Text © World of Showjumping
Marc Houtzager (NED) and the 17-year-old mare Sterrehof’s Dante (Canturano x Phin-Phin) took a home win in Sunday’s CSI5*-W 1.60m Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ presented by EuroParcs at Jumping Amsterdam 2025. RAI Amsterdam – the venue for the 12th leg in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League 2024/2025-season – welcomed around 50,000 people during the weekend and the vocal Dutch crowds got value for their ticket money with the hosts showing great form.
Michael Greeve (NED) and Denver (Diarado x Quantum) delivered the first clear over the 1.60m course – set by Louis Konickx (NED) and Quintin Maertens (NED) – that counted 14 obstacles and 17 efforts, and three more Dutch pairs followed suit: Leopold van Asten (NED) and VDL Groep Nino du Roton (Iron Man van de Padenborre x Codex), Houtzager and Sterrehof’s Dante, as well as Jur Vrieling (NED) on Helwell du Chabus (Elvis ter Putte x Orlando) all jumped clear, while Denis Lynch (IRL) on Vistogrand (Fantaland x Mr Visto) and Max Kühner (AUT) aboard EIC Julius Caesar (Couleur Rubin x Cancara) joined the jump-off to challenge the Dutch delegation.
In the end, it was Houtzager and Sterrehof’s Dante that ruptured the roof at RAI when crossing the finish line in 38.30 seconds – taking the win ahead of Lynch and Vistogrand who had to settle for second in 38.99. Vrieling and Helwell du Chabus completed the podium in third in 40.03, while Kühner and EIC Julius Caesar – the last pair out – were left fourth on four faults and the fastest time of the competition, 37.58 seconds.
"Five year ago was the last time I won here on a Sunday," Houtzager said after his popular home win. "This was a great day for my mare, she jumped great today. I am also very happy for my sponsors Stoeterij Sterrehof, who has been our sponsor for 20 years – it couldn’t be better today."
"Dante is 17, but in great shape," Houtzager said about his mare – a horse that took him to the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. "Last year, I did my own plan with her, with not only big shows and big classes, but sometimes a three-star or four-star in between, and that works out very good. Last week, we were at a two-star show where she did two classes."
"The course builder did a great job today, it was a tough class and the last line was very difficult with a lot of mistakes in the combination," Houtzager continued. "I think all the days here we have seen good sport."
"It is my job to ride him well and I thought I gave him a good, nice, relaxed round – he jumped fantastic," the second placed Denis Lynch said about Vistogrand. "He has become a consistent horse, and I am very lucky to have him and thankful to the people that support me. He has taught me a lot, it is about keeping him as happy as possible as one can see, and on my side. Also, he is an approved stallion so hopefully in the future some breeders will get attracted to him and use him on their mares. If all falls into place, it would be great if we can go to Basel for the finals."
Jur Vrieling was full of praise for his horse, the 12-year-old Helwell du Chabus. "I am really happy with the horse, he has done an amazing job. In the last seven Grand Prixs he has jumped, he was six times in top five. I have never won Amsterdam, and I wanted to beat Marc one time… so my plan was to go really quick and to really try, and not go for the third place. From two to three in the jump-off, I did one stride more so I could turn shorter to the combination, but that did not work out and then I gave up a little bit and thought it will be better to be second or third. When I saw how close I was, I think I should have tried a little bit more.”
With twelve of fourteen legs in the Western European League 2024/2025-season now completed, the series continues in Bordeaux (FRA) in February before stopping in Gothenburg (SWE) prior to returning to Basel (SUI) for the final in April.
After the 12th leg of the season, Kevin Staut (FRA) remains in the lead in the Western European League, topping the overall standings with 70 points. Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) sits second with his 66 points, while Robert Whitaker (GBR) is third with 60 and Gregory Wathelet (BEL) fourth with 56. After picking up 13 points in Amsterdam, Max Kühner (AUT) is ranked fifth with 55 points.
The top sixteen horse-and-rider combinations at each of the fourteen qualifiers earn points, with the best eighteen from the overall standings in the WEL qualifying for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final held in Basel, Switzerland, in April 2025.