Release date: 09/07/2021

The first summer event at the beautiful Tops International Arena was opened by the Young Horses on Friday morning. The Italian course builder Uliano Vezzani had designed a nice and fair course for the young horses, which resulted in a great competition in which the young talents had plenty of opportunity to show what they can do. It seemed to become a Dutch-German party, but the English Ellen Whitaker and the Norwegian Victoria Gulliksen managed to prevent that.
The best in this opening class was German top rider Marcus Ehning who rode a super fast clear round with the six-year-old stallion Comme Sa Mere. This talented and fierce horse is a descendant of the Westphalian stallion Comme Il Faut with whom Ehning won team silver at the European Championships in Rotterdam in 2019. Ehning was happy with this performance: "It feels very good and it is a nice start with Comme Sa Mere. He is special to me. His mother Küchengirl and father Comme Il Faut are at our stables, so he was born here. I am very proud of him. I think he has a lot of potential and we will see what the future holds for him." Ehning is a regular competitor at Tops International Arena and is very happy to be here again this time: "It's such a beautiful arena."
Britain's Ellen Whitaker came second with the seven-year-old gelding Juanito van Zeilhoek (KWPN, Otello de Villeneuve x Nagano). Christian Ahlmann came third with Otterongo Alpha Z, a seven-year-old stallion by Darco x Hedjaz. Norway's Victoria Gulliksen rode to fourth place with Turin Z (2014, Zang, Taloubet Z x Berlin). Best Dutch rider in this competition was Wout-Jan van der Schans with the seven-year-old A.S. Eden (AES, For Fashion) in fifth.
 
CSI2*: Ireland's Darragh Kenny wins main class
Ireland's top rider Darragh Kenny was the fastest in the 1.45m 2 stages with the nine-year-old Storiall Blue. The Hanoverian gelding has been ridden by him since April. "It's a very talented horse, a bit stubborn but with a lot of fighting spirit. I am looking forward to a bright future with him," said the 33-year-old, who will represent Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics.
Germany's Laura Klaphake, 27, came second and third with the Holstein mare Camalita (Cracker Jack 5 x Quinar) and the eight-year-old Concollon PS (Conthargos x Chacco Blue) respectively. 
The second 2* class, 1.40m - 2 Phases, was won by Austrian rider Felix Koller with Zenon Z (Zang, Zandor x Pilot). The 24-year-old from Vöcklabruck won the individual silver medal at the 2018 European Championships for Young Riders. Sweden's top rider Henrik von Eckermann had to settle for second place with the 10-year-old mare Luna vd Mespel. Frenchman Simon Delestre finished in third place with Iniesta V.
Egyptian rider Nayel Nassar was the fastest in the final competition of the CSI2*. The 30-year-old partner of Jennifer Gates rode the 10-year-old Westphalian gelding Jiminy Cricket (Colestus x Cornet Obolensky). Second place went to the top French rider Simon Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z (2013, Diarado x Voltaire). Michael Pender came third with HHS Lou (2013, Luidam) for Ireland.
 
CSI1*: The ‘Skye’ is the limit
In the first competition of the CSI1*, 2 phases - 1.30/1.35m, 26 riders came to the start in the grass arena, which was, as always, in a beautiful condition. The Belgian Sky Morssinkhof was the fastest with the BWP mare Nina vh Scheefkasteel (Numero Uno x Diamant de Semilly). The 19-year-old rode a clear round in 28.85 seconds. "This is a very good start! Nina is a real fighter and wants to win. In the turn to the vertical I think I won the competition. I could make a short turn there and the distance was good."  Valkenswaard is one of her favourite events: "I really like being here, I always have a super good feeling here."
The American Catherine Brentzel was runner-up in 31.01 seconds with the mare Julyssi van Orti (BWP, Cicero Z x Vigo d'Arsouilles). The third place was for Boris Kapp from Germany with the SWB mare Pauline F (Bravour 1197 x Casa Grande).
In the CSI1* there were two more competitions on the programme. In the 1.20m class, the difference between the three highest-placed riders, three ladies, was minimal. The victory went to the Norwegian Emma Tallulah Behn who had saddled the 11-year-old mare Fetoucha (Zacharov x Contendro II) for this class and stopped the clock at 33.80. Dutch Sabrina van Rijswijk came second with Katouscha in 33.82, followed by Cecile Klassen-Van den Broek with Cilydi (Contendro II x Quattro) in 33.87.