Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders Scores a Double Dutch Treat at the Washington International Horse Show

Washington, D.C. – October 28, 2005 – Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands hit the big time twice on his first trip to the Washington International Horse Show, taking both the $25,000 Accumulator class on Friday afternoon and then topping the huge wall at 7’4” to win the $25,000 AOL.com Puissance on Friday night.

A crowd of over 9,500 excited fans watched as nine challengers negotiated the first round of competition in the Puissance. The class is scored under FEI Art. 262.2.

The field was reduced by one when Kim Farlinger of Canada and Laforza bowed out in the first round, failing to clear the wall at 5’11”.

In the first jump-off, with the big wall now set at 6’5 ½” (1.96m), the field was further reduced by three as Kelly Small and Black Ice, McLain Ward with Santa Monica Millenium and defending champion Mark Leone and Diamond Safari all failed to clear the top of wall.

Five competitors then advanced to the second jump-off, and all five failed when the wall was raised to 6’11 ½” (2.11m). Jimmy Torano and Ruco-Line Van’t Paradys elected to withdraw after a refusal.

When the decision was made to try again, all but Todd Minikus and Game Boy elected to give it a second try at the same height. Harrie Smolders on Verelst Quebec, Secret Love and Aaron Vale and Nick Skelton on Russel all returned, and this time all of them cleared the wall at 6’11 ½” with ease, setting up a fourth and final jump-off.

With the wall now set at a staggering 7’4” (2.22m) and the crowd in a frenzy, Harrie Smolders and Verelst Quebec returned to the ring first. With ease the duo sailed over the giant wall, and the crowd erupted in a cacophony of noise, the likes of which the MCI Center had not seen in years.

Following Smolders, Vale and Skelton both just rubbed the blocks off at the maximum height, sealing the win for the young Dutchman.

“It was amazing,” said Smolders jubilantly. “I went in the class with the idea of only going two rounds. I’ve only had the horse two weeks, but he kept going better and better. And then, what a great finish. He jumped the wall really well,” he said. “He was confident and he gave me a good feeling. Then the crowd got into it and they were super. It was great sport for everybody, especially the big crowd and for the sponsor,” he said.

“I didn’t know what to expect, so I expected nothing, and I got everything,” said a beaming Smolders. “That’s how it goes in this sport sometime.”