Text © World of Showjumping

This week, the fourth and last leg of the inaugural Longines League of Nations™-series takes place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and the action at the 75th edition of CHIO Rotterdam kicked off on Thursday with the first five-star classes.

Ireland's Daniel Coyle and the 11-year-old Inredible (Clinton x Heartbreaker) opened the show in impressive style when taking the win in Thursday's CSIO5* 1.55m Havenbedrijf Rotterdam Prize. The Irish rider set the standard early on in the class, stopping the clock on 63.81 as fifth out. France's Kevin Staut and the 8-year-old Vida Loca Z (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Cornet Obolensky) got the closest, taking the runner-up spot in 65.05, while the hosts' Leopold van Asten and the 11-year-old VDL Groep Nino du Roton (Iron Man van de Padenborre x Codex) placed third in 65.60. Coyle's compatriot, Ireland's Shane Sweetnam – current world number nine – finished fourth in 65.86, followed by Great Britain's Joseph Stockdale and Ebanking (Etoulon x VDL Sheraton) in fifth in 66.12.

"It was a good round," Coyle commented to World of Showjumping after his victory. "We had a plan, I had talked with Jeroen [Dubbeldam] before and obviously our long-term plan was the Grand Prix this weekend. However, I am still getting to know my horse a little bit and it is nice to have a competitive class in the beginning of the week. Things came up really good actually, from two to three we were very quick across the center there and then left one stride out to the double, which was the plan as well. I left a stride out to the last jump, which was not the plan, but it just showed up really good; eight was already long, and I don't think anyone else did seven there."

"Incredible is a new horse this year for me," Coyle said about his winning ride. "Ariel Grange was kind to buy him and put him into our string. His name is Incredible and he has been incredible for me so far. I think it is more about me getting to know him; he is for sure a special horse." 

"It is a strong field here, as always," Coyle commented on the strong horse-and-rider combinations at start in Rotterdam this weekend ahead of the final selections for the Paris Olympic Games. "It has always been a good show for me. The best in the world have come here, it is a set-up for the Olympics for many. It is nice for me to get a win on the board right away." 

The victory in the second CSIO5* class of the day, the 1.45m Dura Vermeer Prize, went to José María Larocca Jr. (ARG) and Chaquitos PS (Chacco-Blue x Conthargos), followed by Hessel Hoekstra (NED) and Ierdita (Gelha's VDL Emilion x Chin Chin) in second and Pim Mulder (NED) aboard Dunaghmore (Ustinov x Cruising) in third.