Text by World of Showjumping 

Very suitably, Friday night’s CSI5* 1.55m VDL Groep Prize at The Dutch Masters in Den Bosch was won by VDL Groep rider Leopold van Asten (NED) with VDL Groep Beauty (For Pleasure x Contender).

“That is always nice! My sponsor doesn’t come to the shows so often, maybe five times a year so it is clear enough that you want to be good when he is there – but that is easy to say. It is nice that on an evening like this everything comes together and that you have a win,” Van Asten said about taking the victory in the class presented by his sponsor. 

Fourteen riders qualified for the jump-off and it ended up being a very speedy affair. Niels Bruynseels (BEL) with the always quick Gancia de Muze (Malito de Reve x Nimmerdor) – winners of the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters last year – took an early lead but had to settle for the runner-up position after Van Asten left the ring. 

“The jump-off was fast! I saw Niels, his horse is naturally fast and he had a very good round so I knew that I really had to go for it. I know that Beauty is also very quick, so I tried to get a smooth round and that went well. I could go everywhere and didn’t have to wait anywhere and luckily that was just enough,” Van Asten said after his win. 

Third place went to Danielle Goldstein (ISR) with Lizziemary (Cabri d’Elle x Acord II) followed by Doron Kuipers (NED) with Charley (Calido I x Askari) and Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) with Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot (L’Arc de Triomphe x Apache d’Adriers). 

Earlier in the evening Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) won the 1,45m Gemeente ‘s-Hertogenbosch Prize riding Dana Blue (Mr. Blue x Hemmingway) after speeding through the finish line in 30.64 seconds. Marcus Ehning (GER) with Cristy (Canturo x Landlord) took second place in 31.66 seconds ahead of Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) with Kingston van het Eikenhof (Epleaser van T Heike x Alexis Z), Jur Vrieling (NED) with Driandria (Carthino Z x Sheraton) and Denis Lynch (IRL) with Chablis (Couleur Rubin x Hamlet).