Romeo 88 jumps onto the GP podium again

More than 2 months after their 3rd place during the CSIO5* GP of St. Gallan in Switzerland, the British rider Harry Charles and his 14-year-old stallion Romeo 88 managed to take another podium place in a CSIO5* GP yesterday. Charles and Romeo 88, a son of PKZ Contact van de Heffinck and Orlando who was born at the home of  the Ruant family as Champion Of Picobello Z, appeared at the start at the Dublin Horse Show in Ireland last weekend and jumped to a nice 2nd place there yesterday. Charles and the for Studbook Zangersheide approved stallion were one of the 12 combinations that remained clear in the basic round and so qualified for the jump-off. In that jump-off, the successful duo finished in 38.65 seconds, which put them exactly half a second short of the GP victory.

However, Charles and Romeo 88 were not the only combination that ensured blue/yellow success during this CSIO5* GP. In 6th place we saw the Swiss rider Bryan Balsiger with the 10-year-old chestnut gelding Chelsea Z (Chellano Alpha Z x Cicero Z Van Paemel – B: Willy Sijbers), with whom he won a class and once placed 2nd at the end of last month in Valkenswaard. They also managed to set a good time in 39.78 seconds, but they also saw a pole roll out of the cups. The Irish rider Michael Duffy placed 8^th in this GP with the 12-year-old gelding Zilton SL Z (Zirocco Blue VDL x Indoctro – B: Peter Schollaert).

Earlier on Sunday there was also a 1.50m Speed ​​& Handiness class on the program in the Irish capital, in which the Swiss rider Martin Fuchs managed to jump into the spotlight with the 9-year-old chestnut stallion Viper Z, a son of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Grannus who was bred in Germany by Guido Sperveslage and with whom he had already placed 5th on Thursday. Fuchs and Viper Z ensured a clear round and this performance earned them a 3rd place in the ranking.

Also on Thursday, the Irish rider Richard Howley jumped to a victory with the 12-year-old gelding Consulent de Prelet Z, a son of Consulent Z and Fuego du Prelet who was bred by Svo Trans Feka. During the 1.60m class, Howley and Consulent de Prelet Z were one of the 8 combinations that qualified for the jump-off after a clear round. They kept it clear again and with a finish time of 34.52 seconds they had more than 2 full seconds ahead of the competition.

And also during the opening day on Wednesday, there were already a few Zangersheide horses that made themselves heard. During the 1.45m class there was a top 5 ranking for the Irish rider Daniel Coyle with his 13-year-old top mare Legacy (ex Chavantele Z – Chippendale Z x Bon Ami – B: Romain Rotty). In a class against the clock they finished in 66.38 seconds and this performance was good for a 4th place in the ranking. Finally, in the 1.60m class, the Belgian rider Abdel Saïd secured an 8th place with the 9-year-old stallion Clown Of Picobello Z (Cardento VDL x Orlando – B: Picobello Horses). They also delivered a flawless performance.