The Checkpoint Trophy kicked off the European Show Jumping Championship at Casas Novas.
The 2025 edition of the European Show Jumping Championship kicked off at the Casas Novas Equestrian Centre facilities. It began with the Checkpoint Trophy, the first qualifying competition, which was won by Irish rider Daniel Coyle.
On Wednesday, the first event, the Checkpoint Trophy—a speed class where the clock determines the differences—was held. The margins were incredibly tight, in a closely fought final ranking that saw Irish rider Daniel Coyle take the win. Riding the mare “Legacy,” Coyle edged out Germany’s Richard Vogel on “United Touch S” by just three hundredths of a second, while Britain’s Donald Whitaker finished third on “Millfields Colette.”
Among the Spanish riders, the standout performance came from Armando Trapote with a brilliant “Tornado VS.” Their faultless round earned them 11th place, just narrowly behind the leaders in time, which translates to 1.40 points in the provisional ranking.
The rest of the Spanish team had less impressive results, placing Spain in 11th in the provisional team standings. Great Britain leads the classification with 3.96 points, followed by Germany (4.19) and Belgium (4.61). Spain currently has 15.15 points.
Daniel Coyle, competing solely as an individual, received the Checkpoint Trophy as the winner of this first qualifying round of the European Championship from Mariano Tudela, Vice President of Sales at MAS Worldwide.
Armando Trapote receives additional NH Collection Prize
The event also featured a special prize, sponsored by NH Collection, for the best-ranked Spanish rider. It was awarded to Armando Trapote, who, riding his exceptional “Tornado VS,” placed among the top riders and now emerges as a medal contender. The Spanish rider received the trophy from Raúl Fernández Martín, Director of Operations for the Northern Region.
Second qualifying round to take place Thursday, July 17
On Thursday, July 17, the second qualifying round of the European Championship—both individual and team—will take place at the Casas Novas Equestrian Centre. The event is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM.
An unforgettable opening day for spectators
The opening day also provided countless memorable moments for the public enjoying the incredible facilities at Casas Novas.
Under ideal weather conditions to enjoy this privileged setting, spectators were thrilled by the Checkpoint Trophy and also took in everything surrounding the European Show Jumping Championship: a 100% local gastronomic offering featuring some of the city's most renowned restaurants, stands with branded merchandise—perfect for picking up souvenirs of the competition—and a spectacular atmosphere where nature and attention to detail take center stage.