Where Paolo Mario De Simone first won the CCI1* class on Saturday, July 20, the Italian eventing rider was also the winner of the CCI3* at Eventing Flevoland. With Chivas du Loir, De Simone, who lives in Bremen, took victory in the top class: " I am very positively surprised about this competition, it was a beautiful cross-country."
Merel Blom-Huisman was the best Dutch combination with the nine-year-old gelding Davos 77, winning the KNHS CCI3* championship at the beautiful grounds of the Kuinderbos. "It is a very nice place here in Emmeloord for an eventing competition. You can see that the organization has done a lot for it, there is a lot of work in all the cross obstacles," responded the brand new champion. "We were lucky with the weather, the ground was good. My horse ran his first 3* here and gave me a very good feeling in the cross. He likes the game and it felt like an easy ride. The long water section was tricky and tough for the horses though," Merel Blom responded. "There was a lot of audience, also people who don't know the eventing sport yet. Nice that so many people can get acquainted with the sport this way."
The first edition of Eventing Flevoland was sun-drenched and attracted many visitors. Something the organization of the international eventing competition also had in mind. "We just wanted to put down a competition for a broad audience, not just the participants," says chairman Gert Naber. For example, the fringe program at Eventing Flevoland included a Hobby Horse competition and various demonstrations, and the centrally located promo village featured many exhibitors. "We really look back on a successful event and worthy championship. With good sport and great results. It was not an easy cross-country, it was a selective course and mistakes were made on several obstacles. We received many enthusiastic comments from the participants. All made possible by over 180 volunteers and many partners and sponsors."
View the full results here.
The date of Eventing Flevoland in 2025 will be announced soon.
Photo: Ros Photography