Grand Prix win for Lars Kersten and Chuck Marienshof Z

In addition to the many international competitions outside our national borders, last weekend an international competition also took place on Belgian soil and this at the Hazebroek family's Azelhof in Lier. Here too, victory during the CSI2* GP on Sunday coloured blue and yellow and Dutch rider Lars Kersten took care of that with the 9-year-old grey gelding Chuck Marienshof Z, a son of Colestus and Emerald van 't Ruytershof from the Marienshof Stables' breeding farm. Kersten and Chuck Marienshof Z were one of the 11 combinations who managed to go clear in the basic round built by Dutch track builder Henk Linders and his team, securing a place in the jump-off. In that jump-off, they managed to repeat that flawless performance from the basic round and with a finishing time of 37.30 seconds, they managed to outclass the competition!

In addition to Kersten and Chuck Marienshof Z, Belgian rider Wilm Vermeir also managed to reach the jump-off here with his likewise 8-year-old grey mare Magic Van 't Hulgenrode Z, a breeding product of Marcel De Ridder who combined the blood of Midas vh Endhouse with that of Vigo d'Arsouilles. Vermeir and Magic Van 't Hulgenrode Z also stayed clear again in the jump-off and a finishing time of 38.84 seconds earned them 6th place in the standings.

On Thursday during the opening day, Vermeir had made his presence felt by jumping to victory with his home-bred 9-year-old stallion Top Invest 313 Z, a son of Thunder van de Zuuthoeve combined with Concorde. In the 1.40m class, the duo finished in 64.36 seconds, putting them over 1.5 seconds ahead of the competition. German rider Stephanie Böhe secured 4th place in this section with the 9-year-old chestnut mare Zoë-K Van 't Kattenheye Z (Zirocco Blue VDL x Corland - F: Tony Raman and Mieke Strobbe).

The second part of this 1.40m class on Thursday saw another victory for German rider Benjamin Wulschner with the 11-year-old gelding Nino Ice Z, a son of Numero Uno and Romantico La Silla who was bred in the Netherlands by Loeske Veenendaal. Wulschner and Nino Ice Z sped to the finish in 64.36 seconds, putting them more than a full second ahead of the competition. On the final day on Sunday, the duo confirmed their good form with a 3rd place in the 1.35m class.

Then again, victory during this 1.35m class on Sunday went to Belgian rider Koen De Waele with his 12-year-old homebred gelding Simply Magic KDW Z, a son of Hunter's Scendix and Caretino. De Waele and Simply Magic KDW Z also managed to finish 9th in the 1.35m class on Thursday and this time they beat the competition with a clear 2nd phase in 35.35 seconds.

In the 1.35m class on Saturday morning, it was Dutch rider Piet Raijmaker Jr. and his 9-year-old mare Van Schijndel's Alaska Ter Saleghem Z (Aktion Pur Z x Vagabond de la Pomme - F: Stefanie and Steven De Smedt) who managed to secure a blue/yellow victory. In a class against the clock, they managed to cross the finish line in 58.09 seconds, making them the only combination to keep the chrono under 60 seconds. Belgian rider Dirk Demeersman and the 8-year-old stallion Cote d'Or Z (Carambole x Diamant de Semilly - F: Cavallini Stables) came in 3rd.

Last but not least, there was a win in Lier for Brazilian rider Thiago Ribas Da Costa with the 9-year-old mare Honesty CTV Z (Hoegie Van 't Bergske x Mozart des Hayettes - F: Casais-Thonon-Vanhoutte). Ribas Da Costa and Honesty CTV Z were the winners of the 1.40m class on Saturday, where they were just under two seconds ahead of the competition with a clear 2nd phase in 27.93 seconds. Belgian rider Anthony Wellens finished 2nd in the other classification with the 9-year-old mare Da Silva Van 't Schaaphof Z (Diamant de Semilly x Clinton - F: Maurice Van De Walle). They too managed to keep all the wood untouched.