Belgian rider Thibeau Spits causes a sensation in the Riesenbeck Grand Prix
In an eventful LGCT Grand Prix, Thibeau Spits (BEL) on Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z took his very first stage win at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Riesenbeck and his first ever CSI5* Grand Prix podium. Marcus Ehning and Coolio lived up to German expectations and finished second in front of their home crowd. The podium was completed by Abdel Saïd (BEL) on Bonne Amie, who has been very consistent this season. Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair took fourth place in the international world ranking show jumping competition with prize money of 500,000 euros.
Today's Grand Prix was a hard-fought competition between some of the best athletes and horses in the world. 38 pairs had qualified for the second LGCT Grand Prix of Riesenbeck, including three riders in the top ten of the world rankings as well as the German Olympic nominees Richard Vogel, Christian Kukuk, Philipp Weishaupt and Jana Wargers. A knowledgeable Münster audience gathered at the jumping arena to see the stars of the scene in action. The course set by Christian Wiegand and his team was fair, but peppered with a few challenges, so that there were many surprises in the first round and only four riders were able to secure a place in the jump-off.
Belgien vs. Germany in the jump-off
Abdel Saïd (BEL) and his 11-year-old mare Bonne Amie opened the jump-off, but despite having the fastest time they had to accept four faults. The first German rider, crowd favourite Marcus Ehning, had the fans hoping and stamping their feet, especially when he put in a clear round with the Holstein gelding Coolio. Then the second Belgian, Thibeau Spits, rode into the arena. Aboard his long-time partner, the 9-year-old black stallion Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z, the 23-year-old young talent managed to beat the time of experienced champion Ehning by 1.64 seconds. Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair, who won the GCL classification yesterday, also challenged for the fastest time, but were ultimately beaten and finished in fourth place with one pole down.
Spits´ victory catapulted him to seventh place in the current LGCT overall standings and made for a very emotional victory celebration on the Riesenbeck podium, as Spits' family was also present to celebrate with him. The Riesenbeck International equine paradise once again demonstrated top-class sport with excitement, emotion and Münsterland charme.
LGCT GP Sieger, Thibeau Spits (BEL): “I never thought starting the season that it would be like this. I was already really happy with the way it was going, but to now have a win in my first real season on the LGCT tour is unbelievable. On the big arena I was able to use my horse’s stride a bit. Then I saw Marcus and I knew I could win it in the strides.”
Show Director of Riesenbeck International, Karsten Lütteken: “We're all a bit proud of the grass arena — not just how it looked, but also how it performed as a surface over the four days. It wasn't just fantastic during the hot days, even today in the rain we weren't worried for a second that there would be problems with the grass."
"Overall, everything is positive because the sport was really great. There were over 12,000 spectators on site. We had some hope that we could top the 2023 numbers, but yesterday it was too hot and today some people may have thought twice about going out in the rain. Nevertheless, the people here created a great atmosphere in the arena and held out until the prize-giving ceremony."
Marco Danese, Technical Director of the Global Champions Tour:
We were already here in Riesenbeck last year and knew what to expect. The quality of the facilities and the course is simply fantastic. Being here and working here is very easy for me. We find the conditions here that we want. This facility is one of the best for horses, as is Valkenswaard; the showground, the training facilities, the stables, the whole atmosphere. So my thanks go to Karsten Lütteken and his whole team. We have arenas of different sizes, sand and grass arenas, jumping competitions during the day and at night. To win the overall classification, riders and horses have to be able to cope with all the arenas.
Results: Sunday, 21.07.2024
LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR GRAND PRIX by RIESENBECK
CSI5* - International show jumping competition against the clock with jump-off (1.60 m)
- Thibeau Spits (BEL) Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z 0/ 41.93 sec. All in the jump-off
- Marcus Ehning (GER) Coolio 42 0/ 43.57 sec.
- Abdel Saïd (BEL) Bonne Amie 0/ 41.04 sec.
4th Sophie Hinners (GER) Iron Dames Singclair 0/ 43.27 sec.
The complete result: https://results.hippodata.de/2024/2419/docs/r_06.pdf
Intermediate result after 11 stages: https://results.hippodata.de/2024/2419/docs/lgct_ranking_2024_after_riesenbeck.pdf
18 LVM Youngster Tour
Youngster Tour 7 & 8 years old - 1st Qualifier
CSIYH1* - International jumping competition against the clock (1.35/1.40 m)
- David Will (GER) Monte Cristo 18 0/ 62.62 sec.
- Tobias Meyer (GER) So Charme 0/ 62.87 sec.
- Leonie Böckmann (GER) Flo Jo 4 0/ 63.53 sec.
19 LVM Youngster Tour
Youngster Tour 7 & 8 years old - 2nd qualifier
CSIYH1* - International jumping competition against the clock (1.35/1.40 m)
- Philipp Weishaupt (GER) Grace de la Claye 0/ 61.34 sec.
2 Felix Hassmann (GER) Conthargo PS 0/ 62.74 sec.
- David Will (GER) Monte Cristo 18 0/ 62.94 sec.
20 LVM Youngster Tour FINAL
CSIYH1* - International jumping competition against the clock with jump-off (1.40/1.45 m)
- David Will (GER) Monte Cristo 18 0/ 40.58 sec. all in the jump-off
- Katrin Eckermann (GER) Cascajall Nrw 0/ 41.56 sec.
- Gerben Morsink (NED) Corthago Z 0/ 42.80 sec.
All results can be found at:
https://www.longinestiming.com/equestrian/2024/longines-global-champions-tour-of-riesenbeck-riesenbeck/index.html
