Yves Houtackers and Granni G Win FEBO Prize, Qualifier for BMC Grand Prix of Amsterdam on Sunday

Driving, Indoor Eventing, and Show Jumpers Also Featured in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, NED – April 21, 2006 – It’s midnight in Amsterdam and the sold-out crowd of 7,000 is continuing to rock the Europahal at the RAI Center following an evening of show jumping competition that climaxed with a dramatic and tear-jerking retirement ceremony for De Sjiem, the mount for Jeroen Dubbledam at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. After the ceremony, Rene Froger Leidseplein, one of the top three performers in the Netherlands, took over the arena and is now performing a concert to the keyed up crowd.

In the featured class of this evening’s three show jumping competitions, Yves Houtackers of the Netherlands claimed victory in the FEBO Prize, the Qualifier for the BMC Grand Prix of Amsterdam, which will be held here on Sunday, April 23. Houtackers aboard Granni G, owned by Stal de Ijzeren Man, topped a field of 41 riders in the Table A 1.50 meter run against the clock. The 11-jump course included a double combination at Fence #4 and a triple at #9.

Houtackers and the 15-year-old chestnut Westfalen mare went fifth in the order and posted a clean round in 58 seconds flat, forcing the rest of the class to chase them. Four more riders went clean, but could not catch the leader’s time, and seven horses posted faster time, but none went clean. Houtackers claimed five thousand euros for the victory. Two of Houtacker’s countrymen came closest to his winning time. Albert Zoer riding Lowina for owner Firma Zoer cleared the course in 58.43 for second place. Angelique Hoorn in the irons on B.C.O. Olymp posted a clean trip in 58.91 for third.

The dramatic disco lighting and appreciative crowd set the stage for the evening’s festivities that started with the awards ceremony for the FEBO class and the victory lap. The excellent crew had cleared the arena for the Cheerleader Amsterdam Admirals performance – a version of NFL cheerleaders, and then led in to the De Sjiem retirement ceremony in a darkened arena lit by 50-torchbearing young riders in their best riding outfits. The rock concert atmosphere was amplified when people lit their cigarette lighters and waved them. The speeches were long and in Dutch but everyone stood during the entire ceremony and when the horse did three victory laps, picking up the pace each time, and finally roared full bore out of the arena while the singer belted out a good-bye tune, there couldn’t have been a dry eye in the house.

A Day at the Europahal

Leading up to the evening’s show jumping, the arena changed scenarios several times today. The Europahal in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is not only hosting the FEI Dressage World Cup Final but also a host of other equestrian events scheduled for April 20-23 under the umbrella of Jumping Amsterdam – all in the same ring!

Actually, following the conclusion of World Cup Final dressage competition yesterday, the Europahal crew transformed the ring into a venue for seven driving classes, which included two- and four-in-hand horses. By 10:15 pm, the driving cones were gone and replaced with a course for an indoor eventing competition in which eight teams of two riders raced against the clock over obstacles usually jumped cross-country. It was a new sport for me and seemed akin to watching a combination jump-off/barrel race to loud rock music! The crowd loved it.

Today, after the World Cup dressage riders completed their sound-checks early this morning for the freestyle competition that will be held tomorrow, dressage continued in other forms – under the banner “national dressage,” presented by Bit, which featured lower level and FEI level competition, clinics, and an array of seminars. The seminars were in Dutch, but looked quite interesting – for instance Olympic show jumper Jeroen Dubbledam and Olympic dressage rider Marlies van Baalen traded horses and gave running commentary on their schooling/riding sessions. The knowledgeable crowd was quite appreciative of van Baalen’s success in getting the animated jumper to relax and stretch into the bit. There was a packed house of nearly 5,000 for Anky van Grunsven’s clinic in which individual riders received instruction.

Let the Show Jumping Begin!

Whitaker Wins MAN Anemone Prize

By 2:15 pm, the ring was ready for the first of three S1 Gold League show jumping classes today – the MAN Anemone Prize, a Table A 1.40 meter against the clock. With 39 riders (all from European countries) competing, 14 managed to produce clean rounds. John Whitaker of Great Britain riding Lactic 2 owned by Mrs. P. Woodward was the fastest and emerged the winner, going clear in 54.62 seconds. Felix Hassmann of Germany riding Lyssah for owner Winfried Krautwald was edged into second place by splits, clearing the course in 54.96. Marc Houtzager of The Netherlands claimed third place aboard HBC Regilio for J.van Kooten/H.B.C. stall in 55.31 seconds.

Maikel Van der Vleuten Claims Victory in the Telegraaf Prize

Three riders from the Netherlands claimed the top three spots in the Table A 1.45 meter with jump-off class. Maikel Van Der Vleuten riding Audi’s Dargita Z for V.d. Vleuten/Maatschap claimed the win with a double-clear performance, going clean in the jump-off with the fastest time of 37.77. Jur Vrieling riding VDL Artic for VDL Stud with a double clear and 38.40 in the jump-off. Harrie Smolders riding Omar claimed third with 4 faults in the first round, but a clean trip in the jump-off in 38.98.

The concert is still rocking, but we’re signing off for the night!

PHOTO CAPTION:De Sjiem and Jeroen Dubbledam. PHOTO CREDIT: Ken Braddick-HorseSport USA.