During the 1* Grand Prix in Jumping de Achterhoek, it was Hessel Hoekstra’s turn to retain victory in his home country. Hoekstra set two off-book courses with the 7-year-old KWPN gelding Galley S (Carrera VDL).
Of the nine combinations at the start of the jump-off, Hessel Hoekstra wasn’t fastest overall, but he was fastest with zero penalty points. Lightning-fast Bass Morings was on his way to gold in Quick Tweet (for fun) but had to finish outside the top five after an unfortunate jumping error. A careful 33.04 seconds, in which Kali S under Hoekstra’s saddle, effortlessly spooned the beam to give them the win. With sixty-one-hundredths on the clock, Czech Kristina Schutte took silver in the saddle on the 8-year-old gelding Constacco’s Boy (Constacco). Melody Matheson from New Zealand and the 7-year-old KWPN gelding Kentucky Ballia NL (Carambole) finished third in 34.64 seconds.
A pretty clear finish by Lars Schröder and the 12-year-old Oldenburger stallion Kolando 21 (Kantharkos) earned fourth place by over 36 seconds. Hong Kong’s Jacqueline Lai and 8-year-old KWPN mare Jasmijn (Starpower) rounded out the top five with the slowest time and zero jumping errors.
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