Vejer de La Frontera – February 19, 2023 – Dutch rider Kevin Jochems (NED) is amongst the top 100 riders in the Longines Rankings and today he won the Big Tour €97,880 Dunas de Barbate Grand Prix CSI 4* with La Costa, who is by Gitano V Berkenbroeck x Calvino Z.
The top 50 riders of the week participated in this European 2023 and Paris Olympic games 2024 qualifier, with just nine making it through to the jump off. The 4* class was designed by Grégory Bodo (FRA), who is the course designer for the Olympic track in Paris, alongside Spanish designer, Santiago Varela. The class was set in the main ring, the David Broome grass arena.
Kevin was fourth to jump in the jump off and as he set off, not a clear round was in sight. He jumped a foot perfect and very fast round that challenged the rest of the field to come, stopping the timers in 40.91 seconds and despite a serious challenge from the Irish rider, Michael G. Duffy (IRL), who rode shortly after him, he just could not be bettered.
Kevin has been competing with this chestnut 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare since November, and in some top 5* shows, but this his first win with her so far at the 4* level and in a Grand Prix.
He told us today; “I come here actually every year. I think its the best place in Europe for your horses. Today, I jumped ‘La Costa’ in the 4* Grand Prix, sponsored by Dunas de Barbate. Very happy with the way my horse jumped today, couldn’t do anything better. Looking forward to the summer season with her. I will try to do some Nations Cups and from there on we will see”.
Kevin has had some great results already here at the Tour, with a variety of horses: he won the Big Tour 1.45 with Gijs on the 17th, also the Big Tour 1.45 on the 10th with Catch Me, and was third in the Ashford Farm trophy on the 16th with Flying Jackie.
Michael G Duffy (IRL) came second with a lovely round on Clitschko 17 (Christian 25 x Check in 2), the only difference being their final time of 41.29 seconds.
The difference between second and third-place finishers was even tighter, just thirteen hundredths of a second separating Scott Brash (GBR) with Hello Valentino (Diamantino x Careful 28) from the latter two. These were the only three riders to finish clear in the jump off as poles fell, when the riders in fourth and fifth tried hard to make the time.
Young Irish rider, Harry Allen (IRL) had four faults with Calculatus (Cachassini x Contello) but the fastest time, and similarly, Belgian rider, Gilles Thomas (BEL) took a pole with Elfra Van Beek Z (El Salvador x Vagabond de la Pomme).
Final Results – €97,880 Dunas de Barbate Grand Prix CSI 4*
1) Kevin Jochems (NED) & La Costa – 0 / 0 – 40.91
2) Michael G. Duffy (IRL) & Clitschko 17– 0 / 0 – 41.29
3) Scott Brash (GBR) & Hello Valentino – 0 / 0 – 41.42
Source: Press Release (edited) from Andalucía Sunshine Tour
Photo: © Sunshine Tour / Moises Basallote Fotografia
Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News Nederland
