Lavanoche T&L Z triumphs in the CSI2* Grand Prix of Lier

After two weeks of show jumping at Opglabbeek's Sentower Park, the international circuit headed home to the Hazebroek family at Lier's Azelhof last weekend. In the CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday, victory once again coloured blue/yellow and reigning Belgian Champion Gilles Thomas took care of that with the 8-year-old mare Lavanoche T&L Z, a daughter of Lavallino Ter Klomp and Bentley van de Heffinck bred by Guy Vandeven. Thomas and Lavanoche T&L Z were one of the 14 combinations who managed to go clear in the 1.45m basic round run by arena builder Eddy Geysemans and his team, securing a place for the jump-off. In it, the duo once again managed to keep their cool and with a finishing time of 40.17 seconds, they outclassed the competition by more than half a second.

The British rider Joe Clee also signed up at the Azelhof last weekend and among the starters was our 7-year-old stallion Ansingh de Lis Z, the son of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Kannan out of the breeding of W.M. Lisman. Clee and Ansingh de Lis Z were immediately good for ^8th place in the 1.35m opening class on Wednesday during the opening day, but did not get under steam until the 1.35m class on Friday morning. In a class against the clock, they sped to the finish in 57.61 seconds, taking the top prize.

Furthermore, Joe Clee also brought the also 7-year-old stallion Applebridge Tag Z (Aganix du Seigneur Z x Corland VDL - B: Evert Van Gorp and Ilse Burgmans) into the ring and they too managed to secure a top result. In the 1.40m class on Friday, they managed to keep all the fences neatly in the scoops in both the^1st and^2nd phases and this result earned them^2nd place in the standings.

There was also a blue/yellow victory on Thursday, which was scored by Clee's compatriot Jodie Hall Mcateer with the 9-year-old mare Chica vh Ven Z, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and Orame bred in Belgium by An Verschelde. During the 1.40m speed class, they provided a flawless round and were 17 hundredths of a second faster than the rest of the field of competitors.

Another notable combination in Lier was Belgian rider Patrik Spits with the 13-year-old stallion Virocondo Z, a son of Va-Vite and Lys de Darmen from the breeding farm of Britt Vanluyten. Spits and Virocondo Z followed immediately behind Hall Mcateer and Chica vh Ven Z in^2nd place during the 1.40m class on Thursday, while a day later they managed to secure ^3rd place during the 1.35m class.

There were also two placings for Estonian rider Mia Marleen Lanno and the 8-year-old mare Activity Z, a breeding product of ZG Dammann & Graf who combined the blood of Aktion Pur Z with that of Cornet Obolensky. Marleen Lanno and Activity Z started their competition on Wednesday with a nice^2nd place in the 1.35m class and on Sunday they closed with a ^6th place in another 1.35m class.

Finally, there were also two combinations who managed to finish ^4th in Lier last weekend. For Belgian rider Christophe Vanderhasselt and the 12-year-old grey gelding Arthuro de Sarlar Z (Breemeersen Adorado x Obourg - B: André Tavernier) it was during the 1.40m class on Thursday, while Patrick McEntee and the 11-year-old gelding Lloyd's Mury Marais Z(Levisto Z x Kojak - B: Catherine De Buyl Insurance S.A.) secured their ^4th place during the 1.40m class on Friday.