Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z and Casual DV Z shine in the Rolex Grand Prix of 's Hertogenbosch

With The Dutch Masters - Indoor Brabant last weekend, people were once again in for one of the finest and most prestigious indoor competitions of the year. For four days in the Brabanthallen in 't Hertogenbosch, people could enjoy absolute top-class sport, with the best riders in the world competing against each other. The famous Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon was the absolute apotheosis of the weekend and it was once again sensational.

Excitement, spectacle, packed grandstands and above all world-class sport... These were the ingredients of a thrilling Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon in 's Hertogenbosch. Dutch coursedesigner Louis Konickx and his Swiss colleague Gérard Lachat had mapped out an exceptionally technical course, in which especially the exit of the Rolex triple jump and the entry of the second double jump proved to be the sharp judges. Of the thirty-seven combinations that took their chances, 11 eventually managed to secure a ticket for the decisive jump-off. One of those 11 contenders were Belgian rider Thibeau Spits and his 11-year-old black pearl Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z, the son of Indoktro-K van 't Kattenheye and Vagabond de la Pomme bred by Tony Raman and Mieke Strobbe. Spits and Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z had also impressed on Friday evening with a ^4th place in the 1.55m VDL Group Prize and in the jump-off they had the luxury of only being the penultimate combination to re-enter the ring. The successful duo once again provided a masterful round and with sharp finishing times of 40.76 seconds, they only had to beat European Champion Richard Vogel (United Touch S) in the end. "I was inspired by Richard's round (laughs). Impress has a huge canter and felt fantastic today. I'm really incredibly happy and proud."

However, Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z was not the only Z horse to shine at this Rolex Grand Prix of 's Hertogenbosch. For example, Spits' compatriot Pieter Devos also managed to reach the Grand Prix podium with his also 11-year-old mare Casual DV Z, the daughter of Cornet Obolensky and Cicero Z van Paemel who was born and raised at the home of the Devos family. Devos and Casual DV Z, who scored two podium places at the CSI5* Grand Prix in Doha last month, also jumped a clear jump-off and with a finishing time of 42.95 seconds they secured ^3rd place.

Also in this Rolex Grand Prix, American rider Kent Farrington and his 12-year-old mare Toulayna (ex Toulayna van het Bloesemhof Z - Toulon x Parco - breeder: Jasper Doucé) once again showed their class. They too managed to qualify for the jump-off, in which they finally secured ^10th place.

Earlier on Sunday there was also a 1.50m class for the five-star competition, in which our blue and yellow colours were also very successful. These included a podium finish for Dutch rider Hessel Hoekstra and the 9-year-old stallion VDL Mindset ES, a son of our stallion Aganix du Seigneur Z and Kannan bred by Egbert Schep. Hoekstra and VDL Mindset ES, who only last week were the overall winners at the CSI3* Grand Prix of Herning, ensured a flawless round during the 'Winning Round' and with a chrono time of 36.66 seconds they too managed to write a ^3rd place on their record.

Just off the podium stranded Hoekstra's compatriot Frank Schuttert with the 11-year-old stallion Luckey SR Z, a son of L'Arc de Triomphe and Quick Star from the breeding farm of Dutch Keystud. Schuttert and Luckey SR Z, already good for ^9th place in the VDL Groep Prize on Friday, also kept all the rails in the scoops, but needed 37.49 seconds to finish their 'Winning Round'.

Also among the prize winners in this class was Dutch rider Harrie Smolders with the 9-year-old gelding Estrello Eh Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Graf Top - breeder: Eurhorse BVBA). In 36.61 seconds, Smolders and Estrello Eh Z managed to put the third fastest time on the scoreboard, but a mistake on the way meant it ended up being a ^6th place for the duo.

Another combination who had a good weekend in 's Hertogenbosch were Frenchman Kevin Staut and the 10-year-old chestnut mare Vida Loca Z, a daughter of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Cornet Obolensky from the breeding farm of Soc. Agricola A. R.I. Edeldame in Italy. Staut and Vida Loca Z made a first appearance on Friday evening with a ^5th place during the VDL Groep Prize, but experienced their highlight of the weekend during the 1.50m class on Saturday evening. In a jump-off for which 16 combinations managed to qualify, Staut and Vida Loca Z again managed to keep zero on the scoreboard, seizing ^3rd place.

Also on Saturday, German rider Sophie Hinners scored a top 3 ranking with the 12-year-old mare Come Away Flamingo Z (Cardento VDL x Dollar du Murier), bred in France by Alexandra Rantet. During the 1.45m speed class, Hinners and Come Away Flamingo Z sped to the finish 57.22 seconds, which was good for a nice^2nd place in the rankings.

Finally, Thibeau Spits also managed to secure a top ranking with the 9-year-old stallion Gin Flip de Muze Z (Gino H x Elvis Ter Putte - breeder: Lies De Backer & Jef Desmedt). During the 1.45m speed class on Friday, they ensured a flawless round, with ^3rd place as the final result.