02 December '24
Laura Renwick and Enjoy CK Z win the CSI2* Grand Prix of Oliva
© Hervé Bonnaud
On Spanish soil last weekend, most of the attention undoubtedly went to the Madrid Horse Week with its accompanying World Cup competition, but in addition there were two other international competitions on the programme. One of those was the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour of Oliva, where the CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday saw a Zangersheide horse top the leaderboard.
That honour went to British rider Laura Renwick and her 11-year-old grey mare Enjoy CK Z, a daughter of Echo van 't Spieveld and Coronado who was bred by Kristof Ceulemans and with whom Renwick also finishedsecond twice at the Grand Prix in Valencia a few weeks ago. Renwick and Enjoy CK Z proved with a 4th place during the Longines Ranking Test on Saturday that the right form was also present this week and during the CSI2* Grand Prix they were one of the 13 combinations that managed to advance to the jump-off. In it they managed to put in another flawless performance and with a finishing time of 38.29 seconds they did take the top prize this time.
Laura Renwick: "I cannot stress enough how great Enjoy was today! She also showed a double clear round on Saturday and we finished 4th in the ranking class. Then I started the course a bit too slow, so this time I wanted to be faster. She always gives me everything. I am grateful to Ben Maher for giving me the chance to ride her. Ben has ridden her before, but because he had several horses, he handed her over to me - and I am extremely grateful for that."
However, Enjoy CK Z was not the only Zangersheide horse to come out strong at this Grand Prix, as two other Z horses also managed to make the top 10 of the standings. Thus, 4th place went to Irishman Niall Talbot and the 9-year-old stallion Charming Dream Z, a son of Carrera VDL and Evli Cagliostro 161 who was bred in the Netherlands by L.H.M. Sneijers. They too managed to ensure a clear jump-off, but they needed 40.10 seconds to complete their round. Also in the top 10 of the standings we saw Renwick's compatriot James Smith with the 13-year-old stallion Eagele Z, a son of Eldorado van de Zeshoek and Ramiro Z from the breeding farm of Bart Timmermans. They reached the finish line in 41.26 seconds after a clear jump-off, which earned them 8th place in the standings.
Another combination that had a good weekend in Oliva was Frenchwoman Alexa Ferrer and the also 13-year-old mare Arka de La Hart Z, a daughter of Arko III and Kashmir Van Schuttershof bred by Kevin and Maïte Maus. They immediately started their competition excellently on Thursday with a2nd place in the 1.45m main class and a day later managed to secure a 4th place in the 1.45m Longines Ranking class.
Furthermore, Norwegian rider Pål Flam also managed to jump into the prizes twice with the 8-year-old mare Evoila Kvg Z, the breeding product of the Van Gelder family who combined the blood of Edjaz van 't Merelsnest with that of Heartbreaker. Flam and Evoila Kvg Z were good for 5th place during the 1.45m class on Thursday, while they jumped to 6th place in the standings during the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test on Saturday.
Besides the Grand Prix victory of Laura Renwick and her Enjoy CK Z, however, there was also a second blue/yellow victory to note. Indeed, in the Gold 1.40m class on Friday, the win went to fast Frenchman Julien Epaillard and the 12-year-old chestnut mare Secret Love Nml Z, a daughter of Strangelove Ennemmel and Lux Z from the breeding farm of Lenzi Nicolo Marzichi. In a class against the clock, they crossed the finish line in 57.34 seconds, outclassing the competition. For Epaillard's compatriot Jean Alexandre Legras, there was another 5th place in this section with the 11-year-old mare Narena Z (Numero Uno x Carthago - B: VOF Van Boxtel Reek). They too provided a flawless performance. Not a fault could be found in them either.
Last but not least, Luxembourg's Victor Bettendorf also managed to jump into the limelight with the 8-yr-old chestnut mare Kenia Heureka Z, daughter of Kassander van 't Roosakker Z and Zandor Z, bred by Luc Henry and J.J. Remijnse. During the Gold 1.40m class on Thursday, they managed to keep all the bars in the reels in both the1st and2nd phases, with a nice2nd place as final result.