16 December '25
Fantastic blue/yellow weekend in Geneva
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Studbook
© Stefan Lafrentz
At the very highest level of international show jumping, all eyes were on the renowned CHI de Genève last weekend. As a regular stop within the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping and with the prestigious Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final as a permanent eye-catcher, the Swiss showjumping competition once again guaranteed top-level sport this year. It was also a fantastic competition for our blue and yellow colours, with the Z-horses standing out throughout the weekend with a whole series of top placings.
With a sparkling 64th edition, the past few days CHI de Genève once again confirmed its status as one of the most prestigious indoor appointments on the calendar. For four days, the world's best riders and horses were present and provided excitement, sensation and, above all, absolute top-class sport! One of those eye-catchers throughout the weekend were Christian Ahlmann and our 10-year-old stallion Dourkhan Hero Z, the son Sea Coast Cont't Touch Tiji Hero and Zandor Z who was born to breeder Luc Henry. Ahlmann and Dourkhan Hero Z have been performing at a high level all year and started their competition in Geneva with a bang. On Thursday evening they entered the 1.60m Trophée De Genève, securing themselves a place at the top of the leaderboard. In a jump-off for which nine out of forty-nine combinations qualified, Ahlmann and Dourkhan Hero Z again kept it neatly clear and this performance earned them a brilliant2nd place in the rankings.
On Sunday afternoon, Ahlmann and Dourkhan Hero Z also made their appearance in the tough Rolex Grand Prix and in this, too, they once again confirmed their excellent form. The successful duo stayed clear through the 1.60m high basic course of course designers Gérard Lachat and Grégory Bodo and were thus among the eight combinations who managed to advance to the jump-off. In it, they reappeared in the competition ring as the very last combination, jumping to 7th place.
However, the blue/yellow lead in this Rolex Grand Prix was Belgium rider Thibeau Spits and his 10-year-old black gem Impress-K Van 't Kattenheye Z, the stallion by Indoktro-K van 't Kattenheye and Vagabond de la Pomme bred by Tony and Mieke Raman. Spits and Impress-K Van 't Kattenheye Z, who are also having another strong year, also managed to keep their cool in the jump-off and with a finishing time of 42.21 seconds, they provided another milestone in their career with a handsome 3rd place.
Furthermore, in this Rolex Grand Prix there was also success for the blood of our stallion Kassander van 't Roosakker Z thanks to Swiss rider Jason Smith and the also 10-year-old grey stallion Picobello van 't Roosakker, a son of Kassander van 't Roosakker Z and Cannabis Z, who was bred by Mark Kluskens. Smith and Picobello van 't Roosakker finished 5th in this Grand Prix after they posted a finishing time of 43.09 seconds after a clear jump-off.
On Friday, Geneva was all about the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final and it bore a striking resemblance to the 2024 edition. Indeed, for the second year in a row, silver went to US world number one Kent Farrington and his 11-year-old mare Toulayna, a daughter of Toulon and Parco who was born Toulayna van het Bloesemhof Z to breeder Jasper Doucé. In the second and decisive round, Farrington and Toulayna reappeared in the ring as the very last combination and they were clearly keen to take the top prize this time. However, they finished in 45.79 seconds, leaving Scott Brash and Hello Chadora Lady in front and once again having to make do with the first place of honour.
Earlier on Friday, the 1.55-metre Grand Prix Qualifier was on the programme for the riders of the five-star competition. In it, Belgian rider Gilles Thomas jumped into the picture again with the 10-year-old grey gelding Chuck Marienshof Z, a son of Colestus and Emerald van 't Ruytershof bred by Johny De Coninck and Sandra Ecker of Stal Marienshof. In this class against the clock, Thomas and Chuck Marienshof Z, who wrote the CSI4* Grand Prix of Stockholm on their record earlier this month, sped to the finish line in 68.60 seconds, placing 4th in the standings.
In doing so, they did just one place better than Frenchman Kevin Staut and the 9-year-old chestnut mare Vida Loca Z, a daughter of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Cornet Obolensky bred by Soc. Agricola A R.I. Edeldame. Staut and Vida Loca Z also provided a flawless performance, but needed 69.01 seconds to complete a round.
However, there was also a blue-and-yellow victory in Geneva thanks to British rider Jessica Mendoza and the 13-year-old gelding I-Cap CL Z, a son of I'm Special de Muze and Air Jordan Z bred by Alexander Liefsoens. Mendoza and I-Cap CL Z became the winners of the 1.40-metre opening plant on Thursday morning, where they outclassed the competition with a clear round in 54.24 seconds. A day later, Mendoza and I-Cap CL Z also had a second top ranking to grab when they secured 4th place in the standings during the 1.45m high speed class.
On Saturday afternoon in Geneva, people could enjoy the 1.60m Coupe de Genève and in it, too, a Z-horse managed to shine at the top of the standings. Italian rider Piergiorgio Bucci took care of that with the also 13-year-old gelding Cortez van't Klein Asdonk Z, a breeding product of Eddy Thomas who combined the blood of Cornet Obolensky with that of Andiamo Z. Bucci and Cortez van't Klein Asdonk Z stayed clear in the basic round and were thus among the eight combinations that qualified for the decisive jump-off. In that, they again provided a flawless round and a finishing time of 28.98 seconds earned them 3rd place in the rankings.
Also on Saturday, two other five-star classes were on the programme, including a 1.45-metre Speed & Handiness class. In it, Thibeau Spits made it to the podium with the 9-year-old stallion Conrad Quality Z, a son of Connor 48 and Corrado I bred by Quality Stud's Koen Terryn. Spits and Conrad Quality Z provided a flawless round, finishing in2nd place.
Later in the evening a 1.55m high speed class also took place and there was some blue-yellow success in that class too. There was a 4th place for the Swiss rider Gaëtan Joliat with the 12-year-old chestnut gelding Chelsea Z (Chellano Alpha Z x Cicero Z - breeder: Willy Sijbers), while the German rider Michael Jung recorded a 6th place with the 8-year-old gelding Fischerheros Z (ex Heros vd Windelsteen Z - Hotspot x Odermus R - breeder: Peter Hofman). Both did not show any faults.
Last but not least, Belgian rider Nathan Butt also managed to win two prizes in Geneva. For example, he finished 4th in the 1.40m opening class on Thursday with the 8-year-old stallion Ely des Rosiers Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Thunder van de Zuuthoeve - breeder: Herik Duran), while later in the day he finished 10th in the Trophée De Genève with his 11-year-old stallion Touardo Blue Z (Toulon x Arko III - breeder: Hugues Delattre). A penalty point for exceeding the allotted time then kept them out of the jump-off.