Ph. Pierre Jumping Sports
The final qualifier for Knokke Hippique’s CSI5* Grand Prix took place under the lights on Saturday, July 2nd,2016 in Knokke Heist, Belgium.
After placing 2nd in Friday’s qualifier by just 0.03 seconds, the Longines FEI ranked World No. 1 rider Mclain Ward of the USA won the €67,500 CSI5* 1.50m presented by Garia. In both classes, the 14-year-old Zangersheide gelding HH Carlos Z (Chellano Z X Voltaire) carried McLain to his speedy top finishes; he won with a time of 36.88 seconds in the second round.
Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts kept earning good results, after winning Thursday’s and being 4th in Friday’s big classes, he took 2nd place in Saturday’s biggest class riding the 9-year-old Belgian gelding H&M Harley Vd Bisschop (Dulf van den Bisschop x Coronado) in 38.13 seconds.
The 3rd place went to Italy’s Lorenzo De Luca aboard the 10-year-old Irish gelding Limestone Grey (Try-Time) in a time of 40.08 seconds.
Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann finished in 4th place riding Chacanno in 40.23 seconds and 5th place was for Holland’s Charlotte Verhagen riding Abache HL in 41.18.
A total of 49 riders will take part in Sunday’s 1.60m CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix presented by Porsche to close a weekend of top level competition in Belgium.