GP-silver for Born To Win AP Z Lummen

While there was a lot of international action outside our borders, we were able to enjoy the second week of the spring tour at Jumping Lummen on Belgian soil last weekend. The Zangersheide horses managed to provide many great performances and the most eye-catching name was undoubtedly that of the 13-year-old grey mare Born To Win AP Z, a daughter of Bentley van de Heffinck and Toulon who was bred by Piet Calmeyn . Born To Win AP Z has been a top combination with the Belgian rider Frédéric Vernaet for several years now and they proved that once again last weekend. After winning the 1.45m main class during the opening day on Friday, there was also a leading role for the duo during the CSI2* GP on Sunday. In a jump-off for which 12 combinations were able to qualify, Vernaet and Born To Win AP Z again secured a flawless performance and this was good for 2nd place in the ranking.

During the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Saturday, it was his compatriot Tim Prouvé who managed to secure a blue/yellow victory with the 9-year-old chestnut mare Ackila DV Z, a daughter of Aktion Pur Z who was bred by Pieter Devos out of his former GP mare Tekila D (Gotspe Z). Prouvé and Ackila DV Z were one of the 15 combinations that managed to advance to the jump-off and in that they secured the victory with a clear round in 39.68 seconds.

With this performance they had a small lead over another Belgian combination with Sacha Beghuin and the 11-year-old stallion Elcup Van Beek II Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Armitage – B: Guido Herrijgers), with whom he became 2nd during the CSI3* GP of Opglabbeek earlier this month. Beghuin and Ecup Van Beek II Z crossed the finish line in 39.97 seconds in the jump-off and secured again a 2nd place. Moreover, it was already the second top ranking of the weekend for the duo, because during the opening day on Friday they had also become 6th in the 1.45m main class. Nick Vrins and the 8-year-old stallion Alaska Z (Asca Z x Utrillo Z – B: Nicky Dilliën and Jean Jordens), who is approved for Studbook Zangersheide, finished 6th in the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Saturday.

It was also a successful weekend for the Estonian lady rider Margareth Eikner and the 8-year-old stallion Corvette 2G Z, a son of Comme Il Faut and Quasimodo vd Molendreef who was bred by Geoffrey Geerts. After Eikner and Corvette 2G Z immediately jumped into the picture during the opening day on Friday with a 3rd place in the 1.40m class, a 5th place followed during the 1.40m class on Sunday.

Who also managed to jump to a 3rd place was the Belgian rider Pieter Devos with his 8-year-old home bred mare Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky x Cicero Z). During the 1.40m class on Saturday they remained clear both in the basic round and in the jump-off and this was also good for a place on the podium. His compatriot Gilles Dunon followed here in 6th place with the 10-year-old grey gelding Comanchero de Poteau Z (Comilfo Plus Z x Coronado – F: PGMBH Hammes), a half-brother of Devos' top mare Claire Z (Clearway).

Finally, during the 1.40m class on Friday, there was a 5th place for the Belgian rider Maxime Tips with the 8-year-old chestnut mare Elixa Hero Z (S&L Exxon Hedonist x Carthago Z – F: Luc Henry). They managed to keep all the poles in the cups in this class against the clock.