Winning debut for Niels Bruynseels at Rolex Grand Prix ‘s Hertogenbosch

Niels Bruynseels made history with his victory in the inaugural Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Dutch Masters event in s’-Hertongebosch, Netherlands.
Under the spotlights of the Brabanthal arena, the world’s best horse and rider combinations, including Italy’s Lorenzo De Luca, Alberto Zorzi and Emanuele Gaudiano, battled for the pinnacle prize of the weekend.
The 13 riders clear and through to the jump off included Scott Brash, the only rider ever to have won the Rolex Grand Slam, which increased the pressure for the competitors.
Eighth to go, Marcus Ehning raised the bar with a speedy clear round in 37.80 secs but it was Bruynseels who
had the fastest clear time, ending in 37.10 seconds atop of his 12-year-old mare Gancia de Muze. It was the first ever Rolex Major win for the 35-year-old Belgian, who will look to extend his bid at Aachen in July. Harrie Smolders completed the stage for his own crowd with Emerald.
Rolex Grand Prix s’-Hertongebosch 2018 standings:
1. Niels Bruynseels (BEL) riding Gancia de Muze
2. Marcus Ehning (GER) riding Cornado NRW
3. Harrie Smolders (NED) riding Emerald
4. Bertram Allen (IRL) riding Gin Chin van het Lindenhof
5. Jur Vrieling (NED) riding VDL Glasgow VH Merelsnest N.O.P.
6. Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) riding IDI Utopia
7. Luciana Diniz (POR) riding Fit for Fun 13
8. Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) riding Mary Lou 194
9. Steve Guerdat (SUI) riding Bianca
10. Scott Brash (GBR) riding Ursula XII
Press Release Rolex The Dutch Masters
Photo: Niels Bruynseels BEL Rolex Grand Prix s’-Hertongebosch 2018 winner credits Rolex & Ashley Neuhof