Marc and Calimero win Jumping Amsterdam!

Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof’s Calimero continue this year where they have stopped in 2017: performing at the moments that count! Our top combination succeeded in winning the Grand Prix of Jumping Amsterdam, a class we also supported, in a stunning way. After a technical and very delicate first round of the Anemone Horse Trucks Grand Prix of Amsterdam powered by Stoeterij Sterrehof there were only five clears left for the jump-off. All of them from Dutch origin, a unique fact for an international Grand Prix at this level.

Spectacular jump-off

So before the jump-off we already knew that the national anthem from the Netherlands would be played in the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre. The big question was: for who? Marc had the advantage of being the last starter. He knew what the benchmark was, performed by Michel Hendrix and Baileys. Already in the first line Marc and Calimero made one stride less and the time won was not given out of hands in the spectacular continuation of their jump-off. An excited Marc tried to throw his helmet towards Ivo and Ellen Campagne but there he missed the precision he showed seconds before 😊.

The victory in Amsterdam means that Marc and Calimero have reached within one year great successes in the, from a historical perspective, four main shows in the Netherlands. Earlier the two performed brilliantly at Indoor Brabant (3^rd), the CHIO Rotterdam (3^rd) and at the National Championship (1^st).

‘What a great show’

After his great performance Marc spoke very enthusiastically about his still only eleven years old top horse: ‘For sure it’s unbelievable what Calimero does. He is a phenomenal show jumping machine! Today I had a little advantage of being the last rider between my friends and colleagues in the jump-off and then it’s great that it works out like this. I am really thrilled. My first victory in the Grand Prix of Amsterdam which is also sponsored by Sterrehof Stud and Anemone Horse Trucks. And what a great show it was. The whole public was even still there during the prize giving ceremony.’

Sterrehof’s Dante

Beside the historical performance from Marc and Calimero there was also a debut at 1.60m level of Julia and Sterrehof’s Dante. The only ten year old mare already had a very good show in Amsterdam and was admittedly not able to stay without penalty points in the difficult first round but again showed her quality. Marc: ‘Dante has very little experience at this level. But she will for sure get there with Julia. This mare will be able to perform in the biggest classes!’