The victory in Sunday’s CSI5*-W 1.55m Sport Vlaanderen Grand Prix at the 2024-edition of Jumping Mechelen went to Portugal’s Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida and the 9-year-old mare Karonia L (Harley x G-Ramiro Z).

Counting for the Longines Rankings Group C, Sunday’s Grand Prix saw seven horse-and-rider combinations from the 40 at start clear their way into the deciding jump-off where the Portuguese rider recorded the winning time of 36.08 seconds.

Harrie Smolders (NED) and Mr. Tac (Non Stop x Toulon) took the runner-up spot in 37.05 seconds, while home hero Gregory Wathelet (BEL) and Double Jeu d’Honvault (Kannan x Cook du Midour) placed third in 37.70, ahead of Pieter Devos (BEL) and Primo DV (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Heartbreaker) in fourth in 38.13, and Vince Jarmy (HUN) aboard Carbon Girl Z (Chester Z x Baloubet du Rouet) in fifth with a fence down in 40.23.

"I knew I had to stick to my plan completely—there could be no mistakes, or I would lose that win," Giesteira Almeida said in a press release from Jumping Mechelen. "This was a victory I had been planning and working toward. It was my goal to come to Mechelen at the end of the year for Karonia L's last show as a nine-year-old. Winning this Grand Prix was one of my big ambitions. To have a clear first round and then deliver such a jump-off—it’s just incredible. I’m absolutely delighted with her performance and with my entire team. It was truly something special."

Earlier in the evening, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) and For Friendship VDL (For Pleasure x Stakkato Gold) won the CSI5*-W 1.45m class.

With a time of 64.38 in the competition judged as a table A against the clock – and counting for the Longines Rankings Group D – the Brazilian rider took the win ahead of Katrin Eckermann (GER) and Chao Lee (Comme Il Faut x Chacco-Blue) in second in 66.43 and Thibeau Spits (BEL) aboard Conrad Quality Z (Connor x Corrado I) in third in 66.54, while Francois Xavier Boudant (FRA) and Gerbera du Marais (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan) finished fourth in 67.34 and Gregory Wathelet (BEL) on Ace of Hearts (Aliandro B x Ra) fifth in 69.06.