Valkenswaard was alive with excitement as Day Two of the Longines Tops International Arena Summer Classic unfolded with a fresh wave of equestrian brilliance. The highlight of the day came courtesy of Dutch show jumping star Harrie Smolders, who thrilled local fans once again, this time guiding Mr. Tac to a decisive victory in the CSI4* 1.50m speed class. Their round was a masterclass in precision and timing, stopping the clock in 63.75 seconds, just ahead of a high-calibre international field.
Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Almobty gave the crowd plenty to cheer about with a confident second-place finish aboard Davenport VDL, barely missing the top spot by a whisper—just 0.03 seconds separated him from Smolders. Meanwhile, Dutchman Jur Vrieling rounded off the top three with an efficient clear ride on Kannan JR, further bolstering the home country’s strong representation.
Mexico’s Andres Azcarraga and Belgium’s Gilles Thomas also made their mark, riding with pace and clarity to place fourth and fifth respectively. The leaderboard reflected the depth of talent on show, featuring elite names like Daniel Deusser, Simon Delestre, Natalie Dean, Charlotte Leoni, and Philipp Weishaupt among the top ten finishers.
Across all levels, riders brought their best to the arena. In the CSI1* 1.25m jump-off format, Thalessa de Jong raced to the win on her mare Habrina, clocking an impressive 28.30 seconds. Close on her heels was Belgium’s Clémentine Lux, who had taken top honors in the 1.20m class the day before. Merel Murris Schreur took another third-place finish to keep Dutch spirits high.
Later, in the 1.35m speed class, Piet Raijmakers Jr stole the show with a commanding win aboard Qrazy van ‘t Landouwehof, delivering a slick time of 59.21 seconds. American teen sensation Madison Wu, just 13 years old, captured second, while Loewie Joppen from the Netherlands settled for third in a closely fought class.
The youngest competitors brought energy and flair to the 1.15m division, with Thai rider Apinyapat Jirasuwannakul moving up from third the previous day to clinch the win aboard Marco R. Despite dominating Day One, she had to settle for second and third this time around, proving just how competitive the class was.
Over in the CSI2* divisions, the action intensified. Ireland’s Michael Duffy led the 1.40m Medium Tour, zipping through the course in 55.86 seconds with Dublin, narrowly beating Dutch reserve rider Kevin Jochems. The day closed with a thrilling 2* Big Tour class where Germany’s Kendra Claricia Brinkop delivered a flawless, rapid round on Ma Belle to take top spot. Mexican Olympian Jaime Azcarraga came tantalizingly close but had to settle for second, followed by Enrique Gonzalez in third.
Brinkop wasn’t done yet. She returned in the Young Horse division to clinch another win, this time riding Abercrombie Pommex Z. Her compatriot Laura Klaphake, a decorated championship rider, and Khaled Almobty completed the podium with strong performances that hinted at even more to come over the weekend.
As the Summer Classic heads into its third and most anticipated day, the spotlight now turns to the CSI4* Grand Prix. With elite riders from across the globe hungry for glory and ranking points, the stage is set for a blockbuster Sunday showdown at one of Europe’s premier equestrian arenas.
