Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Kaleni Jo produced a masterful performance to close the Longines Tops International Arena Summer Showcase on a high note, securing victory in the CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix after a demanding competition featuring some of the leading names in international show jumping.
Longines Tops International Arena Summer Showcase Results
The final day of action at Valkenswaard brought together elite horse-and-rider combinations across multiple classes, with precision, speed and consistency proving decisive throughout the afternoon. The Grand Prix course tested every competitor, with only six combinations progressing to the jump-off after a challenging opening round.
Hinners and the 10-year-old mare Iron Dames Kaleni Jo set the standard in the decisive round, completing a flawless jump-off in 43.44 seconds. Their performance combined careful jumping with exceptional pace, giving the German rider a winning advantage in the feature CSI4* contest.
Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander finished second aboard Caetlin vd Heffinck Z after another composed clear round. The pair stopped the clock at 45.18 seconds, securing a strong runner-up finish after a polished display.
Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa claimed third place with Major Tom, completing another impressive double-clear performance in 45.26 seconds. French rider Antoine Ermann followed in fourth position with Jiamo VDS, while Germany’s Daniel Deusser completed the top five aboard Otello de Guldenboom.
Michael Greeve recorded the fastest jump-off time of the competition with Rubens, but a single fence down prevented a podium finish. The Dutch rider completed the round in 43.52 seconds to finish sixth.
The CSI4* Grand Prix brought a memorable conclusion to the Summer Showcase, which featured a week of international competition showcasing experienced riders, talented horses and high-quality performances across several divisions.
The CSI2* Grand Prix also produced an exciting finish, with Dutch rider Leopold van Asten claiming victory aboard VDL Groep Kwienbellie. The pair produced a rapid clear jump-off in 38.69 seconds to secure the top position from a field of 66 entries.
Belgium’s Koen Vereecke finished second with Riverflow van ’t Ruytershof after crossing the line in 39.55 seconds. Nicola Philippaerts completed the podium with Cornethagos PS, recording a time of 40.52 seconds.
Australia’s Hilary Scott placed fourth with Lola after a strong effort that kept all fences standing in a demanding jump-off.
Koen Vereecke continued his outstanding week by winning the CSI2* Medium Tour 1.40m speed competition. Riding Oilily de Muze, the Belgian rider produced the fastest clear round in 57.84 seconds. Rodrigo Pessoa finished second with Giorgio d’Ellipse, while Siebe Leemans secured third place aboard Pippa Blue Z.
In the CSI2* Small Tour 1.35m competition, Henk van de Pol repeated his previous success at the venue, guiding No Fathers Girl to victory with a clear round completed in 63.55 seconds. Madison Wu finished second with Impian D, followed by Carlos Lopez Fanjul Tartiere and Bombay Z in third.
The CSI1* Grand Prix saw Pieter Devos claim victory with Alice de Poteau Z after a spectacular final jump-off round. The Belgian rider stopped the clock in 34.88 seconds, recording his first international win with the talented nine-year-old mare.
Saad Alajmi of Saudi Arabia finished second with Corisha del Maset, while Mexico’s Federica Fernandez took third place aboard Cador Rubin. Max Kühner added another strong result for Austria with a fourth-place finish on Chagrandina PS.
Alexandra Crown ended her successful weekend with victory in the CSI1* 1.25m competition. The American rider guided Starlett to a clear round in 57.31 seconds, finishing just ahead of Rosanne Janssen and Janeiro VHL. Franziska Bockhorn completed the top three with Derrick 122.
The final CSI1* 1.15m competition of the Summer Showcase was won by 14-year-old Dylan Clark aboard Nevado de Toluca. The young American rider produced a winning time of 31.13 seconds in the immediate jump-off format. Brazil’s Giulia Schulze Blanck Fiorentino finished second with Genasis, while Italy’s Bianca Abbruzzesi secured third with Cressida II van de Lentakker Z.
The Longines Tops International Arena Summer Showcase once again demonstrated the strength of international show jumping, bringing together established champions and emerging talents for a week of memorable sporting performances.
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