Top five classification for Romeo 88 in Hamburg CSI5* GP

No action in the Longines Global Champions Tour last weekend, but with the Hamburg Deutsches Spring- und Dressur-Derby there was another five-star competition on the programme. One of the combinations competing there was British rider Harry Charles and his 15-year-old gelding Romeo 88, a son of PKZ Contact van de Heffinck and Orlando and born to the Ruant family of Picobello Horses as Champion of Picobello Z. Charles and Romeo 88 already jumped an impressive record in recent years and last weekend that record was extended again a bit with a top 5 ranking during the CSI5* GP on Saturday afternoon. After a clear round, Charles and Romeo 88 were among the group of 14 combinations who managed to qualify for the jump-off. Also in that jump-off they did not have a fault and with a finishing time of 44.89 seconds they secured ^4th place in the standings.

Also qualifying for the jump-off was German rider Philipp Weishaupt and the 14-year-old gelding Coby 8, the son of our grey stallion Contagio Z combined with Escudo I and with whom Weishaupt still managed to win the CSI3* GP of Arezzo in March. Weishaupt and Coby 8 were again on top form this weekend, as they managed to post the fastest time on the leaderboard with a finishing time of 42.57 seconds. Unfortunately, they also saw a pole roll out of the scoops in the process, so they had to settle for ^8th place in the final ranking.

A jumping fault in the jump-off was also the result for Weishaupt's compatriot Kendra Claricia Brinkop and the 9-year-old stallion Tabasco de Toxandria Z, a son of Thunder van de Zuuthoeve and Cento Lano from the breeding farm of Werner Dierckx. Brinkop and Tabasco de Toxandria finished in 42.61 seconds, following Weishaupt and Coby 8 in ^9th place in the standings.

In the 1.55m GP Qualifier on Thursday, it was Belgian rider Karel Cox who managed to ensure blue/yellow success with his 9-year-old stallion Viva la Vida Z, a son of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Cambridge bred in the Netherlands by Anton Vullers. In a jump-off for which 18 combinations managed to qualify, Cox and Viva la Vida Z sped to the finish in 49.32 seconds, which earned them a nice^2nd place in the standings.

Also on Thursday, a 1.50m class took place in Hamburg, in which Belgian rider Anthony Wellens jumped into the limelight with the 9-year-old stallion Da Silva van 't Schaaphof Z, a son of Diamant de Semilly and Clinton bred by Maurice Van De Walle, with whom Wellens also managed to win prizes in Bonheiden, Nancy and Canteleu in recent weeks. In a class against the clock, Wellens and Da Silva van 't Schaaphof Z again stayed nicely clear and this performance was good for ^4th place in the standings. For Wellens' compatriot Zoe Conter there was an ^8th place in this class with the 10-year-old mare Tombola Z (Toulon x Dominard - B: Verschueren, Witters, Stevens & Vd Velde). They too managed to ensure a flawless round.