NIELS BRUYNSEELS RIDING GANCIA DE MUZE WINS THE ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT THE DUTCH MASTERS, THE FIRST EQUESTRIAN MAJOR OF THE YEAR

11 March 2018, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – The first equestrian Major of the year has been won by Niels Bruynseels (BEL) riding Gancia de Muze. Second place went to Marcus Ehning (GER) riding Cornado NRW and third place to Harrie Smolders (NED) riding Emerald.


The bright lights of the Brabanthal illuminated the stage for the Rolex Grand Prix, the highlight of The Dutch Masters, now one of the four Majors that make up the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. An electric atmosphere welcomed this elite competition, with over 11,500 fans attending Sunday’s show to see the truly international roster of show jumpers contend for the title prize.


After two demanding qualifiers on Friday (09 March) and Saturday (10 March) set out by famed course designer Louis Konickx (NED), a challenging test was expected for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix and he did not disappoint. The first round consisted of 13 obstacles (17 jumping efforts in total), over a towering 1.60m course, with technical questions being asked throughout for the world’s top riders.


Initially clear rounds were hard to come by and from the first 20 riders to tackle the course, only five clears were produced. This included the winner of the 2017 CP ‘International’, presented by Rolex at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, Philipp Weishaupt and Rolex Testimonee Bertram Allen. The second half of this world-class line-up saw a further eight clears including from Rolex Testimonees Steve Guerdat and Scott Brash, and world number two Harrie Smolders, bringing the total to 13 for the jump-off.


A revised course of eight jumping efforts was presented to the 13 successful riders and first to enter the arena and set the bar for the coming 12 was Marc Houtzager. Unfortunately, a clear round was not to be for the Dutch rider and Houtzager left with four faults.


The first clear came from Jur Vrieling, much to the delight of the passionate home crowd, as he stopped the clock on 39.89 seconds. This lead, however, was short-lived as Ireland’s Bertram Allen took over one second from Vrieling, as he sped through the finishing gate in a time of 38.74 seconds with all fences left standing. It was not to be for Scott Brash, who despite a valiant effort aboard his trusted mare Ursula XII, clipped the last Rolex jump, to take him out of contention for the prize.


Next to enter the arena was German hero Marcus Ehning, riding Cornado NRW. Ehning demonstrated his experience in the sport and cut impossible corners to push Allen just out of the top spot, finishing almost a second faster with a time of 37.80 seconds.


Henrik von Eckermann, Steve Guerdat and Maikel van der Vleuten were unable to challenge this lead, leaving it up to the last rider of the day, Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels.


FIRST MAJOR VICTORY
A spectacular display of horsemanship, speed and determination from the brave Bruynseels produced an incredible final round, stopping the Rolex clock in an impressive 37.10 seconds. The crowd erupted in emotion after a thrilling jump-off finished as the victorious Belgian punched the air in joy, having won the Rolex Grand Prix and his first Major.


Speaking after his victory Bruynseels said, “I have to say to it was a very, very good course, especially for me! 13 riders in the jump-off allowed me to see a few riders as I was last to go and I knew I had to be really fast, but I also knew I had a very fast horse. I took a few big risks but it went well.


“Aachen is the next stop in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, and of course it is one of my goals now, to go there and win.”


Show President, Anky van Grunsven commented, “Being part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is something we really hoped for and we have shown we are deserving to be in this Grand Slam. We welcomed over 60,000 fans to the show over the four days, so we are very happy.”


Bruynseels becomes the new Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping live contender after winning the first Major of his career and will look ahead to CHIO Aachen in July to continue his Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping journey.


To download copyright-free, high-resolution photography featured in this release and from the Rolex Grand Prix, for editorial use only, please click here.


FINAL RESULTS OF THE 2018 ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT THE DUTCH MASTERS
1. Niels Bruynseels (BEL) riding Gancia de Muze
2. Marcus Ehning (GER) riding Cornado NRW
3. Harrie Smolders (NED) riding Emerald
4. Bertram Allen (IRL) riding Gin Chin van het Lindenhof
5. Jur Vrieling (NED) riding VDL Glasgow VH Merelsnest N.O.P.
6. Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) riding IDI Utopia
7. Luciana Diniz (POR) riding Fit for Fun 13
8. Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) riding Mary Lou 194
9. Steve Guerdat (SUI) riding Bianca
10. Scott Brash (GBR) riding Ursula XII

ROLEX'S EQUESTRIAN HERITAGE
Rolex’s support of show jumping dates back more than 60 years. Its close and long-standing association with equestrianism reflects its appreciation of a domain in which fair play, equality, outstanding horsemanship and tradition highlight superior skill, accuracy and achievement. From Pat Smythe, the greatest female show jumper to represent Britain and Rolex’s first equestrian Testimonee (in 1957), to Brash, who in 2015 became the only rider in history to win three consecutive Majors in the Grand Slam, Rolex continues to support riders in the three Olympic disciplines of show jumping, dressage and eventing, and to champion their qualities of excellence and perfection.

ABOUT ROLEX
Rolex, the Swiss watch brand headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its Oyster and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905, the brand pioneered the development of the wristwatch and is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities, as well as philanthropic programmes.


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