Release date: 17/07/2017

It was pleasantly busy during the first day of the Global Future Champions in Valkenswaard which started with nice competitions and beautiful weather.
 
Britain’s Harry Bateman won the Two Phases class for five-year-olds with his KWPN mare Heerdelon (Toulon x Lux). It is only their second international performance. “It is fantastic here and I am so happy to ride here,” he smilingly said afterwards. Heerdelon is owned by Lucy Wood, who is also in Valkenswaard to compete. The owner as well as the rider is very enthusiastic about the mare. Lucy: “She is small, but very sharp and fast. She really wants to win. She likes to jump so much that we regularly have to catch her because she jumped out off the meadow.”
Runners-up were Harry’s fellow countrywoman Pippa Goddard with Hot Bluebird (KWPN, Plot Blue x Heartbreaker) followed by Geert Moerings with Havanna for the Netherlands.
 
Lars Kersten and his KWPN mare Giwana (Baltic VDL x Indoctro) won the six-year-olds class. Lars is trained by his father, former international Pieter Kersten. Lars was, like many other riders, very pleased with the courses built by Luc Mussette: “Strong but fair.” Horses and talent are in the family. Lars’s twin brother is also active in the jumping sport and trains with the well-known Germany professional Otto Becker. Dat de paardensport en het talent in hun bloed zit is wel duidelijk, ook Lars zijn tweelingbroer is actief in de springsport en traint bij de bekende Duitse prof Otto Becker.
 
Victory in the class for seven-year-olds went to Holland’s Patrick Lemmen with the gelding Fascinating Fortuna, the horse he was also successful with in Valkenswaard in May this year (second in the final for seven-year-olds). Patrick, who rides for the Carpe Diem Team, was very satisfied about the course: “It was fair but demanding, a good course to start with the first day.” Patrick thinks this horse has a bright future, “He has the potential to become a Grand Prix horse. He likes to work for you, it is a great horse.”
 
Greece’s Aggelos Touloupis took first place in the class for eight-year-olds with this Holsteiner mare Be Aperle V. Aggelos is based in Germany and is training with Antonis Pertis since four years. “The most important thing Petris has taught me is that you have to work on a good bond and gain trust first and then a horse will be willingly to work for you.” Be Aperlo V. is owned by Manfred Von Allwörden and Aggelos rides her for one year now. “She is a super nice horse, much blood and scoop.”

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