Release date: 11/08/2017

Belgium’s Ignace Philips won the first competition at the opening day at Tops international Arena with a super fast round in 59.87 seconds. The 46-year-old Philips was very happy with his round in the competition for young horses with the seven-year-old Westphalian mare Carla Colesta: “She did a great job. She can be a bit tense during competitions, although at home she is really very relaxed, so I am very satisfied with this result.” He was also very complimentary on the new, temporary, sand footing: “The footing was perfect, chapeau for the organization!”
Philips, who lives in Italy, rides the mare for about one year and in the future Ignace’s wife, the international Swiss top rider Jane Richard Philips, will take over the ride. Jane represented her country during the World Equestrian Games in Caen in 2014 and is an ambassador for Longines since 2013.
Holland’s Aniek Diks finished runner-up with Fiarabo (KWPN, Diarado x Padinus) in 63.66 followed by Frenchman Damien de Chambord with Aicha de Coquerie (SF, Corofino GFE x Quidam de Revel) in third in 64.00.

CSI2* Big Tour for Niels Tacken
Holland’s Niels Tacken jumped to victory in the 2* Big Tour (Two Phases, 1.45m) with the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare Chenna Z (Chablis I Z x Katell xx). “I planned to ride a nice and smooth round and it turned out to be enough for victory. Chenna is a fast horse. I ride her for six years now. She has a strong temperament and very sensitive. It took some time before we formed a team. Niels will soon start his own jumping and trading stable.  
Second place went to Belgium’s Jos Verlooy with Gaston van ’t Steentje and Britain’s Jemma Kirk finished in third with Tchoupi Pironniere.
The Small Tour (1.35m) competition was won by Dutch rider Aniek Diks with Winston Jumper and victory in the Medium Tour (1.40m) was for Lidija Grum from Slovenia and LG Balladora.
 
All CSI1* competitions are sponsored by Magic Millions, a famous racehorse auction house in Bundall, Queensland, Australia. The 1.10m competition was won by Georgina Harvey, daughter of Gerry Harvey and Katie Page-Harvey, owners of Magic Millions. Georgina stayed clear in both phases in 36.16 seconds with Moeskaers Quattro, a DWB gelding by Quidam de Revel x Liberty Dane. The 1.20m class was won by Estonia’s Anna Petrova with Seattle Davier (SF, Jumpy des Fontaines x Hurlevent). Holland’s Beau Schuttelaar won the 1.35m with Caretino (NRPS, Singulard Joter x Ramiro’s Sohn II).