Kenzo Quality Z and Eireann Lvs Z on the GP podium in Kronenberg

Last weekend was a very busy weekend on Dutch soil, with CSI Twente in Geesteren on the one hand and a two-star show in Peelbergen Equestrian Center, Kronenberg, on the other. In Peelbergen Equestrian Centre the CSI2* GP was already held on Saturday afternoon and with two Zangersheide horses on the podium, it became a very successful afternoon for our blue/yellow colours.

Of the 45 combinations that appeared at the start, 10 combinations managed to stay clear in the basic round and so got a ticket for the jump-off. One of them was the Brazilian rider João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes De Lima with the 9-year-old gelding Kenzo Quality Z, a son of Kannan and Con Air who was bred by Koen Terryn of Quality Stud and with whom Aguiar Gomes De Lima became already 2nd during the 1.45m high GP Qualifier on Thursday. In  the jump-off, Aguiar Gomes De Lima and Kenzo Quality Z appeared at the start again as the 7th combination and with a clear round in 40.49 seconds they also secured a 2nd place in the ranking this time.

Who also reached the podium was the British rider Daniel Neilson with the also 9-year-old mare Eireann Lvs Z, a daughter of Emerald van 't Ruytershof and Clinton who was bred by Lissava Stud Farm. They also kept it clear in the jump-off and managed to stop the clock in 42.50 seconds.

Furthermore, the Danish lady rider Laura Baaring Kjaergaard with the 9-year-old gelding King Valentino Z (King Julio x Nabab de Rêve – B: Jos Lansink) and the Dutch rider Doron Kuipers with the 10-year-old stallion I Am Codex Z (Codex One Z x Calvaro F.C. – B: Tinus Van Der Bruggen) also qualified for the jump-off during this CSI2 GP. Both combinations run into 4 penalty points and became respectively 5th and 8th in the ranking. This was the second time of the weekend that Kuipers and I Am Codex Z were placed, because during the 1.45m GP Qualifier on Thursday they already finished 5th in the ranking.

Nevertheless, the victory during that 1.45m high GP Qualifier on Thursday also colored blue and yellow and that was ensured by the Belgian lady rider Gudrun Patteet with the 8-year-old mare Sea Coast Chica V.V. Z, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and Chacco Blue who was bred by Evelyne and Colin Van Vreckom. In a jump-off for which 7 combinations were able to qualify, they ahead the competition by just under a second with a clear round in 36.10 second. The American lady rider Blythe Karolyi jumped to a 4th place in this class with the 10-year-old stallion Quabra Z (Quabri de l'Isle x Champion - B: Nic Horse SPRL).

Christian Ahlmann also made his comeback in Kronenberg last weekend and immediately secured a victory with the 9-year-old chestnut stallion Otterongo Alpha Z (Darco x Hedjaz – B: Jozef Poets). They became the winners of the 1.45m GP Qualfier on Friday, where they managed to beat the competition with a clear round in 58.91 seconds.

Also on Friday, the Swedish lady rider Sofia Westborg managed to jump to a top 5 ranking with the 11-year-old stallion Khan Vd Kattevennen Z (Kannan x Heartbreaker – B: BVBA Spronken). During the 1.40m class, the duo secured a 4th place after they managed to deliver a flawless performance.

During the opening day on Thursday, the Italian rider Gianni Govoni secured a victory with the 14-year-old mare Balou Z (Balou du Rouet x Air Jordan Z – B: Stal De Krochten). During the 1.35m high opening class they had a lead of more than one and a half seconds on the competition with a clear 2nd phase in 33.95 seconds. For Doron Kuipers there was a 5th place in this class with the 10-year-old mare Alexandra Vd Laarseheide Z (Air Jordan Z x Carthago Z – B: C.J.H. Zandbergen). He also managed to keep all the poles in the cups twice.

Finally, during the classes for the young horses, Sofia Westborg jumped into the picture with the 6-year-old grey mare Donette Z, a daughter of our black pearl Dominator 2000 Z and Winningmood van de Arenberg, who was bred in Germany by Paul Schockemöhle. They started their show with a 9th place during the opening day on Thursday and jumped to a nice 3rd place during the final class on Saturday.