year-old KWPN gelding Wervelwind van de Kapel (Silverstone x Ahorn). Nathalie, who lives in Bocholt just over the border near Valkenswaard, was very happy with her victory: “It was the first time for me at Tops International Arena and I think it is fantastic! And winning makes it even better. Nathalie rides several other horses for owners and at home she has two broadmares. The economics graduate made her international debut this year.
Runners-up were, as yesterday, Ludivine Mandron and the BWP stallion Kicero and third was Kim Celis with her KWPN mare Beaujolais (Oramé  x Ueleme de Longpre) with whom she won a class on the first day.
 
The Medium Tour had the same winner as the day before but with another horse. Britain’s Alex Barr had the fastest clear round in the 22-horse jump-off with the KWPN mare Bettilini (Kojak x Manhattan). Barr rides the mare for her owner Mary Grant who rides Bettilini in smaller shows in Great Britain. “I am very happy to be able to ride here. Everything looks perfect and next week I will be here again.”
Belgium’s Michael Joly finished in second place with Cherie (KWPN, Verdi x Eaton du Rezidal). Third place went to Oliver Lazarus from South-Africa with Blue Baron (Holst, Cannavaros x Cambridge).
 
Jérôme Counasse from Liege in Belgium was the winner of the Grand Prix with Next Up Z (Zang, Nonstop x Skippy II). Counasse, who runs a stable, Ecurie des Papilard, was happy: “This is a great  finish to a great event for me. The first day I won a class with this horse, yesterday I was second and now I win the Grand Prix. Next Up Z, who I ride for six years now, did very well although he sometimes can be a bit difficult. But he has the will to win.”
Runners-up were Brazil’s Matheus Ferreira Gomes Correa with Quirimba LS La Silla, an eight-year-old SLS mare (Quintero La Silla x Capitol I).

Full results