Release date: 03/09/2020

Tomorrow the third event, the CSI2* and CSIYH1*, will kick off at Tops International Arena. From 4 till 6 September 143 riders form 31 countries will battle for honour and first prizes in Valkenswaard. The line-up is impressive and includes many top names from the jumping scene: Australia’s top rider Edwina Tops-Alexander, Julia Tops (CAN), Jan Tops’s daughter, Frenchman Simon Delestre, Hans-Dieter Dreher from Germany. Cameron Hanley, Darragh Kenny and Denis Lynch will travel from Ireland to Valkenswaard. Italy will be represented by Lorenzo de Luca and Tops stable rider Alberto Zorzi. Sweden and Great Britain are also sending a large contigent with, among others, Malin Baryard-Johnsson for Sweden.

No less than 29 combinations will start from the Netherlands. Among them is Teddy van de Rijt who is successfully competing at Tops International Arena since 2017. The 23-year-old rider from Nuenen works with horses fulltime and is relieved that competitions have resumed. “I am very happy that we can compete again and certainly when it is at such a top location as Tops International Arena. I will take Itcho van ’t Ruytershof, Gino and Herma to Valkenswaard. I think Gino is my horse for the future, I hope to take my career at a higher level with him. Last week we finished in sixth place in the Grand Prix for U25 (1.50m). It was his first outdoor 1.50m competition.”
Other Dutch top riders on the list are, among others, Willem Greve, Michel Hendrix, Doron Kuipers, Gerco Schröder, Henk van de Pol and Eric van der Vleuten.

Denmark’s Thomas Velin is back on the scene. He jumped at the highest level in the 90s with the legendary stallion Quidam de Revel and later with Equest Carnute. It has been quiet the past few years, but now he is ready to make a comeback. “I have been quite busy with our companies and when you want to compete at the highest level you also need a top horse. I think I have found one in Bolero de Beaufour (Nabab de Reve x Diamant de Semilly). He arrived at our stables two weeks ago, he was formerly ridden by Pénélope Leprevost.” Velin missed riding at the highest level: “When you have competed at that level you want it back, but I am patient.” It has been six years Velin was in Valkenswaard. “I am really looking forward to compete here. It is my first international show this year. I just arrived and I am impressed by the organisation. Everything is just perfect.” Thomas also took his other horse, Quidamo D, to Valkenswaard, an offspring of Quidam de Revel and formerly ridden by Simon Delestre.

Longines Ranking and Young Horses
The CSI2* offers four classes every day: two for the Small Tour and one for the Medium and Big Tour. The Young Horses daily compete in one class to show their talent. On Sunday the Young Horses have their Final in the morning and in the afternoon the CSI2* Grand Prix (Big Tour) is scheduled at 4 pm. Several class are counting for the Longines Rankings.
All competitions in both arenas can be watched on the live stream channels at the website of Tops
International Arena.

Full programme / Full line-up