Nedspice Prize goes to Italy's Giulia Martinengo Marquet
Thrilling action until the end on Thursday at CHIO Rotterdam 2026. Italy's Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Scuderia 1918 Calle Deluxe took first place in the Nedspice Prize. Dutchman Harrie Smolders came second, Germany's Richard Vogel third.
As the evening drew in, 54 combinations prepared to partake in the Nedspice Prize, a CSIO5* showjumping competition against the clock with obstacles set at 1,50 metres. As many as 28 combinations managed to produce a penaltyless round. The very fastest riders and horses distinguished themselves by cleverly finding a shortcut in the course by squeezing in between the water jump and the oxer next to it.
After the short break halfway, a succession of new faces took their spot on the preliminary podium. Much to the delight of the home crowd, Harrie Smolders and Devino Weretherbach Z took the lead with 63.71 seconds, besting France's Kevin Staut. But immediately after that, Italy's Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Scuderia 1918 Calle Deluxe dethroned Smolders by setting a time of 62.38 seconds.
The next rider in the line-up, Germany's Richard Vogel, managed to squeeze in between the pair, clocking a time of 63.26 seconden with Uppsala JPS. The combinations that followed tried their hardest, but proved no match for this trio.
Tomorrow, another day of showjumping action awaits at CHIO Rotterdam 2026 with three individual showjumping competitions in the morning in the Rotterdam Arena, in the afternoon followed by the FEI Longines League of Nations.