Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z wins the CSI5* Grand Prix in Toronto in impressive style

Whilst Europe was enjoying the Longines Global Champions Tour in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, a major five-star show was also taking place on the other side of the Atlantic last weekend. In Rockwood, Toronto, Canada, the starting signal was given for the new season of the Major League Show Jumping, North America’s renowned show jumping circuit. The season opener proved an instant success for our blue and yellow colours thanks to an impressive Grand Prix victory for Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z.

The first Grand Prix of the sixth season of the Major League Show Jumping took place on Saturday evening under the floodlights and attracted a great deal of interest straight away. The basic round, set at a height of 1.60m, featured a number of technical challenges, meaning that only three pairs managed to secure a place in the decisive jump-off. One of those in contention for a podium place was the Irish rider Shane Sweetnam and his 10-year-old chestnut stallion Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z, a son of Comme Il Faut and Lord Z bred by the Van Rossem family of Mivaro BVBA. Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z, who had already secured 8th place on Thursday during the qualifier for this Grand Prix, were the only pair to successfully complete the jump-off as well, thereby adding this Grand Prix to their list of achievements in impressive fashion.

On Friday, Israeli rider Daniel Bluman had also secured a blue-and-yellow victory with the 12-year-old gelding Hummer Z, a son of Harley VDL and Hemmingway, bred by P.H.A.E. Bocken in the Netherlands. Bluman and Hummer Z, who had also finished in the money at Bridgehampton the previous week, were the overall winners of the 1.50m class, in which they narrowly edged out the competition with a clear round in 69.99 seconds.

Furthermore,^second place in this main class on Friday was also taken by a Z horse, thanks to the Canadian rider Carly Campbell-Cooper and the 13-year-old stallion U2 Westleven Z, a son of Uto Kervec and Calypso III bred by Wim Onsia. Campbell-Cooper and U2 Westleven Z also produced a clear round, but their time of 70.07 seconds was ultimately just not fast enough to secure victory.

In addition to his victory with Hummer Z, Daniel Bluman also enjoyed a successful competition weekend with his 11-year-old grey mare Corbie V.V. Z, the daughter of Cornet Obolensky and Chacco Blue, bred by Evelyne and Colin Van Vreckom. They began their competition on Thursday with a top-three finish in the 1.55m Grand Prix Qualifier. In a jump-off for which twelve pairs qualified, they crossed the line in 42.82 seconds, which ultimately secured them a fine^second place. During the CSI5* Grand Prix, they once again confirmed their good form by jumping to^10th place. However, a fault in the first round meant they were unable to progress to the jump-off.

On Saturday in Toronto, the main event was, of course, the CSI5* Grand Prix, but the programme also featured a 1.50m class with a ‘Winning Round’ for the riders competing in the five-star competition. In that class, the American rider Lillie Keenan secured a podium finish with the 11-year-old black mare Corextra Z, a home-bred horse from Veebedrijf S.J. Kat in the Netherlands, combining the bloodlines of Cornet Obolensky and Exploit de Roulard. Keenan and Corextra Z, who had already secured 8th place in the 1.50m class on Friday, remained faultless throughout both the basic round and the decisive ‘Winning Round’, a performance that also earned them^2nd place.

Finally, in the CSI2* Grand Prix, Canadian rider Hydy Moffatt made her mark with the 9-year-old mare Sisi Gold Z, a daughter of Solid Gold Z and Lord Z who was bred by Linda Embreghts. With a clear-round jump-off, they secured^6th place.