Press release from Tops International Arena
The first event of the 2022 season at Tops International Arena started in style. The grass was impeccable, the sun was shining brightly and the atmosphere was perfect – a great start to the busy season at the state-of-the-art facilities in Valkenswaard.
Guy Williams and his lightning-fast stallion Rouge de Ravel (Ultimo Van Ter Moude x Quouglof Rouge) claimed the biggest win on the first day of action as the Tops International Arena season is officially declared open.
Taking top honours in the CSI4* 1.50m speed class, Williams shaved over two seconds off Emanuele Gaudiano’s time of 60.04s on Nikolaj de Music (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) and Ireland’s Daniel Coyle secured third place with Ivory TCS (Falaise de Muze x Ukato). Three home riders finished in full force in the second 4* competition of the day with Dutch riders Mel Thijssen, Kevin Jochems and Wout-Jan van der Schans securing 4th, 5th and 6th.
The CSI2* Big Tour competition, a two-phase 1.45m, was won by Mexican Andres Azcarraga and the stallion Al Capone (Candillo 3 x Argentinus). The 29-year-old son of the four-time Olympic rider Jaime Azcarraga set the fastest time as the third starter and all 37 riders who followed could not match.
Dutch rider Leopold van Asten made a good attempt but was almost 1 second slower with VDL Groep Iron Z (Charisma Z x Mr. Blue) and German Jens Baackmann came third with the Westphalian mare Aglaia J (Arpeggio x Lancino de L).