Withney and Uletta take a good start at Mechelen, They both rank 4th!
The 1.40 m course Price Nekkerhal was the opening course for the CSI *****-riders. For many, it became a "practice round", Patrik doesn’t do practice rounds in Mechelen, but wants to deliver a good result if possible. He could count on the good will of Uletta, daughter of Cento Lano.Sometimes our Uletta wants to do too spectacular, so she loses some time in the air. However, a fine flawless and smooth circulation, good for 4th place. The victory went to the British rider Guy Williams with a Belgian horse Bijou vd Vijfheide.
The 1.50 m KBC insurance course was the first CSI ***** test that accounted for the FEI-ranking, so also nicely endowed. Here were no longer driven practice rounds, and 19 combinations qualified for the jump-off.
Similarly, Patrik with our Withney!! He had to immediately as 2nd in in the jump-off. His time of 34.62 seconds long remained good for the lead, until Harry Smolders and Regina. Everyone knows that they can go super-fast, but still Harry needed also more than 34 seconds... Harry would no longer give this leadership position from hands. Still 2 horsemen burrowed themself between Harry and Patrik. Not the least; the former World Cup winner for Japan was in Mechelen; Eiken Sato (Esperante). On a 3rd place nobody less than Olympic champion Steve Guerdat (Chips).
Just no podium places for Patrik today, but 2 only but very very good rounds, where we can be satisfied with.
