MET II 2025: Giavanna Rinaldi wins the Golf Resort Grand Prix
Giavanna Rinaldi (USA) and the 13-year-old stallion Mijnheer van de Lentamel (Emerald x Toulon) won Sunday’s CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova, Spain.
The first week of competition during the second part of Spring MET 2025 in Oliva Nova concluded on Sunday with the CSI2* Grand Prix, where fifteen horse-and-rider combinations from the 57 at start cleared the first-round track set by Elio Travagliati (ITA) and joined the deciding jump-off.
With a time of 37.31 seconds in the jump-off, Rinaldi snatched the win from Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) and Rockwell RC (Kannan x Quidam) who had to settle for the runner-up spot after stopping the clock on 37.86. Mathieu Guery (BEL) – who had a great week in Oliva Nova, taking four wins – and Falko Ste Hermelle (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Andiamo) completed the podium in third after clocking a time of 37.94, followed by Marine Scauflaire (BEL) and Cuba Libre de Nevada Z (Charlekijn van T&L x Thunder vd Zuuthoeve) in fourth in 40.00 and Jörg Naeve (GER) aboard Benur du Romet (Balou du Rouet x Damour) in fifth in 40.22.
“My horse Sir – as we call him in the stable – was totally on it today,” Rinaldi said afterwards. “I could feel that he was itching for a win all week. All I had to do was let him have it, he knows exactly what he needs to do. I had a really good feeling the whole week with him, he is feeling at his best at the moment.”
“I thought the jump-off suited me perfectly,” she continued. “He doesn’t have the biggest stride in the world, so I use his natural speed to my advantage. I don’t usually worry too much about the numbers with him, it is more about keeping it smooth and letting him go. I want to thank the whole team at Ashford Farm, especially Enda Carroll and Michael Cristofoletti for always giving me guidance and support, and to his groom Leah Copperwheat and everybody else involved for a cool and special day – our first Grand Prix win in Oliva.”
“I really enjoy this show, it is one of my favourites to come to,” Rinaldi said about the venue in Oliva Nova. “Everything is so well done; the main ring is incredible as well as all the other arenas. We enjoy coming here, it is a good build-up towards the summer.”
Spring MET II continues next week and runs until March 3rd, followed by MET III in March and MET IV in April.
Results HERE