Oliva Nova, Spain – October 19, 2025 – The first part of Autumn MET 2025 in Oliva Nova, Spain, concluded on Sunday with the €57,450 Grand Prix CSI 3* – 1.50m, presented by CHG – Construcciones Hispano Germanas S.A.
Eighth horse-and-rider combinations from the 59 pairs at start cleared the first-round track set by Louis Konickx (NED) and joined the deciding jump-off, where Mathijs van Asten (NED) and the 11-year-old gelding Orlando van de Afspanning (Kartouzo van’T Kathof x Flamenco Desemilly) clocked the winning time of 37.13 seconds.
By the smallest of margins, Mathieu Guery (BEL) and Time-Breaker S Z (Toulon x Calvados) had to settle for second when the clock stopped on 37.33 for the young talent.
Kara Chad (CAN) and Igor GPH (Harley x Crawford 5) completed the podium in third, also finishing below the 38-second mark in 37.72 seconds.
Finishing fourth, Nicola Pohl (GER) and Fee du Val Guerard (Cornet Obolensky x Ryon d’Anzex) crossed the timers in 38.04 seconds, followed by Kim Emmen (NED) aboard Hellix du Seigneur (Curby du Seigneur x Calvaro F.C.) in fifth in 42.06 seconds.
“The course built by Louis was nice and challenging, with a time allowed you had to think about and some lines with quite many options,” van Asten analysed afterwards. “In the end, we had a good group of clears, eight is a nice number in a three-star Grand Prix.”
“I saw Kara go first, and she was fast,” he explained about his tactic for the jump-off. “Then I didn’t look too much anymore, and only saw Mathieu Guery just in front of me and he was even faster. I thought I’ll ride my own round, see how it goes and try to use the qualities of the horse. Sometimes you have these jump-offs where everything goes the way you really planned. I think the turn from number two to three in the jump-off was very tight.”
“Orlando van de Afspanning belongs to a client of mine, Vani Khosla. Sometimes we share the horses a little bit, depending on the shows she does in America. I don’t have much experience with this horse, but he really has a very good mind and wants to do a good job – and he proved that again today. He is a very nice horse.”
“We like Oliva,” van Asten, a regular at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova, said about the venue. “The OC does a great job; they are improving all the time. We are always very happy to come here, it’s good to build up all your horses or get to know new horses, and to see a little bit where you stand at the end of the season. Together with the clients, we always have a great time in Oliva.”
The action at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova resumes on October 28, when the Autumn MET II kicks off for another three weeks of competition, followed by Autumn MET III in December.
Final Results – €57,450 CHG – Construcciones Hispano Germanas Grand Prix CSI 3*
1) Mathijs van Asten (NED) & Orlando van de Afspanning – 0 / 0 – 37.13
2) Mathieu Guéry (BEL) & Timer-Breaker S Z – 0 / 0 – 37.33
3) Kara Chad (CAN) & Igor GPH – 0 / 0 – 37.72
Source: Press Release from the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour
Photos: © MET / http://www.1clicphoto.com by Hervé Bonnaud
