Simon Delestre and Olga van de Kruishoeve turned up the heat to clinch victory in the CSI5* 1.45m speed class on Thursday, July 4 2024, helping open up proceedings in Monaco.
Competing in the adrenaline-charged class, Delestre and Olga van de Kruishoeve showcased their prowess, executing tight turns and navigating the tour’s smallest arena with precision. In a heart-stopping performance, the duo clocked an impressive time of 53.59 seconds, edging out fellow Frenchman Roger Yves Bost and his 13-year-old mare Ballerine du Vilpion by more than 2.85 seconds.
The sold-out crowd erupted in thunderous applause when Jessica Springsteen and Naomi van het Keizershof took an early lead but ultimately secured third place overall.
Marking his third consecutive win at the Longines Global Champions Tour events, the flying Frenchman Delestre remarked:
”Olga is a very quick horse, and i can take the first distance, he really turns short after the fence so this is maybe her tenth or eleventh win in 8 months at the five star level, so she is super competitive.”
As for the weekend ahead? Simon went on to say, “It’s day by day, and class by class but my horses are in great shape at the moment. We had a super competition last weekend in Stockholm, so we plan to try and do the same tomorrow but it’s always tough!”
In the breathtaking locale beside the picturesque port of Monaco, the idyllic setting provided a stunning backdrop for the thrilling showjumping action, offering spectators an unparalleled view. With the shimmering Mediterranean Sea as a backdrop, the ambiance was truly unmatched for the first day of competition.
But today was just a taste of the electrifying competition ahead in the coming days. Spectators can anticipate witnessing the world’s top riders vie for the prestigious titles in the GCL team competition tomorrow at 17:50 local time and the €1.5 million Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix Du Prince De Monaco on Saturday at 20:15 local time.
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Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.