Niels Bruynseels Wins His First Major, No One Is More Disappointed than Marcus Ehning

Goosebumps.

That’s what Marcus Ehning’s precisely executed roll back to the final oxer in the Rolex Grand Prix at the Dutch Masters in Den Bosch, Netherlands on Sunday will give you. (Skip to the 1:17 mark in the video below to see it.) One 13 riders to qualify for the jump off in the first equestrian Major of the year the German master stopped the clock at 37.80 seconds with Cornado NRW.

Alas, it wasn’t enough for the win.

Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels, the final rider to challenge the test set by course designer Louis Konickx (NED), shaved seven hundredths of a second off Ehning’s time with Gancia de Muze to claim the victory. (Jump to the 1:42 mark his Enhing’s unreserved disappointment.)

“I have to say to it was a very, very good course, especially for me!” said the 35-year-old Bruynseels. “Thirteen riders in the jump-off allowed me to see a few riders as I was last to go and I knew I had to be really fast, but I also knew I had a very fast horse. I took a few big risks but it went well.”

Grabby hands! Featuing Niels Bruynseels. ©Rolex/ Merrick Haydon

With his first ever Major title in the bag, Bruynseels now becomes the new Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping live contender. His next stop: CHIO Aachen in July.

“Aachen is the next stop in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, and of course it is one of my goals now, to go there and win,” said the world #14.

Ehning was relegated to second. Harrie Smolders (NED) and Emerald took third.