Edited press release from Tops International Arena
Italian speed merchant Emanuele Gaudiano secured the lion's share of the CSI4* 1.50m prize purse aboard the lighting fast Crack Balou (Balou du Reventon x Chacco-Blue) at Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, on Friday.
With music flowing around the venue, crowds moved from the buzzing Place de Concorde to watch Simon Delestre (FRA) having to settle for second place by half a second on Dexter Fontenis Z (Diarado x Voltaire) while home hero Kevin Jochems (NED) continued his flying form to claim third on Cornetboy (Cornet’s Stern x Colander). Gudrun Pattet placed fourth with Sea Coast Monalisa van't Paradijs (Bamako de Muze x Emerald), and Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) fifth with Dywis HH (Toulon x Corofino II).
In the CSI4* 1.45m class, Andres Azcarraga (MEX) took the top honours aboard Al Capone (Candillo 3 x Argentinus) after stopping the clock at 26.29 seconds in the second phase. Jos Verlooy (BEL) and FTS Killossery Konfusion (SIEC Livello x Cruising) followed in second with a time of 27.38, while third went to Ali Ramsay (CAN) and Lutz (Lordanos x Pliot) with a time of 28.20.