Ernie Of Greenhill Z shines in the CSI2* GP of Villamoura

The Zangersheide horses continue to provide strong performances on the 6-week during Champions Tour at the Villamoura Equestrian Center, Portugal. A week after the Grand Prix victory of the British lady rider Lily Attwood and her 13-year-old gelding Cor-Leon Vd Vlierbeek Z (Calvaro F.C. x Omar – B: Chris Anné and Eva De Meyer), we also saw a Zangersheide horse on the GP podium last weekend. This week the silver went to the British rider Guy Williams with the 11-year-old stallion Ernie Of Greenhill Z, a son of Emerald van 't Ruytershof and Caretino who was bred in Belgium by Philip Gysbrechts. Williams and Ernie Of Greenhill Z were one of only 7 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off and in that jump-off they once again managed to keep all the poles in the cups. They managed to stop the clock in 41.94 seconds and this performance earned them a 2nd place in the rankings.

Next to Guy Williams and his Ernie Of Greenhill Z, we also saw 2 other Zangersheide horses in the jump-off. For example, 5th place went to the Danish lady rider Benedkeek Rie Truelsen with the 17-year-old mare Cassina Z (Cassini I x Voltaire – B: Franz-J. Jansen) and 6th place went to the British rider Oliver Fletcher with the 11-year-old gelding Hello William (ex Willie Wonka LVS Z - Waldo Van Dungen x Stakkato – B: Lissiva Stud Farm). Both had to deal with a 4 penalty points in the jump-off.

During the 1.45m high Longines Ranking class on Saturday, the Brazilian rider Luiz Felipe Cortizo Gonçalves De Azevedo Filho once again jumped into the spotlight with the 8-year-old chestnut gelding Click Clack Vdc Z, a son of our chestnut stallion Comilfo Plus Z and Indian Gold Van Castershoeve who was bred by Joke Mardaga. In a class against the clock, they kept it clear and this performance earned them a 9th place in the rankings.

A day earlier, it was the Luxembourgish rider Victor Bettendorf and his 11-year-old grey gelding Simolo de la Roque Z (Spartacus TN x Casall ASK – B: Alexandrine Hecart) who ensured blue and yellow success during the 1.45m high Longines Ranking class. In a jump-off for which 12 combinations were able to qualify, they managed to set the fastest time, but due to a fault along the way they ultimately had to settle for 6th place in the rankings.

Furthermore, the Belgian rider Constant van Paesschen also managed to achieve some nice performances with the 12-year-old stallion Virocondo Z, a son of Va-Vite and Lys de Darmen who was bred by Jos Ceulemans and Britt Vanluijten. Van Paescchen and Virocondo Z started on both Thursday and Friday during a 1.40m class and this resulted in a 4th place in the rankings twice. During the 1.40m class on Thursday, Van Paesschen also jumped to an 8th place with the 9-year-old mare Kannavara Z (Kannan x Contender – F: Dave Blyau).

Finally, Van Paesschen's compatriot Thomas De Wit was also placed twice on Thursday. For example, he finished 9th during the 1.40m class with the 8-year-old mare Haiti DW Z (Scuderia 1918 Halifax van het Kluizebos x Cicero Z) and 7th during the 1.45m class with the 12-year-old stallion Tools DW Z (Toulon x Cicero Z). ). Both Haiti DW Z and Tools DW Z were bred by Thomas De Wit himself.