Luke Dee (NZL) rides Gangster WW. File Photo Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
Luke Dee and Gangster WW are the stars of the weekend for New Zealand with a super win in the Stal Hendrix CSI3* 1.55m Grand Prix at JPM International at Kessel in The Netherlands.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said a very happy Luke.
Forty-eight started the class with seven coming back for the jump-off where Luke, as the last to go, flew home to take the win over a second faster than second placed Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) aboard Be Blue.
“I have been bridesmaid more times than I care to count so I am stoked to get this done. Gangster fully deserves this. It was a tough class but I was fortunate to be the last to go in the jump-off and knew what I had to do.” It proved to be a very tough course with eight retirements and three eliminations in the opening round.
The show is a special one for Luke. He and Gangster were third there last year in the same class and he trains with Emile Hendrix, whose show it is. “It really is incredible.”
The next outing for the Kiwi combo will be Rotterdam in three weeks. “I am wanting to do 5* shows on grass in preparation for the World Championships. It is difficult to get into shows here but hopefully this win helps.”
Across in the Americas, Uma O’Neill and Katie Laurie both had good outings at Thunderbird in California, in the $117,000 FEI CSIO4* 1.55m Grand Prix. Uma O’Neill and Luigi D’Eclipse were fourth in the 23-strong class, coming home double clear in 40.51 seconds with birthday gal Katie Laurie aboard ZF Chacco Rio fifth with four faults in their 43.95 second jump-off. Earlier in the show, Katie and Chacco Rio placed fifth in the $31,000 FEI CSI4* 1.5m Nations Welcome Qualifier.
RESULTS
JPM International
Thunderbird, USA
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
2nd June 2026