Hamrah Van Het Exelhof Z and Landon shine in the CSI5* GP of Williamsburg

No five-star show on European soil last weekend, but there was one in the United States with the Travers City Horse Shows in Williamsburg. The highlight of the weekend was the CSI5* GP on Saturday, in which we saw two Zangersheide horses in the top 5 of the ranking.

There was a podium place for the Irish rider Darragh Kenny with the 9-year-old stallion Hamrah Van Het Exelhof Z, a son of Harley VDL and Cassini I who was bred by Werner Essers and with whom Kenny also finished 5th and 6th at the CSI5* Grand Prix of Calgary last month. Kenny and Hamrah Van Het Exelhof Z remained clear in the basic round and were one of the 5 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off. They had to deal with a fault on their way, but this still resulted in a nice 3rd place in the ranking.

Furthermore, the American rider Kent Farrington was also qualified for the jump-off with his 10-year-old chestnut gelding Landon, the son of our chestnut stallion Comilfo Plus Z and Quadrillo, who was born at the home of breeder Danny Nijs as Crack de Nyze Z. They followed just after Kenny and Hamrah Van Het Exelhof Z in 4th place. The Irish rider Conor Swail placed 7th in the CSI5* GP with the also 10-year-old grey mare Calciet EB Z (Cornet Obolensky x Berlin – B: LVP Stables).

Also on Saturday there was a 1.50m class on the programm in Williamsburg in which the American lady rider Mimi Gochman managed to jump into the picture with the 10-year-old grey stallion Cosmos BH, a son of Chellano Alpha Z and Artos Z who was born as Cosmos Z here at Stoeterij Zangersheide. Gochman and Cosmos BH managed to keep it clear in both the 1st and 2nd phase and this was good for 2nd place in the ranking.

Furthermore, the Canadian lady rider Ali Ramsay was also placed in this class. After 1 penalty point for time in that 2nd phase she became 4th with the also 10-year-old gelding Conrado 12 (ex Conrado Z - Cardento VDL x Diarado - B: Duka Invest D.O.O.). During the opening day on Wednesday, Ramsay was also placed, this time with the 12-year-old mare Bonita vh Keizerhof Z (Bustique x For Pleasure – B: Leon Otten). During the 1.40m class they remained clear twice, which was good for a 7th place in the ranking.

A day later it was the American lady rider Lillie Keenan who made herself heard with the 12-year-old stallion Agana van het Gerendal Z, a son of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Topas who was bred in the Netherlands by the Verhey family of Stal Gerendal. They managed to stay clear twice during the 1.50m class and this performance earned them a 6th place in the ranking.

Next to the CSI5* competition, there was also a CSI2* competition in Williamsburg and during the CSI2* GP there was a top 10 ranking for Keenan’s compatriot Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen with the 9-year-old gelding Gideon, a son of Super Trooper de Ness and Corland VDL who was born at the home of breeder T. Schaap as Spirit S Z. In a jump-off for which 15 combinations were able to qualify, Cruciotti Vanderveen and Gideon again ensured a clear round and this was good for 7th place in the ranking.