Convincing victory for Gregory Cottard during the first Longines Ranking class!

  While many breeders are preparing for the presentation of our Zangersheide stallions, we were also able to enjoy the first Longines Ranking class of the weekend during this second day of The Zangersheide International. A total of 59 combinations took their chance during this 1.50m class and 12 of them managed to qualify for the jump-off after a clear round. The victory went convincingly to the French rider Gregory Cottard with the 12-year-old grey mare Bibici (Normal Pre Noir x Nelfo du Mesnil). Cottard appeared at the start as the 2nd combination and immediately managed to put a convincing finish time of 32.72 seconds on the scoreboard.

The 2nd place was reserved for the Austrian rider Max Kühner with the also 12-year-old gelding Up Too Jacco Blue (Chacco Blue x Douglas VDL). As the last starter, Kühner made an ultimate attempt to surpass Cottard's performance, but with a finish time of 34.08 seconds, he clearly had to acknowledge his superiority in the French rider. The Dutch rider Mathijs van Asten managed to take the 3rd place in the ranking. He rushed wit the 11-year-old chestnut stallion Hotspot (Hors La Loi II x Nabab de Rêve) to the finshline in 34.63 seconds.

Charlotte Philippe 

Before the start of this Longines Ranking class, there was already a 1.40m class on the program for the CSI4* competition and it was the Belgian rider Charlotte Philippe who claimed the victory in this class. Philippe, who already jumped to a 2nd place in the 1.40m class yesterday during the opening day, was once again in the saddle of her 11-year-old mare Godiva S (Andiamo Z x Darco) and this time beated the competition with a clear round in 56.09 seconds.

The Brazilian rider Francisco José Mesquita Musa, the winner of yesterday’s 1.40m class , had to settle for 2nd place in the ranking this time. He also managed to keep it clear in this speed class with the 10-year-old mare Miss-Sarajevo Imperio Egipcio (Diamant de Semilly x Candian River), but it took them 56.79 seconds to complete his round. Finally, the 3rd place went to the Swiss lady rider Barbara Schnieper. She rushed with the 13-year-old mare Judy KM (Joly St. Hubert x Saphir Von Der Rossi) to the finishline in 56.91 seconds.

CSI1* competition

Before noon the riders and lady riders of the CSI1* competition appeared at the start again and during the 1.30m class we got a French victory just like during the Longines Ranking class. It was Pierre Coiteux Fontaine who became the winner with the 13-year-old mare Argentina de Feyele (Joyau de Bloye x J'T' Adore), with whom he already jumped to a 2nd in the 1.25m class yesterday during the opening day. In this class against the clock he finished in a time of 57.84 seconds and with that he became the winner this time.

The Belgian rider Wim Vinckx and the 8-year-old mare Hadewyn Van 'T Ravennest (Comme Il Faut x Carrico) followed in 2nd place. He also kept all the poles in the cups, but crossed the finish line in 58.03 seconds. Finally, 3rd place went to the Australian lady rider Evie Buller with the 12-year-old mare Elenoor (Limbus). She managed to stop the clock in 58.25 seconds.