Assie Mie Nou Z dominates the CSI2* Grand Prix at Bonheiden

Last weekend was once again packed with international events on Belgian soil, as – just like the week before – international competitions were on the programme at both the Jumping Bonheiden equestrian centre and Sentower Park in Opglabbeek. It was another successful weekend for our blue and yellow colours, as following A Moonlight Speciale Z’s victory last week in Opglabbeek, this time it was in Bonheiden that a descendant of Aganix du Seigneur Z managed to win the CSI2* Grand Prix.

Jumping Bonheiden’s 2026 outdoor season drew to a close last weekend with the second and final week of the Autumn Tour, which once again attracted a large crowd. The highlight of the weekend was, as usual, the CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, in which just under sixty rider-horse pairs took to the arena. Of these, ten ultimately managed to successfully complete the 1.45m-high basic round designed by course designer Henk Linders and his team, thereby securing their place in the jump-off. It was the young Dutch rider Siebe Leemans who put in the strongest performance with his 9-year-old gelding Assie Mie Nou Z, a son of our chestnut stallion Aganix du Seigneur Z and Oklund, bred in the Netherlands by Stal Donkers. Leemans and Assie Mie Nou Z raced to the finish line in the jump-off in 41.58 seconds, outclassing the competition by thirty-seven hundredths of a second.

With no fewer than two victories to their name, it was also a particularly successful weekend in Bonheiden for the Belgian rider Frédéric Vernaet and the 8-year-old mare Eclair W van de Dauwhoeve Z, a daughter of Eldorado van de Zeshoek and Gottwald, bred by Luc Wuytack. Vernaet and Eclair W van de Dauwhoeve Z began their competition on Thursday with a victory in the 1.35m class and also managed to outclass the competition in the 1.40m class on Friday.

Furthermore, throughout the weekend, there were also two placings for Leemans’ compatriot Kevin Jochems and the 13-year-old chestnut stallion Enola Gay Of Two Notes Z, a son of Emerald van ’t Ruytershof and Chin Chin, bred by Toby Huys. They made their mark straight away on Thursday with a^4th place in the 1.40m class and, a day later, jumped to^5th place in another 1.40m class.

On Friday, all eyes in Bonheiden were on the 1.45m Longines Ranking class, in which a Z-class horse shone by securing a place on the podium. That honour went to the Belgian rider Jeroen De Winter and the 8-year-old mare Nikita CK Z, a daughter of Nixon van ’t Meulenhof and Diamant de Semilly, who was bred by Kristof Ceulemans. In a jump-off for which nine pairs had qualified, they finished in 44.59 seconds, ultimately securing^third place in the rankings.

Also in this class, Belgian rider Elke Appeltans was among the prize-winners with the 9-year-old mare Dagrama Z, a breeding product of Paul Schockemöhle that combined the bloodlines of Dominator 2000 Z with those of Cainue. After a clear-round jump-off, they crossed the finish line in 46.79 seconds, which was enough for^6th place.

On Saturday, a Longines Ranking class also took place in Bonheiden, and there too a Z-class horse secured a podium place. This was achieved by the Colombian rider Ruben Arroyave and his 14-year-old mare Valeska Z (Van Gogh x Balou du Rouet), who was bred in Germany by Nadine Resche. In a timed class, they produced a flawless round, finishing in^third place.

Finally, there were also two Z-class horses that took^second place in a 1.35m class. For the Dutch rider Tom Schellekens and the 7-year-old stallion Eldoranos C-G Z (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Lordanos – breeder: W.C. van Gestel) this was in Saturday’s class, whilst Siebe Leemans and the 9-year-old grey mare Pippa Blue Z (Plot Blue x Calvados Z – breeder: Ann Van Heyst) secured their silver podium place in Sunday’s morning class.