Release date: 14/05/2019

The British riders were very successful in the Young Horses classes at Tops International Arena today. However, it were the five-year-olds who started the day and victory went to Germany in this class. Finally it was Alexander Hufenstuhl, who had the fastest clear round with the Westphalian gelding Compadre (Comme Il Faut x Ferragamo). Compadre is a half-brother to Cloony 51, the top horse of Swiss Martin Fuchs. “I hope Compadre will turn out to be as good as Cloony, “ smiled Hufenstuhl. He is very enthusiastic about the event: “I think it is great, it is the perfect location for young horses. They gain a lot of experience, the course a beautiful and well-built and everything is perfectly organised.” Runners-up were Belgium’s Rachel Steffen and the KWPN stallion Jorlan (VDL Groep Verdie TN NOP x Heartbreaker). Third place also went to Belgium: Caroline De Laet and Ola Kala de Regor (BWP, Darco x Cento). They won the same class yesterday.
 
The competition for six-year-old had a complete British top three. Pippa Goddard won with the stallion Nero van de Kwade Heyde (BWP, Echo van ‘t Spieveld x Lux Z). She rode the stallion when he was four-years-old and she started riding him again this year. “This is such a great horse, a lot of blood and careful. We hope to come back in July and to qualify for Lanaken.” Emma Stoker finished runner-up with Q Seven (HANN, Quaid x Stakkato). They finished fifth in last week’s final for six-year-olds. William Rekert took third place with the gelding Diakalou PS (Diarado x Stakkato).
 
It was again Britain up in de seven-years-old class: first and second place went to a rider from the other side of the Channel. Harry Bateman and his mare Zuniek vd Tojopehoeve Z (VDL Zirocco Blue x Calvados) won the competition. Harry bought the mare when she was three-years-old and trained her himself. “She is a very modest horse, she is much better than she thinks and the faster we go the better she gets.” Harry is hoping to train her upto Grand Prix level. William Rekert took the runner-up spot with the mare Chanintendra PS (Chacco Blue x Nintender) followed by Belgium’s Pascale Haep and Chartraine Pre Noir (SF).
 
The finales will be held tomorrow, see programme here.