Press release from Outdoor Gelgerland, edited by World of Showjumping

Outdoor Gelderland concluded on Sunday afternoon, and as the sun broke through over the Lichtenvoorde Equestrian Center, the stands filled up and crowds gathered around the main arena for the absolute climax of the event: the CSI3* 1.55m Rabobank Grand Prix of Gelderland powered by Morssinkhof Plastics.

The technical 1.55m track, designed by course builder Louis Koninckx (NED), proved to be a serious challenge; it was only after 26 starts that the first clear round appeared on the scoreboard. Ultimately, only five horse-and-rider combinations managed to qualify for the jump-off, in which the audience was treated to a nail-biting conclusion.

For the second year in a row, the victory went to the United States. The just 21-year-old Ansgar Holtgers Jr. guided his eleven-year-old Pixel-K van ’t Kattenheye (I Am Moerhoeve’s Star x Chin Chin) to the win, claiming the prestigious Grand Prix of Outdoor Gelderland for the first time.

For Holtgers Jr., the victory meant much more than just another Grand Prix win. “This competition is marked in my calendar every year,” he said afterwards. “Last year I finished second and I was very happy with that, but this year I wanted to come back to win the title. I succeeded and I am incredibly proud of that.”

When he entered the jump-off as the last starter, he knew exactly what he had to do. “I know this horse inside and out. When we entered the ring, I just thought: let's do this, let's bring it home. He fought for me today, just like he always does.”

The fact that the victory came in Lichtenvoorde made it extra special. “We love coming here because it is simply a fantastic competition. The horses feel good here, the facilities are great, and the sport is of a high standard. If you can win here, that makes it even better. You can never take a victory like that for granted. You work towards it every week, but usually it doesn't work out. My team and I work incredibly hard for moments like these. The fact that it all comes together on a day like this is amazing.”

Johannes Ehning (GER) and the nine-year-old Kira II (Comme Il Faut 5 x San Patrignano Cassini) had to settle for second place, while Hessel Hoekstra and Comthago VDL (Comme Il Faut 5 x Carthago) took third, Thijmen Vos (NED) on Cadillac Z (Carrera VDL x Quasimodo vd Molendreef) fourth and Douglas Lindelöw aboard Emmie CC (Emerald x Nekton) fifth.