Ruben Romp and Picasso Vd Zwartbleshoeve best in the CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix at Spring MET III 2024

Ruben Romp (NED) and Picasso Vd Zwartebleshoeve (Cornet Obolensky x Zidane) won the CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova as the second week of Spring MET III 2024 in Oliva Nova, Spain, concluded on Sunday. 
 
Five pairs out of the 47 horse-and-rider-combinations at start in Sunday’s CSI3* Grand Prix cleared the first-round track set by Dutch mastermind Louis Konickx. In the jump-off, it was Romp and the 9-year-old Picasso Vd Zwartebleshoeve who clocked the fastest time – taking the win in 38.34 ahead of Pieter Clemens (BEL) and Ehllo d’Argouges (Canturo Bois Margot x Opium de Talma) in second in 38.77. 
 
“It was a proper course,” Romp commented on the first-round track afterwards. “My horse jumped really good, even though he does not have so much experience on this level – but he was the star today. For the jump-off, I saw the first three and they were all quite fast, especially Pieter. My horse covers ground very easily, he has a big stride and he can also shorten easily, and to the last one I saw a very flat distance but I did not want to take that risk, so I pulled for one more and kept the poles up – so I was lucky today.” 
 
“Picasso is by Cornet Obolensky, and I have had him now for one and a half years. Last year, as an eight-year-old, he already did some good classes, he did the Sires of the World in Lanaken and then during the winter I just kept him going. Here in Oliva he jumped a three-star Grand Prix already during the previous tour and he did it really good. Today he was in top form!” 

. “The conditions here are super,” Romp said about the venue in Oliva Nova. “They have really good course builders, there are many horses here but not too many, which I find a positive thing and they really do their best to keep it all tidy, clean and comfortable for everyone – first of all for the horses but also for the people. Over the years, I have been here almost every year for one tour, last year I was here for the Autumn Tour as well, which I really liked – I am always happy to come back.” 
 
Joseph Clayton (GBR) and Gentlemen vh Veldhof (Quite Easy 958 x Calido I) placed third in 39.85, while Hilmar Meyer (GER) and Orion Ter Doorn (Elvis Ter Putte x Lord Z) finished fourth in 40.27 and Frederic Vernaet (BEL) aboard Okina van de Bien (Toulon x Blue Boy V. Berkenbroeck) fifth with a fence down in 38.40. 

Spring MET III continues next week and runs until March 24, followed by Spring MET IV in April. 

Click here for full results.

For more information, visit metoliva.com

Press release MET Oliva III 2024