Víctor Bettendorf brilliant winner of the CSI4* GP Casas Novas

Credits: Oxer Sport / CSI A Coruña

The Casas Novas Grand Prix concluded the 2024 edition of the CSI4* A Coruña with a brilliant victory for Víctor Bettendorf riding “Foxy de la Roque.” The rider of Luxembourg surpassed the local u-25 rider Diego Ramos Maneiro.

The Casas Novas Grand Prix was a very tough, complicated class, with obstacles of 1.60 meters high. The competition, with a prize pool of 105,500€, was meticulously designed by the course director, Javier Trenor. The triple Longines combination of oxer-oxer-vertical and the final line, which included a delicate plank in the double that opened it, caused a significant number of faults.

The class was contested over two rounds, with only six of the 42 participants completing the first round without penalties. Among them was the young Spanish rider, Diego Ramos Maneiro, who has been training in Germany first and now in Belgium, under the guidance of great figures in the sport such as Ludger Beerbaum and Jos Lansink.

The local u-25 rider entered the second round with zero points from the first after a magnificent ride on “Encantado C’SG.” In the second round, he gave it his all, confident in his ability to produce another clear round. He succeeded, achieving a time of 43.47 seconds, putting him at the top of the provisional leaderboard.

Competing against Olympic riders, aspiring for victory was not easy, but Diego Ramos held the lead while experienced professionals like Twomey, Kevin Staut, and Olivier Perreau made mistakes. In the end, it was Víctor Bettendorf who did not make any fault, with his promising mare “Foxy de la Roque” and a time of 39.28 seconds, securing the victory.

Swedish rider Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli also went clear but with a slower time than Ramos Maneiro, consolidating the Spanish rider’s second-place, making the dream of every young rider aspiring to reality. A dream realized in his city, in front of his crowd.

Irish rider Billy Twomey with “Chat Botte E.D.” finished in fourth position, and Spanish rider Armando Trapote with “Cochiloco PS” in fifth. 

The presentation of the Casas Novas Grand Prix trophy to the winner, conducted by Flora Pérez, marked the end of the summer edition of the CSI A Coruña 2024. This edition serves as a prelude to the Senior European Championship to be held in a year at the Casas Novas in 2025. Then, the elite of international equestrian sports will return to A Coruña.

The afternoon program on this closing day of the CSI4* began with a speed class, Baremo C, the Prosegur Security Trophy, in which 25 pairs took part. The fastest round was by Sergio Álvarez Moya, the only participant to cross the finish line in less than 60 seconds.

The time achieved by the Spanish rider, was 59.44 seconds, riding the 9-year-old Dutch horse “Koningin.”

Álvarez Moya’s strongest rival was the number one Spanish rider in the FEI Ranking, Eduardo Álvarez Aznar. He rode the 11-year-old French horse “D’Orient Batilly,” stopping the clock at 60.23 seconds, securing second place in the final standings.

Joining the two Spanish riders on the podium was the Saudi Arabian rider Abdullah Alsharbatly, who completed the class on “Fiumicino van de Kalevallei” in 60.56 seconds.

The winner received the Prosegur Trophy from José Santos Cabado, director of the northern area of Prosegur.

Press release Casas Novas