Esra Nelisse: ‘I will never forget this victory’

Esra Nelisse rushed to victory with Dominica in the 1.30m at Jumping Amsterdam this afternoon. The rider rode a super-fast jump-off with the daughter of Diatendro. The duo finished clear in 35.14 seconds. Jort Knobben could not keep up with the seven-year-old KWPN horse Lord Blue Esra. He crossed the finish line in 37.53 seconds. Bobbi Hulsenbeck finished in third place with 14-year-old Balou. The pair rode clear across the finish line in 38.56 seconds.

‘I got the best out of it’

”I think it’s so cool that I won,” said a very enthusiastic Esra Nelisse. “It’s beyond description. I will never forget this victory. I was riding for the first time at Jumping Amsterdam. My plan was to ride the jump-off quietly. When I was doing it, I heard the audience screaming along and then you can’t help but get the best out of it.”

Fantastic atmosphere

Esra finds Jumping Amsterdam an amazing competition. ”Upon entering I saw all the stands and how beautiful everything looked. It has an fantastic atmosphere. The audience completes it.”

Selection competition in Nisse

Esra rode one selection competition for Jumping Amsterdam. ”In Nisse I started with Dominica. I went here with no expectations, but Domenica just jumped very well here.”

”Dominica has never let me down yet”

”Dominica is not my own horse, she belongs to friends of ours. I got the chance to bring her out in competitions and I am very grateful for that. Domenica has given me a lot of chances. She is quite spirited, but in the ring she always wants to work for you. She has never let me down.”

Starting internationally

“I have been riding her since she was four and this year she will be seven. We started in the BB and have grown together to class Z. This is very cool. This year we want to start internationally in the 1.30m and 1.35m classes. We’re going to see how she handles that.”

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