Cameroon EB Z shines in the CSI3* Grand Prix at Lier

The FEI World Championships in Aachen undoubtedly attracted the most attention last weekend, but there was also plenty of international action taking place elsewhere in the world over the past few days. For instance, a three-star competition took place at the Hazebroek family’s Azelhof in Lier, where the Z-class horses once again made a strong impression. For four days running, they achieved excellent results, culminating in a top placing in the CSI3* Grand Prix.

Four days of international show jumping came to a close on Sunday afternoon in Lier with the CSI3* Grand Prix, in which a total of sixty rider-horse combinations took to the arena. The 1.50m-high basic round, designed by course designer Eddy Geysemans and his team, proved to be a real challenge, as only eight pairs managed to qualify for the jump-off. One of those eight contenders for victory was the Belgian rider Leonie Peeters and her 12-year-old stallion Kameroen EB Z, the son of Kannan and Quantum, bred by LVP Stables. Peeters and Kameroen EB Z also managed to keep their cool in the jump-off and, with a finishing time of 46.64 seconds, they ultimately finished just off the podium in^4th place.

Also in this Grand Prix, Irish rider Daniel Fitzgerald once again made his mark with the 9-year-old grey mare Fleuriske Z, a breeding product of Dutchman Max Verheij that combined the bloodlines of For Pleasure with those of Royal Bravour. Fitzgerald and Fleuriske Z, who had already put in several strong performances in recent weeks and months, clocked the second-fastest time of 40.06 seconds, but a jumping fault along the course ultimately relegated them to^sixth place.

In addition to the CSI3* Grand Prix, two Longines Ranking classes also took place in Lier, and in one of them a blue-and-yellow victory was recorded. In Saturday’s 1.45m class, it was the Belgian rider Andres Vereecke who claimed victory on the 9-year-old gelding Vanguard Z, a son of Vannan and Baloubet du Rouet, bred in the Netherlands by Heemskerk B.V. and N. De Bruijn. In a jump-off for which sixteen pairs qualified, they finished in 39.07 seconds, outclassing the competition.

With their victory, Vereecke and Vanguard Z also topped an all-Z podium.^Second place went to Leonie Peeters and her now 16-year-old mare Tinkoucha Hero Z (Tinka’s Boy x Diamant de Semilly – breeder: Stud Hero). Peeters and Tinkoucha Hero Z also produced a clear-round jump-off, but took 39.24 seconds to complete their round. Peeters’ compatriot Louis Le Grelle and the 11-year-old chestnut mare Eytuka Of Two Notes Z (Emerald van ’t Ruytershof x Chin Chin – breeder: Toby Huys) rounded off the podium in^third place. The pair, who had also secured^third place in Thursday’s 1.45m class, crossed the line in the jump-off in 39.83 seconds.

Belgian rider Thomas De Wit was also among the prize-winners in this class with his 11-year-old home-bred horse Ecuador DW Z, a stallion by El Torreo de Muze and Quasimodo vd Molendreef. De Wit and Ecuador DW Z, who had already started their competition on Thursday with an^eighth place in the 1.40m class, crossed the finish line in 40.73 seconds after a clear-round jump-off, which ultimately secured them^sixth place.

During the 1.40m opening class on Wednesday, Belgian rider Nico Baerts also secured a victory with the 9-year-old gelding Nustria Ultra Z, a son of Nixon van ’t Meulenhof and Utrillo Z, whom Nico Baerts breeds in partnership with Dominique Hardy. In a speed class, they raced to the finish in 60.73 seconds, giving them a lead of well over one and a half seconds over the competition.

Meanwhile, Belgian rider Michaël Vreys and the 11-year-old mare Chica Bomb Van Plockroy Z (Comment vh Lindenhof x Ogano Sitte – breeder: Vreys Horses) secured^third place in this class. They clocked a time of 63.05 seconds.

Also on Thursday, British rider Max Routlegde secured a podium finish with the 8-year-old stallion Crosby Ter Doorn Z (Comme Il Faut x Kentucky Ter Doorn – breeder: Brits’ Stables BVBA). They competed in the 1.45m main class, where they secured^second place after a strong round.

Meanwhile, French rider Valentin Marcotte and the equally 8-year-old chestnut mare Nova Z (VDL Glasgow vh Merelsnest x Lux Z – breeder: Stal Logenburg B.V.) secured two top-five placings over the weekend. In both the 1.40m class on Thursday and the 1.40m class on Friday, they secured^4th place following a clear round.

Belgian rider Anthony Wellens and the 10-year-old mare Cela van Koekenhuyze Z (Casallo Z x Clinton – breeder: Frank Dhaenens) also managed to finish in the money twice in Lier. They first made their mark on Friday with a^second place in the 1.40m class, followed a day later by a^seventh place in another 1.40m class.