Release date: 17/07/2019

The last day of the Longines Global Future Champions offered great sport, happy faces and a superb atmosphere. Event direct Marco Danese was very happy: “We have had great competitions and many competitors are impressed with the facilities and the organisation. This event’s schedule has a very varied competitor field and classes and that makes it very special.”
In today’s first final, the one for the six-year-olds, Holland’s Anoek van der Pluijm had the fastest round in the jump-off with 17 combinations. She won with the home-bred KWPN mare Iriz (Eldorado v. Zeshoek x Darco). “I worked towards this final. The first two days I was careful, but today we gave it all and it worked out!”, said the 29-year-old rider afterwards. “I watched the first two combinations in the jump-off and I rode the same lines, but I was faster”, she laughs. Anoek trained the mare herself: “In addition to speed, she also has a lot of power and she is super keen. That used to be quite difficult as she was looking at everything and was easily distracted. She has learnt to focus.” Runner-up was Ireland’s Conan Wright with the KWPN mare Indigo (Cascadello x Verdi TN) and Pippa Goddard, who won the final in May, finished in third place with Nero van de Kwade Heyde (Echo van ‘t Spieveld x Lux Z).
Britain’s Laura Renwick repeated her great performance of yesterday in the final for five-year-olds. She won with Cottee (Asterix E Z x Couleur Rubin) and finished third with Maleficent (Typhoon S x Dollar de la Pierre). She was thrilled with the result: “It is very special to win with your breeding product. We started breeding about six years ago and to see them win is just great. Especially when the win at a prestigious event for young horses like this.” Compatriot Max Routledge finished runner-up with Joly Fleur T.V. (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Phin Phin).
Victory in the final for seven-year-olds went to Great Britain as well: Guy Williams and his mare Chilli (BRAND, Colestus x Colorit) had the fastest round in the 11-horse jump-off. “It is always special to win a final, but it is even more special for the owner, my brother Thomas,” said Williams after the prizegiving. “I am riding the mare for only three weeks, but she is great. Small, but very careful and brave.” Chilli has been already very successful. As a five-year-old she won the World Championships in Lanaken with Pippa Goddard and in 2018 she won silver with Donald Whitaker. Seamus Hughes Kennedy finished runner-up for Ireland with the ISH mare Cuffesgrange Cavadora (Z Wellie 72 x Luidam). Stal Tops stable rider, Italian Alberto Zorzi, finished in third place with Conish Des Forest (Mozart des Hayettes x Dollar de la Pierre).
We can call Ireland’s Michael Pender justifiably a top talent. After winning the Hickstead Derby a few weeks ago, he showed his horsemanship in the final of the eight-year-olds. He won with the mare HHS Fortune (ISH, Catoki x Ard VDL Douglas) who is owned by Marion Hughes of Hughes Horse Stud. “I am riding her for three years. She had a foal as a four and five-year-old. She is just great, she is always giving her best. We are a real good team.” Britains Cressy Neads finished runner-up with Baladine du Chanu (Kannan x Papillon Rouge) followed by the 2018 Dutch Champion Frank Schuttert with Latina van het Avenhof (BWP, by Diarado).
 
On Friday the sportive programma will continue with pony riders, Children, Juniors, Young Riders and U25 combinations. The first competitor will enter the arena at 8 am sharp. Tickets can be ordered here.