Tiffany Foster Wins Top Series Grand Prix CSI3* at Brussels Stephex Masters

Tiffany Foster after winning the Top Series Grand Prix CSI3* at the Brussels Stephex Masters. ph: Stephex Masters

After a fantastic week at the Brussels Stephex Masters in Belgium, Canada’s Tiffany Foster walked away with the lump sum of the winning purse in the Top Series Grand Prix CSI3* and a brand new Q2 presented by Audi.

Foster has been in top form with the 11-year-old gelding Brighton (Contendro II x Quick Star) throughout the entire week. The duo also found victory in Wednesday’s opening class, which counted towards the FEI world ranking.

“I am so happy with Brighton, he jumped so good in all three classes here!” said Foster. “I wish my owners were here, but they are watching from America – and I know they are also really proud of him! This is the second car Brighton has won us!”

In Sunday’s CSI3* grand prix on September 3, 2017,  more ranking points were available for the winner. 37 entries competed in the 1.50m class, with four making it to the jump off round. Foster, last to go in the order, produced a final time of 37.67s to take home the win.

“I think it was a real advantage today to be able to go last, because there were not so many clear rounds,” said Foster. “I know my horse has a quick jump. He is a fast horse and I knew I didn’t necessarily have to take all the risk with the time today. I thought the most important thing was to go clear, so I was able put in one extra stride to the second-last just to make sure. I figured I had gone fast enough at the beginning to take a calculated risk there to the last and slow down a little,” Foster commented on her jump-off.

Only four riders out of the ten in the jump-off managed to jump double clears today, and French rider Guillaume Batillat and Denitha (Vingino x Goodwill) finished as runners-up a little over a second behind Foster. Best of the Belgians was Judy Ann Melchior on Ailina 6 (Chico’s Boy x Cowondo Z) finishing third, while Lucia Le Jeune Vizini had the last double clear to end fourth on Cabalgaro Z (Calvados Z x Caucalis). Fifth went to home rider Dominique Hendrickx, with one down in the jump-off.

It was again jam-packed for the Top Series Grand Prix, with the spectators creating a wonderful atmosphere for horses and riders – and Foster could not praise the organizers enough: “They do a wonderful job here. The team put the full effort into it. Their slogan ‘This is not an event, this is an experience’ is absolutely what it is! It is something all the riders try to put into their calendar, and really look forward to every year,” Foster concluded.

For the full results, visit this link.