Ernie Of Greenhill Z wins the CSI2* GP of Opglabbeek

In Belgium last weekend there was not only the ^10th edition of the Brussels Stephex Masters in Wolvertem, but also in Opglabbeek's Sentower Park from Thursday to Saturday there was plenty of international show jumping to enjoy.

The highlight of the weekend was the CSI2* GP on Saturday afternoon, in which victory was blue and yellow. It was Belgian rider Alexander Housen who was the overall winner with the 12-year-old stallion Ernie Of Greenhill Z, a son of Emerald van 't Ruytershof and Caretino who was bred by Philip Gysbrechts and who until a few weeks ago was ridden by British rider Guy Williams. Housen and Ernie Of Greenhill Z also jumped to a great ^4th place in the 1.40m class on Friday and in the Grand Prix they were one of six combinations to secure a place in the jump-off. In that, the newcomer combination once again managed to keep their cool and with a finishing time of 39.18 seconds, they had a small lead of 4 hundredths of a second over the competition.

Besides Alexander Housen's victory with Ernie Of Greenhill Z, this Grand Prix also saw a second Z-horse in the top 5 of the rankings. Indeed, ^5th place was for Italian rider Filippo Tabarini and the 9-year-old stallion Creme de La Creme Z, a son of Cornet Obolensky and Carthago Z out of Ryan Carmel's breeding. Tabarini and Creme de La Creme Z also held clear again in the jump-off, but it took them 42.56 seconds to complete their round.

The 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Friday evening also saw a Zangersheide victory at Sentower Park. This time it was Spanish rider Mariano Martinez Bastida who was the winner with the 11-year-old stallion Quark de Preuilly Z, a son of Quaprice Bos Margot and Dobel's Cento bred in France by Soc. Fermiere de Preuilly. In a jump-off for which eight combinations managed to qualify, Martinez Bastida and Quark de Preuilly Z crossed the finish line in a convincing time of 37.74 seconds, giving them a comfortable lead of over 1.5 seconds over the competition. For Colombian rider Santiago Diaz Ortega, the 9-year-old grey gelding Chaddpleen Flamingo Z (Cardento VDL x Dollar du Murrier - B: Alexandra Rantet) had another ^4th place in this class. They too could not be caught with a fault in both the basic round and the jump-off.

On Saturday, in addition to the Grand Prix, the CSI2* competition had a 1.40m high speed class on the programme and in it we got an integral Zangersheide podium! At the head of that podium was Belgian rider Christophe Vanderhasselt 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 also managed to take the prizes twice the previous days. After a clear round, Vanderhasselt and Arthuro de Sarlar Z crossed the finish line in 57.60 seconds, outclassing the competition.

His compatriot Dieter Vermeiren followed in^2nd place with the 14-year-old mare Piepke 111 Z, the daughter of Plot Blue and Lord Z from Stud 111's breeding farm. They too managed to keep it neatly clear, but with a time of 57.78 seconds they were thus just short of taking the top prize.

Christophe Vanderhasselt took ^3rd place in this class as well as victory with the 10-year-old gelding Kraque Boom d'Avifauna Z, a son of Kannan x Kashmir Van Schuttershof bred by Jacops - Nijs. Vanderhasselt and Kraque Boom d'Avifauna Z finished in 58.57 seconds after a clear round, putting them ^3rd in the standings, just like during the 1.40m class the day before.

^2nd place in the 1.40m class on Friday went to Belgian rider Michaël Vreys and his 9-year-old mare Estrella Van Plockroy Z, a daughter of Excellent Vd Zuuthoeve and Darco, who was born and bred at Vreys' home and whom he also placed ^4th in the 1.35m class on Thursday. The duo produced a flawless performance in this morning class, coming up just short of victory.

Finally, there was also^2nd place for Gilles Dunon and the 16-year-old mare Quinta V T Hornesele Z, a daughter of Quidam de Rêvel and Lys De Darmen from the breeding farm of Leen Van Belleghem. Dunon and Quinta V T Hornesele Z achieved their^2nd place in the 1.40m GP Qualifier on Thursday and this after another flawless round.