SOPHIE HINNERS & IRON DAMES KALENI JO WIN THE CSI4* GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONS AT LONGINES TOPS INTERNATIONAL ARENA

Germany’s Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Kaleni Jo won the CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix on the final day of the Longines Tops International Arena Summer Showcase, producing the fastest clear round in the jump-off.

A demanding first-round course saw just six combinations advance to the jump-off.

Hinners set the standard riding her 10-year-old mare Iron Dames Kaleni Jo, posting a clear round in 43.44 seconds. Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander came closest on Caetlin vd Heffinck Z, finishing clear in 45.18 seconds to take second place.

Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa took third with Major Tom, crossing the line clear just eight-hundredths of a second behind Tops-Alexander. France’s Antoine Ermann finished fourth on Jiamo VDS, while Germany’s Daniel Deusser took fifth with Otello de Guldenboom after also jumping double-clear.

Michael Greeve of the Netherlands posted the second-fastest time of the jump-off at 43.52 seconds riding Rubens, but four faults dropped the combination to sixth.

The Grand Prix rounded off a strong weekend of international competition at Valkenswaard, featuring a high-calibre field in front of a welcoming crowd.

Sophie Hinners smiled: “I’m absolutely delighted. Kaleni Jo has been improving every time she steps into the ring, and today she showed just how much potential she has. She’s naturally incredibly careful, but she’s also becoming so much more confident. To win a Grand Prix like this is a special moment and a real reward for everyone involved. I have to say a huge thank you to Deborah Mayer and the entire Iron Dames team for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to ride such an amazing horse. Their support means so much, and it’s incredibly motivating to be part of a team that invests so much in both the horses and the riders”.

--ENDS--

Edited by HT

Photo by Longines Tops Arena Media

Full results here