Golden Saturday in Fontainebleau

In France last week it was looking forward to the Le Printemps des Sports Équestres competition in Fontainebleau, where there was 7 days of action at both national and international level. The CSI5* competition naturally attracted the most attention, in which some Zangersheide horses once again managed to impress.

On Saturday, the leading role was reserved for German rider Daniel Deusser and his 16-year-old chestnut stallion Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z, the son of Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve and Mr. Blue out of Jonas Bellemans' breeding and with whom Deusser has already amassed an impressive record in recent years. Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z made their list of victories even longer last weekend by winning the 1.55m class. In both the first round and the second and decisive round, they were unerring and with a finishing time of 48.14 seconds, they were more than half a second ahead of the competition.

Also on Saturday, Swiss rider Pius Schwizer managed to secure a victory with the 10-year-old mare Scarlina De Tiji Z, a daughter of Scendro and Kannan bred by Tim Van Tricht and Jill Smits of T&J BVBA. During the 1.50m speed class, Schwizer and Scarlina De Tiji Z managed to narrowly beat the competition with a clear round in 60.04 seconds. Moreover, yesterday during the final day Schwizer also counted on his bay mare for the CSI5* GP, in which they eventually finished ^9th after a bad luck fault in the basic round.

Another notable combination in Fontainebleau was Belgian rider Zoe Conter with her also 10-year-old mare Tombola Z, a daughter of Toulon and Dominard bred by Verschueren, Witters, Stevens and Van De Velde. Conter and Tombola Z made their first appearance on Friday with a ^5th place during the 1.45m class and yesterday morning the duo also secured^2nd place during the 1.50m high speed class.

But also the^2nd place during that 1.45m class on Friday coloured blue and yellow and for that Conter's compatriot Wilm Vermeir took care of that with the 9-year-old chestnut mare Eytuka Of Two Notes Z, a daughter of Emerald van 't Ruytershof and Chin Chin from the breeding farm of Toby Huys and whom Vermeir also managed to win a class at the five-star competition in Paris last month. Furthermore, in this class there was also a ^4th place for Swiss rider Janika Sprunger with the 9-year-old mare A Kinmar Scarlett Z (Akarad Hero Z x Lys de Darmen - B: Luc Henry & Gerry Marron) and a ^7th place for Liechtenstein rider Jennifer Hochstadter with her 13-year-old stallion Tinka's Hero Z (Tinka's Boy x Caretino - F: Vincent Jourdan & Luc Henry).

Finally, there were also two placings in Fontainebleau for Frenchwoman Alexa Ferrer and the 9-year-old chestnut mare Caetlin Vd Heffinck Z, a daughter of Chacco Blue and Cabrio Z from the breeding farm of the Hamerlinck family of Van De Heffinck BVBA. Ferrer and Caetlin Vd Heffinck Z finished ^9th during the 1.45m class on Friday and yesterday morning during the 1.50m class they were good for ^10th place in the standings.