Lucy Davis and Barron (For Pleasure x Nabab de Reve) won the CSI5* Grand Prix of Rotterdam
with a jump-off that should go into the history books as one of the fastest ever! In a real race for the win, the American 22 year old team bronze medallist from the 2014 World Championships blew the socks off her competitors.
As many as sixteen riders qualified for the jump-off that was started by two four fault rounds from Paul Estermann with Castlefield Eclipse (Obos Quality x Furisto) and Jos Lansink with For Cento (For Pleasure x Cento). Then it was time for home rider Leopold van Asten with Vdl Groep Zidane (Heartbreaker x Calando I) that pulled off a great clear round in 43,02 seconds. Leopold wasn't allowed to keep the lead for long though as the next rider Niklaus Rutschi with Windsor XV (Karandasj x Wellington) finished the shortened track in 42,30 seconds.
And then it just went faster and faster... Joe Clee entered the ring with the stunner Utamaro D’Ecaussines (Diamant de Semilly x Quidam de Revel) and it was no doubt that the British rider wanted to win the class. Utamaro D’Ecaussines once again flew over the fences – and just like in Friday’s Nations Cup the stallion went double clear – and the clock stopped at 40,97 seconds.
But Joe's joy over being in the lead was short lived, with Lucy Davis and Barron next out. It looked like a pony race and not a 1,60 course when Lucy and Barron went flat out throughout the track in an amazing jump-off. The two flew through the finish line in 39,49 seconds to a slot into pole position.
Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer did his best with Giovanni van het Scheefkasteel (Darco x Perhaps van het Molenvondel) and went in on third place, while Maikel van der Vleuten with Vdl Groep Verdi TN N.O.P (Quidam de Revel x Landgraf I) had to see the very last pole fall. It looked like the next rider Douglas Lindelöw wanted to go faster than his horse Casello (Casall x Carolus I) felt like today, and the pair ended the course in 42,82 seconds. The next son by Casall was Casallo Z with Piergiorgio Bucci in the saddle, and he did also a great clear round – but was too slow to be near the top.
Germany’s Marcus Ehning was next to go with the – at this level – quite inexperienced Comme Il Faut 5 (Cornet Obolensky x Ramiro), but that didn't stop Marcus from going for it. He was not far away when he took a bit more time to the last fence losing a little time - ending the course in 40,78 seconds going into runner-up position.
The only one left that was able to make it into the top three was Germany’s Daniel Deusser with super star Cornet d'Amour (Cornet Obolensky x Damiani). They did a great jump-off and went flat out to the last fence and was also the ones getting closest to the time of Davis - taking over the second place and pushing Ehning down to third. Ludger Beerbaum with Chiara 222 (Contender x Coronado) gave it a go, but had to settle for fifth place behind Joe Clee.
It was an amazing afternoon in Rotterdam with top showjumping, and an unbelievable jump-off! Some of the best horses and riders in the world entertained the crowds with rounds so fast that it blew most away, and created a class that goes into the records as one of those that are truly special to watch.