04 August '26
Carmen H Z on the Grand Prix podium in Valkenwaard
/
Studbook
© Longines Tops International Arena
Following two weeks of the Summer Tour, the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard also hosted international show jumping last weekend with the Longines Global Future Champions. Alongside the classes for up-and-coming talent, the home ground of Jan Tops and Edwina Tops-Alexander also hosted a four-star and two-star competition, in which the Z-class horses once again achieved some fine results.
After two days of plenty of action across the various levels, Sunday was Grand Prix day. At 12.30 pm sharp, the CSI2* Grand Prix got underway in the main grass arena, with a podium place going to a Z-class horse. That honour went to the Dutch rider Lars Kersten and the 10-year-old chestnut mare Carmen H Z, a daughter of Cicero Z and Air Jordan Z who was born at breeder Harrie Kolen’s stud. Kersten and Carmen H Z were one of thirteen pairs to complete the first round clear of faults, thereby securing a place in the decisive jump-off. In that jump-off, they once again managed to deliver a flawless performance and, with a finishing time of 42.10 seconds, secured the bronze.
Mexican rider Carlos Hank Guerreiro finished in4th place with the 10-year-old stallion H5 Chillipepper Z, a son of Crunch 3 and Diarado, bred by Martin Poppen in the Netherlands. Hank Guerreiro and H5 Chillipepper Z also rode a flawless jump-off, but with a time of 42.24 seconds, they ultimately had to settle for a place just off the Grand Prix podium.
In addition to his fine Grand Prix performance with Carmen H Z, Lars Kersten also enjoyed a strong weekend with the 9-year-old gelding Grimaldi van het Keizershof Z, a Leon Otten-bred horse that combines the bloodlines of Grand Slam VDL with those of For Pleasure. Kersten and Grimaldi van het Keizershof Z first made their mark on Friday with a7th place in the 1.45m class and secured another top result on Saturday by jumping to3rd place in the 1.50m class.
However, in that 1.45m class on Friday, the best blue-and-yellow result went to the top American rider Laura Kraut and her 11-year-old gelding Trés Bien Z, the son of Toulon and Nabab de Rêve, bred by S.T. Dingen. After a tight and clear round, they too added a finethird place to their list of achievements.
Four-Star Competition
The sporting programme in Valkenswaard concluded on Sunday afternoon with an exciting CSI4* Grand Prix, and once again a Z-class horse managed to break into the top five of the rankings. It was the Dutch rider Harrie Smolders who achieved this with the 9-year-old Estrello EH Z (Emerald van ’t Ruytershof x Grap Top), where the letters EH refer to the Verlooy family’s breeding programme at Eurohorse BVBA. Smolders and Estrello EH Z clocked the second-fastest time on the scoreboard in 43.48 seconds, but a minor fault along the way ultimately relegated them tofourth place in the rankings.
Earlier on Sunday, a 1.45m class was also held for the riders in the four-star competition, in which the Brazilian Yuri Mansur made his mark with the 8-year-old gelding Blitz Van De Molenbrug Z (Bisquet Balou van de Mispelaere x Darco – breeder: Eveline Storme). With a clear round, they securedfifth place in the rankings.
Finally, there were also two pairs who managed to finish in the money twice over the weekend. For instance, the Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten, riding the 10-year-old stallion Kentucky TMS Z (Kannan x Toulon – breeder: Tal Milstein Stables) took8th place in Friday’s 1.50m class and10th place in Saturday’s, whilst Lars Kersten, riding the 9-year-old stallion Dynamite Dillon Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Lord Caletto – breeder: Peter Nagel-Tornau) managed to secure8th place in both Friday’s 1.45m class and Saturday’s 1.50m class.