Show jumpers must leave CHIO victory to American Cook
The Dutch show jumpers missed out on victory in the Grand Prix of the CHIO in Rotterdam. The victory went to the American Karl Cook with Caracole de la Roque. Bas Moerings was the best Dutchman with his horse Ipsthar in fifth place.
Eight riders qualified for the jump-off in the Kralingse Bos. There were three Dutchmen among them, besides Moerings, Hessel Hoekstra and Maikel van der Vleuten. Harrie Smolders and Marc Houtzager missed out on the final with 4 penalty points.
Cook rode a clear round in the jump-off with a time of 37.17. The remaining riders could not match that. Moerings had 4 penalty points. Hoekstra came sixth with 7 penalty points after a refusal by his horse Comthago. Van der Vleuten finished eighth with O'Bailey van het Brouwershof with 8 penalty points.
Moerings looked back on a difficult day, but with a well-performing Ipsthar. "The rhythm was good right away on the first three obstacles in the jump-off. Ipsthar was also enthusiastic", the 26-year-old show jumper said via the KNHS association. "Maybe I lacked concentration for a fraction or just had some bad luck, which caused the mistake. Still, he jumped super well over it. I was too slow for the first prize, but a third or fourth place would have been realistic with a clear result."
RTL Nieuws
