Twice Grand Prix silver in Valkenswaard

At the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, the new summer season was kicked off last weekend with the first week of the Summer Festival. It immediately became a direct hit for the colors of Zangersheide, because we got Zangersheide horses on the podium both during the CSI4* GP and during the CSI2* GP.

During the CSI4* GP, that honor was reserved for the Belgian rider Abdel Saïd with the 9-year-old stallion Clown Of Picobello Z, a son of Cardento VDL and Orlando who was bred by the Ruant family and who is also a half-brother of Romeo 88 (ex Champion Or Picobello Z), the GP horse of the British rider Harry Charles. Saïd and Clown Of Picobello Z were one of the 4 combinations that remained clear in the basic round and so qualified for the jump-off. In that jump-off, they managed to repeat that flawless performance and with a finish time of 44.18 seconds they secured a 2nd place in the ranking.

Who also managed to qualify for the jump-off during this CSI4* GP was the Irish rider Jack Ryan with the 10-year-old stallion Eagle Vd Wolfsakker Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Casquetto – B: B. van der Kloet). They also remained clear in the jump-off, which in turn was good for a 4th place in the ranking.

Bur also the Dutch rider Niels Tacken with the 10-year-old gelding Cordis Totalis Z (Comilfo Plus Z x T'Is Voltaire – F: Ubachs & Beaujean) and the Belgian lady rider Gudrun Patteet with the 9-year-old stallion Sea Coast Enjoy of the Kromsteeg Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Parco – B: Ann Van Putte) delivered a strond performance. However, they both left the ring with 1 penalty point before time and thus became 6th and 7th respectively.

During the CSI2* GP earlier on Sunday and we even saw 2 Zangersheide horses on the podium. The 2nd place went to the French lady rider Penelope Leprévost with the 9-year-old chestnut mare Fantasy de la Roque Z, a daughter of For Hero de Hus and Heartbreaker who was bred by Alexandrine Hecart. Leprévost and Fantasy de la Roque Z, who already jumped to a 5th place during the 1.45m class on Saturday, crossed the finish line in 39.31 seconds in the jump-off and this performance also earned them a 2nd place in the ranking. The Brazilian rider Marlon Modolo Zanotelli followed here in 3rd place with the 9-year-old grey gelding Electro Vd Kromsteeg Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Der Senaat 111 – B: Ann Van Putte), with whom he also placed 10th twice the days before. Zanotelli and Electro Vd Kromsteeg Z also managed to keep all the poles in the cups in that jump-off.

Furthermore it became also another successful weekend again for the Dutch rider Piet Raijmakers Jr. and his 11-year-old mare Van Schijndel's Olaya Z (Ogano Sitte x Concorde - B: F. van Och), with whom he finished 2nd and 3rd the week before during the Longines Global Champions Tour in Monaco. Raijmakers Jr. and Van Schijndel's Olaya Z jumped on Saturday again to a nice 2nd place during the 1.45m class and finished in 7th place during the CSI2* GP.

During the 1.50m main class on Saturday, the Dutch rider Johnny Pals managed to jump to a top ranking with the 12-year-old gelding Curiano van Maarle Z (Canabis Z x Mermus R – B: Corneel Verhaeren). In a class against the clock, they managed to finish in 67.58 seconds and this also earned them a 2nd place in the ranking.

Who also secured a podium place was the Brazilian rider Fabio Leivas Da Costa with the 9-year-old gelding Amigo W Z (Andiamo Z x Contendro I – B: W. van Gestel). During the 1.45m class on Friday they managed to keep it clear in both the 1st and 2nd phase and this performance resulted in a 3rd place in the ranking. A day later, Leivas Da Costa and Amigo W Z confirmed their good form with a 9th place and this also during a 1.45m class.

Finally, the Italian rider Lorenzo de Luca also jumped into the picture with the 8-year-old mare Aphrodite van Spalbeek Z (Atomic Z x Flamenco de Semilly – B: Frans Liefsoens). Both during the 1.45m class on Friday and during the 1.45m class on Saturday they managed to secure a 4th place in the ranking.