Nanna Skodborg Merrald wins Grand Prix Special
The CDIO5* Grand Prix Special was won today by Danish rider Nanna Skodborg Merrald with the stallion Blue Hors Don Olymbrio. Patrik Kittel (SWE) finished in second place with Touch Down, and British rider Becky Moody took third with the ten-year-old KWPN horse Jager Bomb.
It was Nanna Skodborg Merrald's first time competing in Rotterdam. Riding her sixteen-year-old Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, she delivered a solid performance that the judges unanimously awarded first place, with a score of 75.915%. The rider herself noted that this was one of their best tests ever. "It was an exciting competition with Patrik, and it was also nice to see Edward back in the ring. The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic, it was impressive but Don Olymbrio stayed very focused with me. I couldn’t ask for more, he did amazingly well tonight." For the Danish riders, CHIO Rotterdam also serves as an observation moment for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Patrik Kittel rode the 12-year-old Touch Down to a score of 75.106%, and Becky Moody's test with Jager Bomb was rewarded with 74.681%. The best Dutch rider was Edward Gal, who finished in fourth place with GLOCK's Total US, scoring 73.149%.