Ackila DV Z wins the CSI2* Grand Prix of Lier

At the Azelhof in Lier last weekend, most attention was undoubtedly focused on the first leg of the Longines EEF Series, but the Hazebroek family also competed at two-star level. The highlight of this competition was the CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, in which victory coloured blue and yellow after an exciting denouement.

It was Belgian rider Tim Prouvé who took the top prize there with the 11-year-old chestnut mare Ackila DV Z, with the letters DV referring to the breeding of Pieter Devos. Ackila DV Z is a daughter of Aktion Pur Z out of the mare Tekila D (Gotspe Z), who herself jumped at the highest level with Pieter Devos. Prouvé and Ackila DV Z were one of fourteen combinations who managed to get through the basic round unscathed, thus qualifying for the decisive jump-off. In it, they sped to the finish in 35.47 seconds, just over a full second ahead of the rest of the field.

Furthermore, home rider Mathias Hazebroek managed to qualify in this CSI2* Grand Prix with the 11-year-old chestnut gelding Cointreau Vd Wouwerse Velden Z, a son of Cupido Vd Hoefslag Z and Der Senaat 111 bred by Theo Hazebroek. Mathias Hazebroek and Cointreau Vd Wouwerse Velden Z also held clear again in the jump-off and their finishing time of 43.17 seconds was good for ^7th place.

Another notable combination in the CSI2* competition was their compatriot Jules van Hoydonck and the 12-year-old chestnut mare Elize Z, a daughter of Elvis Ter Putte and Prince Royal bred by Kris Van Kerckhove, with whom van Hoydonck already managed to amass an impressive record in the past two years. That record was expanded again last weekend, as van Hoydonck and Elize Z managed to outclass the competition in both the 1.35m class on Thursday and the 1.40m class on Saturday. During the 1.40m class on Friday they were also good for ^3rd place.

Victory in Friday's 1.40m class was for Czech rider Sara Vingralkova and the 12-year-old gelding Damocles From Second Life Z, a son of Diamant de Semilly and Caretano Z bred by Thierry Hendrikx and Sandra Naviaux of Second Life Stables. Vingralkova and Damocles From Second Life Z kept it neatly clear twice and with a finishing time of 22.87 seconds in^2nd phase, they were exactly a full seconds ahead of the competition.

Furthermore, Belgian rider Perry Geryl also managed to secure another victory with the 13-year-old stallion Come To London Z, a son of London and Krunch de Breve bred in the Netherlands by Niels De Bruijn. In the 1.35m morning class on Sunday, Geryl and Come To London Z could not be caught out on any faults in both the^1st and^2nd phases and after a finishing time of 38.06 seconds, they had a comfortable lead of over two full seconds over the other competitors.

But the^2nd place in this section was also taken by a Z-horse thanks to Dutchman Jur Vrieling and the 7-year-old mare Coco de Knocke Z, a breeding product of Arnold Lootens who combined the blood of our grey stallion Cicero Z with that of Action-Breaker. Vrieling and Coco de Knocke Z, also good for an ^8th place on Friday, also kept it clear twice, but needed 40.13 seconds to finish their round.

There were also two placings for Mexican rider Claudia Michel with the 14-year-old gelding U - Gameboy Z, a son of Ugano Sitte and Robin Z from the breeding farm of Helene Derand. In both the 1.35m class on Friday and Sunday, they produced a flawless performance and this earned them ^4th place in the standings twice.

Finally, there were also two combinations that managed a ^3rd place during the opening day on Thursday. For Swedish rider Amanda Ericsson with the 10-year-old mare Ariana Proosthof Z (Arezzo VDL x Warrant - B: Capall Ceysen L.V.), it was during the 1.35m class, while Spaniard Mariano Martinez Bastida and the 12-year-old stallion Quark de Preuilly Z (Quaprice Bois Margot x Cento - B: Soc. Fermiere de Preuilly) gained their podium place during the 1.40m class.