The 2023 Summer Festival at Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, kicked off last weekend with a Brazilian victory in the concluding CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix, as Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Cornest took the top honors.
The first of three consecutive weeks of international competition during the 2023 Summer Festival marked the beginning of a busy summer at Longines Tops International Arena. The three weeks of the Summer Festival will be followed by the Longines Global Future Champions and the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard in August, as well as the WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy later in the fall.
With this photo special, we look back at some of the action during week one of the 2023 Summer Festival.
All photos © Mackenzie Clark.
The 2023 Summer Festival kicked off last week at Longines Tops International Arena, with competitions running parallel on grass and sand.
The Longines Tops International Arena is also the home of the stunning Stal Tops.
The team at Longines Tops International Arena has a busy few weeks ahead! Here Jan Tops and Edwina Tops-Alexander.
The starting field for week one was strong, with both the current world number one, Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann, as well as the current world number two, France's Julien Epaillard, present in Valkenswaard.
Naturally, Edwina Tops-Alexander was there as well; here pictured with the impressive Corelli de Mies.
The VIP creates an impressive backdrop to the competition arenas.
Picture perfect!
Behind the showgrounds; endless trail ride opportunities.
Beautiful flower decorations on the kiss and cry.
A family affair: Janika Sprunger and her husband Henrik von Eckermann could focus on competing...
...while Janika's mother Dominique Sprunger looked after their son Noah.
Many of the world's best were in Valkenswaard last week. Here, Janne-Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann and Cornela...
...Maikel van der Vleuten and Luigi d'Eclipse...
...Penelope Leprevost and GFE Candy de Nantuel...
After scorching heat all weekend, the skies opened on Sunday afternoon just as the CSI4* Grand Prix began.
Lars Kersten waiting for his turn.
Rain and thunder on Sunday afternoon did not bother Belgium's Gudrun Patteet, who placed 7th in the CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix with Sea Coast Enjoy Z after recording one unfortunate time penalty in round one.
In Sunday's CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix, it all came down to a jump-off between four horse-and-rider-combinations; here Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Cornest showing off.
After a double clear, Edwina Tops-Alexander and Corelli de Mies could celebrate a third place finish in Sunday's CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix.
Abdel Said was all smiles after his 9-year-old Clown of Picobello Z jumped to second place in Sunday's CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix.
...while the win went to Marlon Modolo Zanottelli and Cornest.
What a cutie Cornest is!
"It is special to have people like this supporting me," Marlon Modolo Zanotelli said after winning the CSI4* Grand Prix at Tops International Arena with Wilma Hellström's Cornest.
A kiss for Cornest from his owner Wilma Hellström.
The first week of the 2023 Summer Festival - check!
Then