Release date: 15/08/2010 |    

At Valkenswaard there is also the CSI** Horse festival to enjoy and in conjunction with that a 1* Special Invitational section. Today was the Final for all of these classes. The Special Invitational gives amateur riders the opportunity to ride in the same rings as their trainers and mentors and is an ideal starting ground for those who might wish to progress as well as those who like to keep their horses and jumping as a serious hobby. Today there were three sections, 1.15m, 1.25m and 1.35m and the winners were Qatar's Ali Hamad Al Attiyah (Gummitwist), Great Britain's Lauli Squibb (Lara Joy) and Germany's Peer Beeking (Solem's Ticket). There was also a points table for competitors in the two weeks of the Horse Festival and the winner of that was Sweden's Matilda Karlsson. Dutch bespoke jeweler Brigitta Sueter generously donated a piece of jewelry as a prize for this.

Now with all these horses here, there are also a great many grooms taking care of their every need and without which no rider could ride and no show go ahead. So today the grooms were summoned into the arena to receive a gift bag from CSI Valkenswaard to show their appreciation. Ladies and gentlemen, we could not do without you! Pictures of the winners  will follow soon.