Leopold van Asten Leads All-Dutch Podium in the 3W Prize CSI 4*

By Jumper News on 2026-11-07

Maastricht, The Netherlands – November 06, 2026 – Seventeen combinations in the jump-off: the €56,800 3W Prize CSI 4* showed once again how strong the field in Maastricht is. In the Big Tour CSI 4* over 1.50m, seven combinations still stayed clear over the shortened course. To the delight of the home crowd, it was Limburg rider Leopold van Asten (NED) who found the fastest route. With his eleven-year-old mare VDL Groep Kwienbellie, he went clear in 36.74 seconds. According to him, the key to the win lay in the final line.

Spectacle

The crowd was on the edge of their seats. “It was a spectacular jump-off, people were really going for it,” says Van Asten. “For the spectators it was a great class to watch, exciting until the very last moment. The jump-off was full of riders who always go for it and always have a chance of winning. Luckily they were just a little too slow today,” he laughs.

“I won it in the last line. The turn from two to three went perfectly, and at the double I had to wait a moment, but it was good to keep her together. She was with me all the way. That’s how you want it: riding fast without having to do too much. I could ride the first distance everywhere; it was a flowing round.” That made it a truly Limburg victory, as the mare was also bred by Limburg breeders.

**Leopold van Asten** (NED) & **VDL Groep Kwienbellie**

Watching from Above

Winning in Maastricht is extra special for Van Asten. “It’s my home crowd and a fantastic event. But it’s also the last event Wim attended, three years ago. Shortly afterwards he passed away suddenly. That always stays with you; you come here with that thought in mind.” Wim van der Leegte, the former CEO of VDL Groep, laid the foundations for Stoeterij Duyselhof, where Van Asten is the stable rider. “It’s still difficult, but I hope he’s secretly watching from up there. Then I’m sure he enjoyed this evening.”

Orange Podium

Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) came closest to Van Asten. With the ten-year-old stallion Quastor vd Heffinck, he clocked 37.10 seconds to finish second. Michael Greeve (NED), who won this Friday-evening feature class last year, completed the Dutch podium. With the nine-year-old gelding Rubens, he went clear in 37.77 seconds. Frenchman Edward Levy finished fourth with the ten-year-old mare Griss de Kerglenn, just ahead of Belgium’s Pieter Devos, who rounded off the top five with the eleven-year-old mare Panamarenka van den Blauwaert.