On Friday afternoon the CSI4* combinations had their first competitions in the beautiful arena in the MECC. The De Limburger Prix, a 2 phases with obstacles up to 1.40m, was won by Dutch Patrick Lemmen. The 33-year-old rider of Carpe Diem Stables in Baarlo jumped clear in 26.08 seconds with the nine-year-old mare Jolie Fleur (Contact van de Heffinck x Cassinao). The world’s number 1, Harrie Smolders, finished runner-up with Hocus Pocus de Muze (BWP, Tinka’s Boy x For Pleasure) followed by Michel Hendrix with Elco van Hof Ter Naillen 9SBS, Elvis Ter Putte x Toulon) in third place.

The next class, the Roelofsen Horsetrucks Prix, was won by Belgium’s Jos Verlooy with the BWP gelding Japatero VDM (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x For Pleasure). Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci set a time that seemed very difficult to improve. He was in the lead for a very long time with the Holsteiner Chochello (Casall x Cartani 4), but finally had to settle for second place. Holland’s Kevin Jochems finished in third place with Kyamant van ’t Spieveld (Diamant de Semilly x Toulon).