Bronze for Vigalio Sho Z in the CSI2* GP of Opglabbeek

Breeders Gert Jan Bruggink and his partner Pia-Luise Aufrecht from Stal Het Oosterbrook in the Netherlands can look back with satisfaction on the past weekend. During the CSIO3* GP of Uggerhalne in Denmark there was already that beautiful 2nd place of their breeding product Santos Z (Spartacus TN x Cassini I) under the saddle of the Norwegian lady rider Therese Søhol Henriksen, but also during the CSI2* GP of Opglabbeek there was success for their breeding stable. Gert Jan Bruggink appeared at the start himself and managed to jump to a podium place with the 9-year-old stallion Vigalio Sho Z, a son of Vigo d'Arsouilles in combination with Come On. Brugging and Vigalio Sho Z were one of the 11 combinations that remained clear in the basic round and so qualified for the jump-off. They managed to keep it clear again and with a finishing time of 43.73 seconds they secured a 3rd place in the ranking.

Next to Bruggink and Vigalio Sho Z, also the Colombian rider Santiago Diaz Ortega managed to jump to a top 10 ranking during this CSI2* GP with the also 9-year-old gelding Ambassador Z, a son of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Pablo Van Berkenbroeck, who was bred was by Jos Lansink. They had to deal with 4 penalty points in the jump-off and this was good for a 7th place in the ranking.

We also got to see some blue/yellow victories in Opglabbeek and one of those victories was secured by the Dutch rider Logan Fiechter with the 11-year-old chestnut gelding E Hoodstock Z, a son of Emerald van 't Ruytershof and Vigaro, who was bred by A.J. Smolders. During the 1.45m main class on Saturday, Fiechter and E Hoodstock Z finished in 74.07 seconds, which put them more than half a second ahead of the competition. But also the French lady rider Marie Hecart managed to secure a podium place here with the 10-year-old mare Cartouche Vd Cumel Z (Contadoro van de Helle x Orioso vd Cumul – B: Marc Kempeneers), with whom she also placed 2nd during the 1.35m class on Thursday. They crossed the finish line in 76.31 seconds, which was good for a 3rd place in the ranking.

Also on Saturday, the German rider Torben Köhlbrandt and the 10-year-old mare Tiamo Z (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Grand Canyon – B: Stoeterij Aldenbergh) managed to write the 1.40m class on their list of honors. With a clear 2nd phase in 26.78 seconds they managed to outwit the competition.

During the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Friday, Gert Jan Brugging managed to jump into the picture with his 9-year-old home bred stallion Kasilias Eas Sho Z (Kannan x Kennedy). In a jump-off for which 27 combinations were able to qualify, they again ensured a clear round and this performance earned them a 4th place in the ranking. During the opening day on Thursday, they also placed 9th in the 1.40m class.

Furthermore, the British rider Max Routlegde managed to score a podium place with the 11-year-old grey mare Vanda McLaren, a daughter of Tiny Boy and Diamant de Semilly who was born at the home of breeder Christel Schumacher as Tootsie Brimbelles Z. During the 1.40m class on Friday they managed to keep all the poles in the cups in both the 1st and 2nd phase and with a finish time of 36.88 seconds they managed to seize the 2nd place.

During the opening day on Thursday we also saw 2 Zangersheide victories. For example, the 1.45m GP Qualifier was won by the Argentinian rider Martin Dopazo with the 11-year-old grey mare Carlina Z (Caristo Z x Berlin – B: Haras Rinconada). In a class against the clock, the duo finished in 65.66 seconds. And the 2nd place also turned blue and yellow thanks to lady rider Jennifer Hochstadter and the 12-year-old stallion Tinka's Hero Z (Tinka's Boy x Caretino 2 – B: Vincent Jourdan and Luc Henry). They also managed to deliver a flawless performance, but crossed the finish line in 65.86 seconds.

In the 1.35m class it was the Belgian lady rider Louise Losfeld who secured a victory with the 10-year-old mare Athina Louise Z (Arko III x Ugano Sitte – B: Christine Callewaert). With a clear 2nd phase in 32.23 seconds, they were 5 hundredths of a second ahead of the competition.

Finally, it was also a successful weekend for the Belgian lady rider Eva Jennen and her 11-year-old mare Emalie Terma G Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Cantos - B: W. van Gestel). They started their show with a 3rd place during this 1.35m class on Thursday and during the 1.35m class on Saturday followed a 2nd place in the ranking.