The second day of the Longines Tops International Arena Summer Classic delivered another unforgettable evening of world-class sport as the CSI4* 1.50m feature class lit up Valkenswaard under the floodlights. With buzzing hospitality, live entertainment and one of the finest equestrian venues in the world providing the perfect backdrop, spectators were treated to a thrilling night of elite competition.

Following his victory in Friday's feature class, Britain's Harry Charles proved he was the rider to beat once again. Partnering the talented Bandit, Charles produced another flawless display to stop the clock in 61.88 seconds, securing back-to-back victories in the biggest class of the day.

As darkness fell across the Longines Tops International Arena, the spectacular floodlit setting created a magical atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the sport. Visitors enjoyed premium hospitality, lively entertainment, boutique shopping and first-class dining throughout the evening, making the Summer Classic as much a lifestyle destination as a sporting showcase. Combined with exceptional footing, unrivalled facilities and a relaxed summer atmosphere, Valkenswaard once again demonstrated why it remains one of Europe's premier equestrian venues.

Germany's Daniel Deusser came closest to denying the British star aboard Bingo Ste Hermelle. Another faultless round in 62.65 seconds earned the former World Number One second place, while Dutch rider Michael Greeve delighted the home crowd by taking third with Rubens after crossing the finish in 64.79 seconds.

Local favourite Harrie Smolders continued his consistent form aboard Estrello Eh Z, finishing fourth with a clear round in 66.91 seconds, while fellow Dutchman Mathijs van Asten completed the top five riding Vedet Dk Z in 67.56 seconds. On form Monaco's Anastasia Nielsen continued her impressive weekend, taking sixth place aboard ESI Rocky in 69.07 seconds, while France's Olivier Perreau added another top-ten finish to his tally with Leopard des Joanins Z, stopping the clock in 71.30 seconds.

The class once again highlighted the incredible depth of international talent on show in Valkenswaard. Just outside the top ten, American Vani Khosla finished 11th aboard Han Solo de Hus, while Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander produced another polished clear with Labantrix to finish 12th. Germany's Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann was the only rider to finish on a single time fault aboard Van Tastic, narrowly missing out on a top placing.

There was no shortage of drama elsewhere in the class. LGCT Champion Gilles Thomas incurred four faults aboard Qiara de Kalvarie, while Luxembourg's Victor Bettendorf also finished on four faults with Extasia Bella by Classic Z. France's rising star Nina Mallevaey collected four faults aboard Dynastie de Beaufour, as did Mexico's Carlos Hank Guerreiro with H5 Shaq Attack. America's Eve Jobs, Dutch ace Willem Greve, and Denis Lynch were among several top riders unable to challenge for the podium, with Lynch electing to retire aboard Junius vd Heffinck Z. 

With momentum firmly on his side after two consecutive feature-class victories, Harry Charles heads into the weekend's remaining competitions as the rider everyone will be looking to beat, with the Summer Classic continuing to deliver outstanding sport and unforgettable evenings at the Longines Tops International Arena.

CSI2* Big Tour - Harrie Smolders Dominates: Adds Another Victory to His List

Big names competed in today's Big Tour, but it was Dutch top rider Harrie Smolders who was faster than everyone else. The 46-year-old rider from Hooge Mierde already has more than 180 wins on his record and could now add another to his long list.

For this competition, he saddled the beautiful 10-year-old Westphalian stallion For Chacco TN (For Pleasure x Chacco-Blue), which he started riding earlier this year. The duo showed perfect cooperation and crossed the finish line in 67.88 seconds. A remarkable performance that once again confirms Smolders as one of the leading show jumpers in the country.

Luxembourg's Victor Bettendorf finished second with a time of 68.03 seconds. He rode a brilliant round with the 12-year-old SF mare Encore Toi du Linon (Kannan x Desir du Chateau), but couldn't quite match Smolders' pace. Denis Lynch, who had already won a competition earlier in the morning, continued his good form and took third place with the BWP stallion Mr. Newman (Cadeau de Muze x Jalisco B) in a time of 68.49 seconds.

CSI2* Medium Tour - Camila Mazza De Benedicto Triumphs in Thrilling Medium Tour with Lightning-Fast Final Round

The Medium Tour riders lined up Saturday morning for the opening competition at the Longines Tops International Arena. A total of 40 combinations started in this against the clock class, where every hundredth of a second counts.

Jordanian rider Ibrahim Hani Bisharat took an early lead as the seventh starter. With the 14-year-old KWPN mare Happyness (Van Gogh x Clinton), he stopped the clock at 34.78 seconds. For a long time, this time appeared unbeatable. Then Irish rider Diarmuid Howley picked up the baton. The 35-year-old Irishman, who rides for Stoeterij Grönwohldhof in Germany, began a crisp round with Cabal VA (HOLST, Asal x Verdi TN). He managed to better Bisharat's time by a minimal margin of 0.02 seconds, finishing in 34.76 seconds.

However, he couldn't enjoy his lead for long. Brazilian rider Camila Mazza De Benedicto showed that it could go considerably faster. Her smooth, almost perfect round with the Hanoverian mare Caramba de Janeiro (Check In x Stolzenberg) delivered an impressive time of 33.31 seconds — well over one second faster than the Irishman. This time proved unbeaten and became the winning time.

Dutch rider Siebe Leemans also presented a nice fast ride. With the nine-year-old gelding Assie Mie Nou Z (ZANG, Aganix du Seigneur x Oklund), he crossed the finish line at 34.17 seconds. That was just a bit too slow for victory, but well enough for a commendable second place.

CSI2* 1.25m - Sara Jane Tracy Claims Narrow Victory

The audience saw 51 combinations enter the ring for the 1* class (1.25m) on Saturday afternoon. Of those, 28 qualified for the jump-off immediately after their faultless first round. The fastest of these 28 was Irish rider Sara Jane Tracy, who crossed the finish line in 30.62 seconds and narrowly claimed victory.

The rider, who recently married Dutch rider and breeder Stefan van Veldhuizen, rides and breeds together with her husband from their own stable. With Nialoma Es (KWPN, Innocent x Flipper d'Elle HN), she was a mere 0.01 seconds faster than Irish top rider Denis Lynch with Anchorman 5 (OS, Andiamo Semilly x Corsari van de Helle). A margin thinner than the blink of an eye, demonstrating just how fierce the competition is in Valkenswaard.

Lynch, who had already claimed victory in another class earlier this morning, once again had to settle for second place. The 50-year-old Irishman remained close to the top once more, confirming his reputation as one of the most consistent riders of the Summer Festival.

Third place went to Belgium's Jordy van Massenhove with Tell me de Regor (BWP, Chacco Blue x Cento) in a time of 31.51 seconds. Van Massenhove, born in 1995, runs his own stable (JVM Stables) together with his partner and international rider Victoria Gulliksen.

CSI1* 1.35m - Lynch Also Claims Victory in 1* Class

Yesterday he won the Big Tour with the 11-year-old Katja, and today he also succeeded in claiming the 1* against the clock class (1.35m). For this competition, he saddled the talented eight-year-old Westphalian stallion Cornet Gold (Cornet Oblonsky x Godolphin).

With a super-fast and smooth round over the jumps, Lynch stopped the clock at 67.27 seconds. A dominant performance that no one in the field could match.

This relegated Mexican rider Martina Franco Stephan to second place. The 24-year-old, who won team silver in 2018 and team gold in 2019 at the North American Junior Championships, led for much of the competition. Her fluid round with the SF gelding Ecuador de Beaufour (Nonstop x Diamant de Semilly) delivered a time of 68.10 seconds — but it proved insufficient against Lynch's pace.

At the end of the class, it was once again the Dutch rider Siebe Leemans who made a good attempt to claim victory, but fell slightly short on speed. With the 11-year-old KWPN mare Karamella (Plot Blue x Damiro B), he crossed the finish line in 68.56 seconds. A commendable third place. With his second victory, Lynch once again underlines his exceptional form during this Summer Festival in Valkenswaard.

CSI1* 1.10m - Morgane Claeys Delivers Dramatic Final Victoryom CSI1* 1.15m

The last could be the first in this thrilling CSI1* 1.15m class against the clock. Belgian rider Morgane Claeys entered the arena as the very last starter and came, saw and conquered. With a super-fast and smooth round, she crossed the finish line in 58.22 seconds with the 15-year-old KWPN mare Gominka L. A tremendous performance, and the rider was incredibly happy with the victory: "I'm so proud of her!"

Yesterday's winner, Dutch rider Rosanne Janssen, finished second and third today. She achieved her fastest time with the 10-year-old KWPN mare Larizona in 58.83 seconds — just 61 hundredths of a second behind Claeys. With her winning horse from yesterday, Caprice K (ZANG, s. Casago), she crossed the finish line in 59.86 seconds. A double podium placing shows that Janssen is in excellent form during this Summer Festival.

Young Horses - Erika Lickhammer-Van Helmond Triumphs in Young Horses Class

Swedish top rider Erika Lickhammer-Van Helmond is in good form in Valkenswaard at the Longines Tops International Arena. This afternoon, she won the Young Horses class in a competition where time played a crucial role.

Lickhammer-Van Helmond, who moved from Sweden to southern Netherlands in 2005, runs VHL Stables in Asten together with her partner Joris van Helmond. There she breeds young horses, provides training, and coaches other riders. With her home-bred seven-year-old AES gelding Zaccio VHL (H.Zambaccio x Vigo d'Arsouilles), she stopped the clock at 66.23 seconds. An impressive performance that demonstrates her work with young horses is bearing fruit.

Luxembourg's Victor Bettendorf finished second with the seven-year-old Jumbo la Roque (SF, Mylord Carthago HN x Untouchable) in a time of 67.00 seconds. Bettendorf is an experienced rider who began riding at four years old. He trained horses for years at Haras de la Roque in Normandy.

Third place went to Irish rider Diarmuid Howley with the seven-year-old grey Malia VA (HOLST, Cooper VA x Kannan) in 67.13 seconds. Howley is based in Germany and resides in Hamburg at Gestüt Grönwohldhof. With three different nationalities on the podium, the Young Horses class once again showcased the international level that Valkenswaard attracts — demonstrating that young horse competitions hold an important place at the Summer Festival.

FULL RESULTS