Text © World of Showjumping

The 2022-edition of The Dutch Masters in s'Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, kicked off on Friday and it was Switzerland's Martin Fuchs that took home the biggest win of the day when topping the CSI5* 1.50m VDL Groep Prize with the 14-year-old gelding The Sinner. 

With 40 of the world's very best horse-and-rider combinations at start, Dutch course designer Louis Konickx did not hesitate, giving the riders plenty to think about. With technical lines and delicate planks – such as the thin yellow Rolex plank at fence number seven – the course proved a tough challenge as the class moved on. 

As number eight to go, Germany's Daniel Deusser – current world number three – and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z (Mr. Blue x Whoopie C) were the first to clear the demanding track. Directly after, Willem Greve (NED) and Highway M TN (Eldorado v. Zeshoek x Balck Walter) also kept the course intact – securing a jump-off. However, it took until starter number twenty, Marcus Ehning (GER) on Funky Fred (For Pleasure x Pilot), before another clear round was delivered, and when Sanne Thijssen (NED) on the incredible Con Quidam RB (Quinar Z x Cardino 5) cleared the last, white oxer, the crowds in Brabanthallen went wild. In the end, Denis Lynch (IRL) on Brooklyn Heights (Nabab de Reve x For Pleasure), Martin Fuchs (SUI) on The Sinner (Sanvaro x Landgold 3), Piet Raijmakers Jr. (NED) on van Schindel's Gladstone (Grison van den Bisschop x Hemmingway), Christian Kukuk (GER) on Checker 47 (Comme Il Faut 5 x Come On), Simon Delestre (FRA) on Cayman Jolly Jumper (Hickstead x Quaprice Boimargot Quincy) and Bart Bles (NED) on El Rocco (VDL Zirocco Blue x Ircolando) joined in, making it a jump-off of ten. As Kukuk opted not to start in the jump-off, the battle for the win was left to nine horse-and-rider combinations.

First out, Deusser did not take all the risk, setting the time to beat at 35.05 seconds. While Greve, Ehning, Thijssen and Lynch could not keep the fences intact, Fuchs took over the lead when crossing the finish line clear in 34.05 – a time unbeatable for those to follow. Deusser had to settle for the runner-up position, Raijmakers Jr. for third, followed by his compatriots Thijssen in fourth and Greve in fifth. 

"I think it was a very nice course," Fuchs told World of Showjumping afterwards. "For a five-star event, it was "just" a 1.50m class for the first day, and normally it is hard for the course designer to get enough faults so I think he did a really good job with some difficult lines, not setting the fences crazy high. It is very delicate in here; the jumps are light. He had the perfect number of clears in the end." 

"The Sinner had a long break after London," Fuchs said about his winning mount. "It is very nice for me to be able to do such good results, as I have been at the Sunshine Tour and then in Doha, and meanwhile my team at home together with my dad have been taking very good care of the horses and Emily has jumped them for me. It is nice when I can show up at home and the horses feel in very good shape."

"Obviously, The Dutch Masters is one of the nicest indoor shows," Fuchs said about the venue in Den Bosch. "We have great facilities and the warm-up is huge, and when you are in the ring the atmosphere is really nice. Already tonight, we had quite some spectators and I think everyone is happy to be able to ride here." 

"On Sunday, I will be riding Conner Jei," Fuchs continued about his plan ahead of the Rolex Grand Prix. "He was very good in Doha in the past two weeks, so I hope we can jump two clear rounds. Indoors is still a bit more difficult for him, because he has a huge stride and not the easiest mouth, but he has a lot of quality so if I can manage him on Sunday, he should be good." 

Earlier in the afternoon, Harrie Smolders (NED) and Escape Z (Emerald x Heartbreaker) won the CSI5* 1.45m Gemeente 's-Hertogenbosch Prize with a clear round in a time of 62.22. Christian Ahlmann (GER) on D'Aganix Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Aganix du Seigneur Z) placed second, while the third place went to Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) on Edgar (Warrant x Purioso). Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) on Bluemuch Des Baleines (Chacco-Blue x Clinton) placed fourth and was followed by his compatriot Simon Delestre (FRA) on Tinka's Hero Z (Tinka's Boy x Caretino) in fifth. 

The first CSI5* class of the day, the 1.40m NAB Bliksemveiliging Prize went to Leopold van Asten (NED) on VDL Groep Iron Z (Charisma Z x Mr. Blue). Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) on Urane (Miami de Semilly x Drakkar Des Hutins) took the runner-up spot, while the third place went to Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) on Julius.D (Arezzo VDL x VDL Emilion).