Belgium on top in Rotterdam

This year at home, on the 70th birthday of CHIO Rotterdam, the “orange” riders were favorites in the competition for the Nations Cup, but in the end the victory was won by Belgium, who had last triumphed in the Netherlands in 1950.

After the first round of the 2018 Rotterdam CSIO5* Nations Cup, two teams were tied for the lead: Belgium and Germany. With the score of four penalty points each, the Swiss and the Americans were tied for third. And it was the Belgians who would finally put in the top performance in front of the Dutch fans and royal family in attendance. Clear rounds by Nicola Philippaerts on H & M Chilli Willi, Niels Bruynseels and Cas de Liberte and Jos Verlooy on Igor made made things easy for Pieter Devos, as Belgium had already secured the the victory with an impressive “zero” penalty points.

The Germans had to settle for the second place, while the hosts, despite having such elite pairs as Harrie Smolders and Don VHP and Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof ‘s Calimero (both with a double clear run in the Nations Cup) had to share the lowest podium level with teams from Switzerland and the USA – all on twelve penalty points. The next places were: 6thfor Great Britain and France (16 points each) and 8th for Sweden (19).

After the fifth tournament of this year’s edition of this year’s qualifying circuit then, the Belgians moved into the lead with 360 points, ahead of Switzerland (340), Germany (315), France (295.5), Spain (225), Sweden (167.5), the Netherlands (160), Ireland (145), Great Britain (112.5) and Italy (107.5).

The marquee Individual competition, the Longines Grand Prix of Rotterdam, went to the rider with a flawless ride and the best Grand Prix time: Jos Verlooy, again of Belgium, on the 13-year-old stallion Caracas (Casall x Colman). Second place went to H & M Christian K Szwed and Peder Fredricson. The third and fourth places were taken by Swiss representativess Janika Sprunger and Bacardi VDL and Arthur da Silva and Inonstop van T Voorhof.

During the CHIO Rotterdam, a Dressage competition was also held, which was dominated by the Dutchman Edward Gal on the phenomenal 10-year-old Glock’s Zonik NOP stallion. Gal first triumphed in the FEI Grand Prix competition, then went unrivaled in the final CDIO5 * Grand Prix Freestyle, in which the Dutch pair beat Well Done de la Roche and Swedish rider Patrik Kittel and American Steffen Peters on Rosamunde. In the FEI Dressage Nations Cup of The Netherlands, the Dutch defeated teams from Sweden, the USA, Germany, France, Great Britain and Belgium. (Rosk)