Release date: 29/08/2020

New and familiar faces at the prizegiving ceremonies during the second day of the Global Future Champions at Tops International Arena. Several combinations confirmed their good form and won their class for the second time.

Juniors
However, this was not the case in the Junior division. The 1.20/1.25m class, a Table A against the clock, was won by Leandro José Abrahao with the SF gelding Virtual Boy de Sheloa (Quality Touch x Hivanoe). The 16-year-old Brazilian was over one second faster than runner-up Olga Skrobacz with Orida M for Poland.
Belgium’s, also 16-years-old, Caro-Belle de Hornois won the other Junior competition (1.35/1.40m with Idyllis L (2008, BWP, Andiamo x Wandor van de Mispelaere), with whom she won team silver at the European Children Championships in Samorin (SVK) in 2017.

U25
The 1.45/1.50m (against the clock) competition for U25 combinations was won by the German talented rider Max Haunhorst with Chaccara (OS, Chacco-Blue x Quidam de Revel). Haunhorst has been competing in Valkenswaard since 2016 and in 2017 he won the Juniors Final with Chaccara. Last year they won a bronze team medal at the European Championships for Young Riders in Zuidwolde.
Belgium’s Gilles Thomas won the second Young Riders class (1.35/1.40m) with a super fast round with his BWP mare Imposante Vede. Gilles Thomas was also very successful during the Global Future Champions last year. He won four classes. "I like to come here every year. Tops International Arena is one of the best shows for both horses and riders. Really big arena’s, good warm-ups, fixed stables, close parking, nice classes. This year I brought 2 horses for the U25. La Luna for the Big Tour and Imposante for the Small Tour. Tomorrow are the finals so I hope to have a good day tomorrow and go for one or two more wins."

Young Riders
Both Germany’s Celine Friess and Britain’s William Fletcher repeated yesterday’s victory in the Young Riders division. Friess won the 1.30/1.35m class with her Westphalian gelding Toenne 3 (2010, Stakkato Gold x Contender. William Fletcher took first prize in the 1.45/1.50m competition with a smooth round in 62.59 seconds with Persimmon. "I have to say thank you very much to Jan Tops for putting this show on for us Young Riders.
It is an incredible experience for riders like myself to jump at such a fantastic venue and the birthplace of the LGCT of which is the aim of every rider here. I have had a phenomenal show here so far with my best horse Persimmon winning the first two big U25 classes. It’s an amazing feeling to win in such a prestigious arena, it is fair to say I would love to come back soon!"

Ponies and Children
Two combinations headed the prizegiving ceremony for the second time: Jef Peeters from Belgium with Qatar Optimus who won the 1.15/1.20m class and Denmark’s Leonora Sandberg Nielsen with MHS Kilkenny All Star who took first prize in the 1.25/1.30m competition. The 1.10m class was won  by 12-year-old Amy Helfrich and Fiorello for Germany. It was her debut at Tops International Arena, “I was really looking forward to this and we have a lot of fun and I met a lot of people.”
Yesterday she finished runner-up, but today she did not settle for that. Poland’s Daria Pietrzak won the Children’s competition with Sonata W.