Release date: 16/05/2018

The first Final on Wednesday was for the seven-year-olds. No less than 25 out of the 46 combination reached the jump-off. Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet did a perfect job. He won the Final with Faut-Il des 7 Vallons (SBS, by Comme Il Faut x Double Espoir) and took third place with Carleyle (Holst.). “A great horse, scopey and an excellent character. A horse for the future,” according to Gregory. “I rode the mother of Faut-Il des 7 Vallons, Firis de la Maine, myself during the European Championships for Young Riders in Gijon in 2001.” Faut-Il des 7 Vallons is bred and owned by Helene Counson. Runners-up were Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Bali des Cedres Verts (SF, Diamant de Semilly x Quidam de Revel) for Brazil.

The Final voor six-year-olds was won by Britain’s Benjamin Raistrick and the KWPN gelding Hessel (VDL Sheraton x Cantos). “Hessel is a very scopey horse and he is very careful. He knows exactly when things are getting serious and he will fight for you. He certainly has potential for the big classes. He can be a bit cheeky, he has a sense of humor.” Benjamin who is 23-years-old, rides for Windmill Farm Estate, owner of Hessel, for the past two years. Runner-up was Germany Nina Ulenberg with Grey Man (Hann., Grey Top x Athletico). Stal Tops rider Alberto Zorzi finished in third place with Adele Z (Zang., Air Jordan x Adagio IV).

Holland’s Nadieh Plegt was unbeatable in the five-year-olds category. Monday she was runner-up and today she won the Final. Another fast round from Nadieh and her KWPN mare Isanne (Dakar VDL x Larino). The 22-year-old Nadieh rides for the stables of Maarten Kamphuis in Agelo. “I bought Isanne a year ago and we trained her ourselves. Isanne is a talented horse, she is careful and she has a very good technique,” explained Kamphuis. “Nadieh is trained by Tony Haselbekke since two months and “it is already starting to pay off.” Asking Nadieh was she is dreaming of she says “I would love to jump at the World  Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken in September.”Runner-up was France’s Benoit Petitjean with D’Rihanna. Canada’s Braden James finished in third place with I Am Special CB. The pair performed very consistent as well: Monday first and yesterday also a third place.

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