Univé Prix for Grand Prix winner Indoor Friesland 2022 Willem Greve
The last section of the first international jumping day of Indoor Friesland 2024 is already over. In front of well-filled stands and an enthusiastic audience, a section with a jump-off was ridden over a height of 1.50m, which also counts as a qualification for the Grand Prix on Saturday evening. The tension was in the tail end of the Univé Prix, with the last two riders turning the top three upside down. We had to miss him for a long time, but the twelve-year-old powerhouse Highway TN NOP is back! With Willem Greve in the saddle, of course, he finished clear in a time of 30,55 seconds.
Numbers two and three also managed to stay clear. Second place went to Germany, where Tim Rieskamp-Godeking reached the finish with the fourteen-year-old mare Ib Quaita (Frh Quaid) in 30,80 seconds. Third place also remained in the Netherlands: Leopold van Asten and the eleven-year-old gelding VDL Groep Nino du Roton (Iron Man vd Padenborre) clocked 31,78 seconds.
A boost for the entire team
It took a while before Willem was approachable, as many friends, acquaintances and fans wanted to congratulate him, compliment him or take a picture with him. Willem: “I didn’t expect this right away, although I had hoped for it of course. Highway TN already jumped well in Oliva, and here in Leeuwarden he felt really great. He participated well, and luck was on his side for once – something I could honestly use. The first part of the year everything went exceptionally well, but the second half was not as I had hoped, both sportingly and privately, to put it politely. This victory is a huge boost for the team, and we all needed that. I am extra happy for the people who always support me, such as Team Nijhof. At the beginning of the year they had three horses in the race for Paris, but the rest is known.”
Riders must support Indoor Friesland
“This victory, close to home at our own, purely Dutch Indoor Friesland – I am really very happy. This is a beautiful competition and ideal to start the indoor season. There is also the possibility to ride in Lyon or Spain this weekend, but I think that in times like these you should support organizations in your own country when they stick their necks out. Indoor Friesland is a great project that costs a lot of time, money and effort, and we riders should support that, I think.”
“Tomorrow I’m riding a nine-year-old mare in the heavy test, and Highway TN gets a day off. Saturday night I’ll start him in the Grand Prix.”
Photos: Digishots
Text: Marjan de Wildt – Media Team Indoor Friesland
