Constant van Paesschen and Kannavara Z win the CSI2* GP of Lier

Besides the various competitions outside our national borders, there was of course also international action at home last weekend, and this at the Hazebroek family's Azelhof in Lier. It was Belgian rider Constant van Paesschen who managed to claim victory with his 10-year-old mare Kannavara Z, a breeding product of Dave Blyau and a daughter of Kannan combined with the blood of Contender. Van Paesschen and Kannavara Z were also good for^2nd place in the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Friday and managed to qualify for the jump-off at the CSI2* GP together with 10 other combinations. In it, they again kept it neatly clear and with a convincing finishing time of 40.35 seconds, they were more than 2 full seconds ahead of the competition.

On Saturday, Paesschen's compatriot Christophe Vanderhasselt managed to clinch a victory with the 12-year-old grey gelding Arthuro de Sarlar Z, a son of Breemeersen Adorado and Obourg bred by André Tavernier, with whom Vanderhasselt had also put in a strong performance in the previous days with ^5th place on both Thursday and Friday. In the 1.40m morning class, Vanderhasselt and Arthuro de Sarlar Z managed to stay clear in both the^1st and^2nd phases and they too had a comfortable lead of over a full second over the competition with their finishing time of 35.13 seconds.

Also on Saturday, another 1.45m Longines Ranking class was on the programme in Lier and in it we saw no fewer than two Zangersheide horses shine on the podium.^Second place went to French rider Xavier Hazebroucq with the 9-year-old chestnut stallion Cordillo Van Den Bosrand Z, a son of Comme Il Faut and Padinus bred by Luc Huyghe. In a class against the clock, Hazebroucq and Cordillo Van Den Bosrand Z crossed the finish line in 69.36 seconds and this performance earned them^2nd place in the standings. However, Canadian rider Kara Chad was also able to join them on the podium with the 9-year-old chestnut mare Play It Loud Z, a daughter of President and Nonstop from the breeding farm of Finca Horses B.V.. They too provided a flawless round, but it took them 69.46 seconds to complete their run.

Another notable combination was de Hazebroucq's compatriot Robinson Maupiler with the 12-year-old gelding Inzaghi Z, a breeding product of Koen Van Laer who combined the blood of I Am Moerhoeve's Star with that of Chellano Z. Maupiler and Inzaghi Z started their competition with a ^4th place during the 1.40m class on Thursday and during the Longines Ranking Test on Saturday they managed to secure a ^6th place in the rankings.

Finally, it was also a successful competition in Lier for Roy Van Beek with the 9-year-old mare Celebrity - H, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and VDL Groep No Limit, who was born as Celebrity From Second Life Z by breeders Thierry Hendrikx and Sandra Naviaux of Second Life Stables BV. During the opening day on Thursday, Van Beek and Celebrity - H were immediately good for a^2nd place in the 1.35m class and a day later they took the top prize in the 1.40m class in the morning. With a clear^2nd phase in 27.25 seconds, they were then more than half a second ahead of the competition.