Selle Français, Danish Warmblood, and Oldenburg International studbooks hoist the trophy on the final day of the WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy

The atmosphere was buzzing on the fourth and final day of the WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy in Valkenswaard. The world’s top studbooks went head to head to see who would emerge victorious in today’s 6, 5, and 7 year old Finals.

Fresh off their back to back wins on day 3, the Selle Français team entered the arena with high spirits for the 6 year old 1.35m Final. First to go for the team was Arthur Le Vot and Isis de B'Neville (By Ceira d'Ick x Idem de B'Neville HN). Selle Français cheered from the sidelines as they started on course. Their round looked smooth but two rails meant that the pressure was on teammates Valentin Pacaud and Reynald Angot. Both would have to ride clear in order to take the lead. Pacaud and Irreelle de Talma (By Ceira d'Ick x Quaprice Bois Margot) looked determined as they set off on course. The crowd erupted in cheers as they came home clear, with just one rider still to go. Reynald Angot riding Iliade de Beaufour (Untouchable Gfe x Cassini I) knew that another win for Selle Français was within reach, but nothing less than a clear round would do. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as they flew across the course, cheering as they soared over the finish line to deliver a second clear for Selle Français. With their unbelievable performance, Selle Français jumped into the lead overtaking the KWPN. 

“It was not a surprise. You need chance, good riders, good horses, and you need a little prayer,” said team manager Franck Schillewaert. When looking forward to the remaining two finals, Schillewaert remarked, “it’s not finished, I hope. Normally we have a chance… but the sport is a sport.”

The Zangersheide studbook rode into the ring. First was Gianni Govoni and Crosby ter Doorn Z (Comme Il Faut x Kentucky ter Doorn). The pair cruised around the course, acquiring just four jumping faults, but in the end could not quite make the time, earning one time penalty. Next to go was Tabitha Kyle with Sing Z (Copycat Z x Contact van de Heffinck) they delivered a smooth round, making it look easy and holding on to the fastest time for much of the class. Last for the team was Wim Vinckx riding Vivace vd Kattevennen Z (Vivaldi du Seigneur x Cassini I) who delivered a strong round, despite four faults on course. 

Tom Martens was first up for the KWPN with No Mercy (Cape Coral RBF Z x Now or Never M). The pair came home on a clean sheet, posting a quick time. Next was Rielke Roeland and Nashville HX (Cape Coral RBF Z x Entertainer). They found a good rhythm, coming home with just four faults. Cedric Vanleerberghe aboard Nabucho (Chacoon Blue x Vancouver) rode third for the team, KWPN fans cheering and whistling in support from the sidelines. They looked to be on track for a clear but a rail on the penultimate fence meant an additional four faults for the team. However, their quick time meant KWPN overtook Zangersheide, tentatively jumping into the lead. 

The crowd cheered as the last to go Irish Sport Horse studbook entered the arena. Sven Joseph Hadley and Maximum Numero Too HSH (Aganix du Seigneur x Numero Uno) were first up. Despite a rail on the first oxer, they delivered a good time for the team. Next to go was Richard Kerins riding Realteens Orestus (Orestus VDL x Cruising). With one rail down, the ISH sat on eight penalties, with no more room for error. The pressure was on last to go team anchor Michael Pender aboard HHS Othello (Siec Livello x Vigo D Arsouilles STX). The arena fell silent and the crowd were on the edge of their seats to see who would win, the French or the Irish. Pender and HHS Othello could afford any mistakes. The luck of the Irish looked to be on their side as a pole almost rolled out of the cup but miraculously stayed up. They looked on track for a clear but were felled by the final fence, as disappointment echoed through the stands. Selle Français had secured another victory, the team going wild as they celebrated their third Finals win. 

The Danish Warmblood team rode into the arena for the 5 year old 1.25m Final. Daniel Hald aboard Cassoe Unik V (Syvhoejegaards Unforgetable S DWB x Cavall ASK) rode first for the team. They delivered a clear round on a fantastic time, beaming as they crossed the finish line. Next to go was Maria Hjorth Frederiksen with Harmilly D (Harley x Diamant de Semilly). The crowd went wild as they came home clear with the best time of the class. The tension was palpable in the arena as the audience waited with baited breath to see if Danish Warmblood could steal the top spot from Selle Français and end their tight grip on the top spot. Last up was Christian Jansen and Clarima DWB (Clarimo x Carmargue) Despite one rail on course, the delivered a strong round which was enough to move the Danish Warmblood studbook into the lead. 

“A win is always difficult but we were sure that we had a good chance because the horses really have performed well the whole week. Also our fourth rider won the consolation class so we were sure that we had strong combinations.” explained team manager Bo Moeller. “The riders work really well together. We have some strong riders who can help the not so experienced riders, that works really well,” said Moeller, “the main thing for us is of course to develop our horses and it's fantastic here because everything is really wonderful and the horses jumped good and they jump better and better every day. That's what we take home, and now prepare for next year.”

The CDE Ancades studbook kicked off the class setting the bar high early on. First to go for the team was Santiago Nuñez Riva with Valenza de Capellan (Valentino de Hus Z x For Fashion). They looked to be on track to open the class with a clear, but acquired four faults at the final fence. Next up were Lorenzo Pradas Freire and Amira de Casavieja (Amant Du Chateau x Sirioso). Despite four faults on course they delivered a good time for the team. Last for CDE was Jos Fumero Hernandez with Valquiria de Capellan (Vidar x Coriano) who deliver a fantastic clear round to keep the CDE on just eight faults, ultimately claiming second place.

The KWPN entered the ring and Dutch fans were on the edge of their seats as they watched to see if the KWPN could take the lead on home turf. First to go for the team were Piet Raijmakers Jr and Van Schijndel's Officer (Diarado x Cardento). Despite two rails on course, Raijmakers Jr and Van Schijndel's Officer delivered an excellent time for the team. Next up was Rob Heijligers with On and on MB (Baltic VDL x Harley). With just four faults on course, they managed to post a solid time for the team. Last to go was Jules De Bruijn and Oberon (Kallmar x Arezzo VDL). The pair flawlessly navigated the course, coming home clean and jumping into third place. 

It was a testing track for the final class of the weekend as the 7 year old 1.40m Final got underway. Oldenburg International rode into the ring represented by Roy van Beek, Ruben Arroyave, and Naomi Himmelreich. The tension was palpable as van Beek and Charleston - H (Comme Il Faut x Zandor) set off on course. The pair made it look easy, coming home clear. Next to go was Arroyave with Diarona PS. They made quick work of the course, delivering another clear for the team. Last to go for Oldenburg was Naomi Himmelreich and Flying Kiss (Kannan x Cassini II). Despite a rail down in the first combination, they quickly navigated the course, finishing on just four faults. The crowd cheered as she crossed the finish line, securing the win for Oldenburg International. 

“I had the feeling that we had a good chance to win but I had that already before this class. This situation, with just three horses in the class and every result counting, I knew what was possible and today we had the luck.”  said Oldenburg International team manager Peer Eitenmüller. “We felt really good coming into the competition. We had some really nice riders and horses selected for this event and now we also got the result of that.” He went on to say, “I think this is a really nice competition. This team event is really something special and I think also the studbooks and the riders communicate a little more in the team and so I think that is quite good about it.” 

With spirits still high from their win in the 5 year old Finals, the Danish Warmblood studbook entered the arena. First to go for the team was Ida Mundberg and Aura Ravnes-Have (Cantolar x Favorit ASK). The pair looked to be on track for a clear but acquired four faults on the penultimate fence and two for time, but were met with cheers as they crossed the finish line nonetheless. Sarah Wheler with Syvhoejegaards Next Level (Cyrano ASK x Casir ASK) were next up. They acquired just four faults on course, putting the Danish Warmblood at ten penalties. Last to go for the team was Kamilla Grauff Albrektsen and Maskedals One Man Show (Comme Il Faut Plus x Favorit ASK). They took no prisoners as they raced across the grass. The pair posted the first double clear of the class, Danish Warmblood fans going wild as they crossed the finish line, ultimately securing third place.

The Irish Sport Horse galloped into the arena, looking for a win. Michaeli Ann Byrne and Dunboyne (Elvis ter Putte x Sibon W) set off first for the team. With just four faults on course, they came home clear for time. Next up was Molly Hughes Bravo with HHS Ice Flo (Iceman de Muze x Cyrano). They delivered a beautiful, clear round and were met by cheers from Irish fans as they crossed the finish line. Riding last for the team was Emma O'Dwyer and Dougie Drea (Douglas). They posted a quick time, acquiring just four faults on course, overtaking the Danish Warmblood to secure second place. 

As the final day of the 2024 season at the Longines Tops International Arena drew to a close, spirits were high. All eyes now turn to 2025, as LTIA once again is set to host another roster or elite equestrian competitions.

CSI2* Small Tour 1.15m

Britain's Annabel Shields scored a hat-trick in the CSI2* Small Tour class on Sunday morning where riders went straight into their jump-off after a clear round. On Friday she won with B.E. Flygold, on Saturday with Carte d'Or SDW Z and today her winning partner was again B.E. Flygold (ISH, Stakkato Gold x Laughton's Flight). In a super fast jump-off round, they stopped the clock at 38.25 seconds. The rider was almost seven seconds faster than second-placed Tess Carmichael (GBR). Carmichael rode the 12-year-old Zangersheide stallion Chisinau W Z across the finish line in 45.04 seconds. Germany's Philine Gröpper came third with her Holstein mare Paula's Isabella (Dinken x Lord). They rode a clear round but had four faults in their jump-off.

6 Year Old Consolation Class 

The Westfälisches Pferdestammbuch was secure a victory in the consolation class for six-year-olds. The beautiful black stallion Cinsey 3 (Cinsey x Böckmann's Lord Pezi) managed to win the against the clock competition (1.35m) with German rider Fabienne Graefe. Cinsey 3, bred by Markus Merschformann and owned by Maria Treus, stayed clear in a time of 64.01 seconds. The Anglo European Studbook (AES) scored a fine second place with Z7 Pink Panther (Cuick Star Kervec x Obos Quality). The bay gelding, bred by and owned by Team Z7, stayed clear and crossed the finish line in 64.77 seconds with Britain's Katie Speller. Third place was also for an AES-registered horse. Noud van de Zietfort (Zidane x Joop III) was ridden by Dutchman Tom Schellekens and was just slightly slower than Pink Panther, 64.86 seconds.

CSI2* Medium Tour 1.30m

The final competition for the CSI2* Medium Tour combinations became an Irish party. As many as six Irish riders placed in the top 10 including winner Michael Pender with Highcross Violet. Of the 53 combinations, 17 were able to ride their jump-off round immediately after the clear first round and the Irish Sport Horse mare did the very best. The 13-year-old grey went smoothly through the course and stopped the time at 36.38 seconds. It proved to be the winning time that Belgian Kasper de Boeck, who went full out for the win, could not improve. He crossed the finish line in 37.54 seconds with the 14-year-old BWP gelding Kiarado (Diarado x Coreggio). Third place went to one of the other Irish riders, Jack Ryan and the Zangersheide mare Soblensky vh Scheefkasteel Z (Sir Obolensky Z x Diamant de Semilly). With this mare, he finished second in the Big Tour competition on Friday.

5 Year Old Consolation Class

The consolation competition for five-year-olds was won by the Danish Warmblood mare Maigaards Cannubi (Cavoiro H OLD xc Canto). Like Thursday in the first competition, the mare stayed clear with a nice and smooth round. The young talent was ridden by Denmark's Frida Munk Lassen, who won team gold and individual silver at the Nordic and Baltic Championships for Young Riders in Hjallerup, Denmark, just in July. Second place was for the OS mare Comme Tess (Comme le Pere x Cavalor Cumano) with German rider Arend Westerholt. The BWP gelding Tarantus S (Ermitage Kalone x Olala de Buisy) came third with Jan Vermeiren (BEL).

7 Year Old Consolation Class

The Selle Français produced the winner of the trophy class for seven-year-olds with Hawaii Semilly. The bay well jumping mare was ridden to victory by Dylan Levallois (FRA) in a time of 64.35 seconds. The Comme Il Faut daughter out of a Diamant de Semilly dam was bred by and is owned by Richard Levallois. The runner-up was Swedish Warmblood Qurious HS. This gelding also has Comme Il Faut as sire and a Diamiant de Semilly dam and was bred by Linn Holm. The gelding was ridden by Swedish Nicole Holmén and they crossed the finish line in 69.40 seconds. Westphalian All I Want L (Arezzo VDL x Cantos) came third with Marie Ligges (GER) in a time of 69.50 seconds.

CSI2* Big Tour Grand Prix 1.45m

The very last competition, the CSI2* Grand Prix, was a wonderful conclusion to the CIS2* in Valkenswaard. All 12 combinations that had qualified for the jump-off went full for victory. The difficulty in the jump-off course was the second-to-last obstacle, a vertical, where Fernando Martinez Sommer (MEX) and Nick Vrins (BEL), among others, saw their hopes of victory dashed. The one who certainly had no trouble with it was Olympic bronze medal winner Maikel van der Vleuten and the AES mare Elwikke (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Quick Star). The duo rode a great and smooth round and crossed the finish line in 38.22 seconds. This time was enough to claim victory and Maikel thus relegated Bas Moerings, who was just ahead of him in the arena, to second place. Moerings had set a time of 39.28 seconds in his jump-off ride with the easy jumping KWPN mare Kivinia (I M Special de Muze x Calido I). Britain's Tabitha Kyle came third with the elegant and very agile KWPN mare Desterly (Tolan R x Murano). They realised a time of 39.80 seconds.