07 Oct Power Duo in the jump-off for the qualification of the BEMER Riders Tour
(Wiener-Neustadt) Experience is king: Dutch championship rider and Olympic medallist Jur Vrieling and his grey mare Griffin van de Heffinck showed the enthusiastic audience in the Austrian Arena Nova how to win a difficult jump-off. On Friday night the pair jumped two absolutely flawless rounds and relegated the Swedish rider Karin Martinsen on Tailormade Chloe Star PS to second place. Only Vrieling and Martinsen managed to stay clear over the demanding course and decided the jump-off between themselves. The CSI Arena Nova at three-star level is one of the first indoor shows of the upcoming indoor season.
Unfinished business
“The course was quite difficult and also high enough,” the winner confirmed, before adding: “But for me it fitted perfectly.” Only a week ago Vrieling and Griffin van de Heffinck competed in the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona. “Yes exactly, I wanted to take another horse first, but that one didn’t feel as good. So I brought this mare along and it worked out great.” Vrieling still has a score to settle with the Arena Nova. For many years the likeable Dutchman and BEMER brand ambassador has been a regular at the international horse show in Wiener-Neustadt, but has never managed to win the Grand Prix there. This is set to change on Sunday. Griffin van de Heffinck, the 11-year-old daughter of Castelino van de Helle, will also be his partner for the rating competition of the BEMER Riders Tour. “It is her first indoor show for the season and she has done very well. Tomorrow there will be a rest day, then I’ll just loosen her up a bit and it’s back under the BEMER blanket. Hopefully it continues like this on Sunday!”
Indoor challenges
Karin Martinsen and the Conthargos mare Tailormade Chloe Star PS left the jump-off course with two rails, but the Swedish amazon was still very happy with her performance: “There were two faults on my part, but second place is pretty good and I am very proud of Chloe Star. It was a difficult course and it is a small arena, the audience is very close. There were definitely some questions asked tonight.” The pair that came closest to answering those questions was Mans Thijssen and Joviality. The Warrant gelding, who is only nine years old, narrowly missed the jump-off with one time fault. Last year’s winner Sabrina Berger with Quidams Star Melloni took fourth place with a total of 3 penalty points for exceeding the time. Patrick Stühlmeyer and Michael Viehweg rode their top horses in a 1.35m test in the afternoon.
On Sunday, the 7th rating competition of the BEMER Riders Tour will take place from 1pm onwards: The Grand Prix, presented by Sportland Niederösterreich, will have two rounds and can be seen live on ClipMyHorse.tv.
Result BEMER Riders Tour Qualification for the Rating Competition, Prize of Arena Nova powered by EPP, Int. jumping competition with jump-off (1.55 m)
- Jur Vrieling (NED) & Griffin van de Heffinck, 0/44.57 in the jump-off
- Karin Martinsen (SWE) & Tailormade Chloe Star PS, 8/45/76 i in the jump-off
- Mans Thijssen (NED) & Joviality, 1/67.88
- Sabrina Berger (GER) & Quidams Star Melloni, 3/69.17
- Sophie Hinners (GER) & Vittorio, 4 /60.81 sec
- Max Kühner (AUT) & EIC Coriolis des Isles, 4/60.91
- Hans Dieter Dreher (GER) & Vestmalle des Cotis, 4/61.39
All results: https://results.hippodata.de/2023/2347/html/en/hippodata/index.html
Stages of the BEMER Riders Tour 2023/24
Horses & Dreams meets Sweden, Hagen a.T.W. / GER, 19. – 23. April 2023
Pferd International, München-Riem / GER, 18. – 21. Mai 2023
CSI Ommen, Ommen / NED, 06. – 09. Juli 2023
Fest der Pferde, Donaueschingen-Immenhöfe / GER, 27. – 30. Juli 2023
Turnier der Sieger, Münster / GER, 24. – 27. August 2023
CSI Lier Azelhof Horse Events, Lier / BEL, 31. August – 03. September 2023
CSI Arena Nova, Wiener Neustadt / AUT, 05. – 08. Oktober 2023
VR CLASSICS, Neumünster / GER, 15. – 18. Februar 2024
Photo: Dutch rider Jur Vrieling and his grey mare Griffin van de Heffinck jumped two absolutely sovereign, clear rounds in the Arena Nova in Austria © HORSIC