Text © World of Showjumping

Daniel Deusser (GER) and the 9-year-old BWP mare Kiana van het Herdershof (Toulon x Lys de Darmen) won Friday night’s BMW Masters at CSI5*-W Mechelen. The traditional class at the fully seated Nekkerhal had only ten horse-and-rider combinations in it, with the fences getting higher in each round. 

"Kiana came into the bigger sport this year and tonight, these fences were really big for her," Deusser commented on his winning ride after clearing five rounds that in the end reached the height of 1.70m. "It was more the challenge to survive the first four rounds, to be honest, because I knew if I make it to the last round, I will have a chance – Kiana really wants to go. On the other hand, Niels was quick so I had to do a few tight turns and on these heights it is difficult enough. In the end, Kiana is very, very careful and she always wants to jump clear – it helps in classes like this," he continued. Speaking about the event in Mechelen, which is kind of home show for Deusser as his wife Caroline is one of the daughters in the Wauters-family, Daniel said: "Of course it is nice to win here, especially on the first night and it was already a full house. A lot of friends are here tonight." 

Niels Bruynseels (BEL) on the 10-year-old SBS gelding Delux van T&L (Toulon x Landetto) had to settle for the runner-up position, while Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) on the 12-year-old BWP gelding Hurricane (Numero Uno x Lambada van Berkenbroeck) took the third place. Pieter Devos (BEL) on the 10-year-old BWP mare Jade vd Bisschop (Ogano Sitte x Grannus) took the fourth place and the fifth place went to Jos Verlooy (BEL) on the 9-year-old KWPN stallion Fabregas (Zambesi x Achill-Libero H). 

It was a true family Friday in Mechelen, with Christian Ahlmann (GER) topping the CSI5*-W Léon Melchior memorial class – the Open Studbook Zangersheide 1.45m with a jump-off earlier in the evening. Riding the 8-year-old Zangersheide stallion Zampano Z (Zandor Z x Cocktail Jet), Ahlmann took home the win with a time of 34,32 seconds in the jump-off. Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) on the 10-year-old SBS stallion Diesel GP du Bois Madame (Cassius x Heartbreaker) took the runner-up position, while Gudrun Patteet (BEL) on the 11-year-old CDE stallion Sea Coast Valdemar Clooney (Centeuer Z x unknown) placed third. Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) on the 10-year-old KWPN stallion H&M Extra (Berlin x Heartbreaker) took the fourth place and the fifth spot went to Niels Bruynseels (BEL) on the 8-year-old Zangersheide stallion di Cantero van Ter Hulst Z (Diamant de Semilly x Corrado I).