Leopold van Asten has just secured his first JIM victory of 2024. Aboard VDL Groep Urane de Talma, the Dutch rider cleared the course in a seemingly effortless fashion. “A good start to the weekend!”
His opponents stopped the clock in the 55 seconds. Leopold van Asten needed only 52.57 seconds with his 16-year-old mare VDL Groep Urane de Talma. “Yes, it was smooth sailing all through the course. She is naturally fast, and our round went exactly how I planned it”, Leopold praises his mare. The rider brought three horses to the MECC this weekend and has a full programme ahead of him. “I’ve got six more classes to go. But this is a good start to the weekend! Always nice to start off like this, it obviously gives a boost”.
The competition for the remaining podium spots was fierce. Belgian rider Dimme D'Haese and his mare Baccarat Du Tertre managed to stay ahead of Victor Bettendorf. The rider from Luxembourg in the saddle of Kenya Heureuka Z was bested by merely seven hundredths of a second. Roger Yves Bost on Embassy du Chateau and Mel Thijssen with Cobalt de Quelennec Z followed in the fourth and fifth position.
Check out the program and results
Photo: Digishots
