Double success for Jules van Hoydonck and Elize Z

Besides the various international competitions outside our national borders, international show jumping also took place in our own country last weekend, and more specifically at the Hazebroek family's Azelhof in Lier. There, the first week of the Autumn Tour 2024 took place, where several Z-horses again gave their best and ensured several victories and top placings.

With two victories, the most attention undoubtedly went to young Belgian rider Jules van Hoydonck and the 11-year-old chestnut mare Elize Z, with whom he managed to add no less than 14 international classes to his record of achievements earlier this year. Elize Z was bred by Kris Van Kerckhove and is a daughter of Elvis Ter Putte combined with Prince Royal. Van Hoydonck and Elize Z immediately started their competition on Thursday with a victory in the 1.35m opening class and the successful duo was also stronger than the competition in the 1.40m class on Friday!

On Saturday morning there was also a win for Dutchman Piet Raijmakers Jr. and the 9-year-old mare Van Schijndel's Alaska Ter Saleghem Z, a daughter of the recently deceased Aktion Pur Z and Vagabond de la Pomme bred by Stefanie and Steven De Smedt. In the 1.35m class against the clock, they sped to the finishing line in 59.53 seconds, making them the only combination to manage to keep the chrono under 60 seconds. Belgian rider Chanel de Baets captured ^3rd place in this class with the 13-year-old gelding Dukaat Van Herkenrode Z (Dicasi O.H. x Darco - B: Cynthia Gilissen).

Another notable combination was Belgian rider Dieter Vermeiren and his 14-year-old mare Piepke 111 Z, a daughter of Plot Blue and Lord who, as her name already suggests, was bred by Stud 111. Vermeiren and Piepke 111 immediately finished in ^3rd place in the 1.35m opening class on Thursday and on Sunday they closed their competition with a win in the 1.35m morning class.

Also in these two 1.35m classes, Vermeiren's compatriot Mike Lepiemme managed to jump twice in the prizes on the 8-year-old stallion Don Di Arezzo Z, a son of our black pearl Dominator 2000 Z and Coriano Z bred by Gilles De Muynck. After a ^4th place on Thursday, they managed to secure a handsome^2nd place on Sunday morning. In the 1.35m class on Saturday there was also a ^4th place for Belgian rider Stéphanie Andries with the 8-year-old mare Dilithya De Spalbec Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Faust Z - B: Nyree Auwerix).

On Friday, the main class of the day was, of course, the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test, in which Belgian Yves Vanderhasselt managed to secure a top ranking with the 9-year-old gelding Denzelnoor Z, a son of Denzel van 't Meulenhof Z and Querlybet Hero from the J. van Kilsdonk breeding farm. Both in the basic round and the jump-off, Vanderhasselt and Denzelnoor Z kept all the balls in the reels and this resulted in^2nd place in the ranking.

His compatriot Kim Thiry was also one of the winners with the 11-year-old gelding Chayne Z (Clarissimo Z x Chellano Z), bred by J. Hoogers. They too provided a nice and clear round twice, taking ^4th place. The day before, Thiry and Chayne Z had also started their competition with a ^10th place in the 1.40m class.

Last but not least, Yves Vanderhasselt's older brother Christophe also managed to secure a place on the podium with the 12-year-old grey gelding Arthuro de Sarlar Z (Breemeersen Adorado x Obourg - B: André Tavernier). During the 1.40m class on Thursday, they too were not to be caught out on any faults and this performance also earned them a nice^2nd place in the standings.