After a recent victory in the CSI4* Grand Prix of Bolesworth, Dutch rider Michel Hendrix and Baileys continued at CSI3* Outdoor Gelderland in Arnhem. In a jump-off with eight competitors, Michel Hendrix and Baileys beat amongst others 17-year-old Dutch talent Sanne Thijssen and the experienced Dutch rider Henk van de Pol.

It was an all-Dutch podium in the CSI3* Grand Prix of Provincie Gelderland presented by Sociëteit Gelre, but the field of competitors was full of great riders from all over the world. Great-Britain’s Jessica Mendoza made it into the jump-off, just as Ireland’s Cameron Hanley, Spain’s Paola Amilibia and Germany’s Patrick Stühlmeyer. Olympic rider Marc Houtzager joined the strong Dutch riders in the final round of the 1.55m Grand Prix competition.

The first round of the Grand Prix of Outdoor Gelderland turned out to be a tough track for the strong field of riders. 17-year-old Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen and the amazing Con Quidam RB (Quinar x Cardino) were the only clears for a long time over the Grand Prix course, in which the penultimate line on seven or eight strides caused most problems. Ireland’s Cameron Hanley and Falco van Spieveld (Toulon x Lys de Darmen) were the first to join Sanne Thijssen and soon the other six riders followed.

As first to go in the jump-off, the speed specialist Sanne Thijssen started off with a great round in 39.57 seconds – adding one stride towards the last fence. Experience could not help Henk van de Pol and the 13-year-old stallion Spartacus TN (Stakkato x Grannus) beating the result of Leon Thijssen’s daughter and Germany’s Patrick Stühlmeyer riding Caramba 70 (Clinton x Contender) made a mistake trying.

Then Michel Hendrix and Baileys (Indoctro x Come On) – closely related to Laura Kraut’s former star Liberty – entered the ring. The winners of the CSI4* Grand Prix of Bolesworth two weeks ago showed their terrific form at CHIO Rotterdam last week by having only one rail down in the tough CSIO5* Grand Prix and had some great results at Outdoor Gelderland this week too. But in the Grand Prix, everything fell into the right place again.

“I did not expect to win another Grand Prix this short after my last victory, but it is amazing! I thought Sanne rode a fantastic jump-off, really tight and I did not think I could win it. But during my round I had the feeling I was on the right track and it worked out,” Michel smiled after winning a brand-new Audi A3 Sportback.

Text © World of Showjumping by Peter van der Waaij // Picture © Wendy Scholten