Success in Oliva

The European indoor season is currently still running at full speed, but the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour of Oliva, Spain, already kicked off the new outdoor season last weekend. In addition, a few Zangersheide horses managed to jump into the spotlights with some nice results. For example, on Friday during the 1.45m high Longines Ranking class there was a victory for the Dutch rider Johnny Pals with the 12-year-old grey mare Beau van de Hagenhorst Z, a daughter of Big Star Jr K Z and Coronado 3 who was bred by his father-in-law H. Verhagen and with whom Pals won the CSI2* GP of Opglabbeek two months ago. In a class against the clock, Pals finished in a time of 67.68 seconds, which put him just under half a second ahead of the competition.

Another striking combination in Oliva was the Spanish rider Mariano Martinez Bastida with the 10-year-old stallion Quark de Preuilly Z, a son of Quaprice Boimargot Quincy and Cento who was bred by Soc. Fermiere de Preuilly. After finishing sixth on Friday during the 1.45m Longines Ranking class, they jumped to a podium place in the CSI2* GP on Sunday. In a jump-off for which sixteen combinations were able to qualify, Martinez Bastida and Quark de Preuilly Z again remained clear and with a time of 42.66 seconds they took third place in the ranking.

With that performance they did one place better than the Belgian lady rider Gudrun Patteet with her 13-year-old mare Sea Coast Donna Vd Windeweg Z (Diamant de Semilly x Indoctro – B: Luc Deknudt). They also managed to ensure a clear round in the jump-off, but they crossed the finish line in 43.28 seconds. There was also a sixth place for the French lady rider Alexa Ferrer with the 12-year-old mare Naiade d'Elsendam Z (Nabab de Rêve x Quattro B – B: François Verhulst). Here too, all the poles stayed neatly in the cups.

During the Gold 1.40m class on Sunday morning we also saw two Zangersheide horses in the top ten of the ranking. Seventh place was for the British rider Jason Smith with the 10-year-old Warrior de Pleville Z (Winningmood van de Arenberg x Captain Paul I – B: SARL Elevage de Pleville) and eighth place for the Belgian rider Virginie Thonon with the 14 -year-old gelding Spike vd Withoeve Z (Sting vd Withoeve x Rival Z –B: De Withoeve LV). Both combinations managed to keep it clear in both the 1st phase and the 2nd phase.

The Swiss rider Anthony Bourquard was placed twice in Oliva with the 11-year-old mare Olympie De Lessac Z (Origan De Lessac x Krug de Meia Lua – B: SARL Les Ecuries de Lessac). Both on Saturday and Sunday this duo jumped to a second place during the Gold 1.30m class.

During the opening day on Thursday, the Italian rider Giampiero Garofalo jumped to a podiumplace with the 9-year-old grey gelding Dynamite vh Legita Hof Z (Diamant de Semilly x Berlin – B: Eddy Guisson). During the Gold 1.40m class they were clear twice and this was good for a third place in the ranking. In the second part of this class there was a fourth place for the Irish rider Kevin Thornton with the 10 year old gelding Texas KDW Z (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Vigo d'Arsouilles – B: KDW Horses BVBA) and a seventh place for the French rider Adelaide Lautie with the 9-year-old mare I'm Pleasure Z (Inshallah de Muze x For Pleasure – B: Van Dijck BVBA).

Finally, there was also a Gold 1.45m class on the program on Thursday and in this class was also a seventh place for the Bulgarian rider Konstantin E. van Damme with the 12 years old gelding Caesar Z (Cancara Z x Heartbreaker – B: Bethy Noens).