Grand Prix bronze for Berdien Z in Wellington

While in Europe we could enjoy the Bordeaux World Cup competition last weekend, jumping at five-star level was also taking place on American soil over the past few days, and this during the fifth week of the Winter Equestrian Festival of Wellington International. Most of the attention there therefore went to the five-star competition, but in addition, the programme also included a two-star competition.

The Grand Prix of the two-star competition took place on Sunday during the final day, in which American rider Molly Ashe Cawley managed to secure a top ranking with the 14-year-old mare Berdien Z, a daughter of Bustique and Querlybet Hero who was bred in the Netherlands by H.J. Lamers-van Ingen. Ashe Cawley and Berdien Z were already good for ^5th place in the 1.45m class on Wednesday and were among the nine combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off during the CSI2* Grand Prix. There, they managed to repeat that flawless performance from the basic round and with a finishing time of 38.99 seconds they secured ^3rd place.

Also in this CSI2* Grand Prix, Jordanian Ibrahim Barazi managed to qualify with the 13-year-old stallion Khan Vd Kattevennen Z, a son of Kannan and Heartbreaker from the late Leon Spronken's breeding farm. Barazi and Khan Vd Kattevennen Z were also among the nine combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off and after another clear round they were good for ^7th place in the standings. For them too, it was already their second ranking of the weekend, after jumping to ^9th place in the 1.45m class on Friday.

In the classes of the CSI5* competition, Colombian rider Roberto Teran Tafur had a strong weekend with the 10-year-old grey stallion Iron Maiden, a son of Clarimo ASK and Kashmir Van Schuttershof who was born to breeder Titus Vereecke as Cadans van de Ijzervallei Z. As such, Teran Tafur and Iron Maiden secured a podium place in the 1.50m main class on Friday. In a class against the clock, they crossed the finish line in 65.71 seconds, which earned them a nice^2nd place in the standings. Moreover, on Sunday during the final day, they were again on the rendezvous when they claimed ^4th place during the 1.50m final class.