11 May '26
Five-star wins for Devino vd Weretherbach Z and Charlemagne JT Z
© LVHSGA / S.Grasso
After last year's successful premiere, last weekend in Italy it was looking forward to the second edition of the Longines Versilia Horse Show in Lido Di Camaiore. Unlike last year, when it was still about a CSI4* competition, this time it was jumping at five-star level in Tuscany, which naturally attracted a lot of big names to the popular seaside resort.
One of the top riders to start at Bussoladomani Park was Dutchman Harrie Smolders. Among others, he counted on the 10-year-old grey gelding Devino vd Weretherbach Z, a son of De Flor 111 Santa Rosa and Calvin Z bred by Heinz Lentz. Smolders and Devino vd Weretherbach Z made a first appearance on Friday with a 9th place during the 1.50m class, but only really got under steam during the 1.55m main class on Saturday afternoon. There they stayed clear in the basic round, making them one of only four combinations to qualify for the jump-off. In that decisive round, Smolders and Devino vd Weretherbach Z managed to repeat their flawless performance and with a whirlwind finishing time of 30.46 seconds, they outclassed the competition by more than a full second.
On Thursday afternoon, the five-star competition in Lido di Camaiore started with a 1.45m class and in it, too, victory immediately coloured blue and yellow. Indeed, the top prize was reserved for young Italian rider Andrea Pisani and the 16-year-old grey gelding Charlemagne JT Z (Cachas x Carthago Z), with the letters JT referring to breeder Johan Thijs of Horsstud Thijs BVBA. Pisani and Charlemagne JT Z managed to deliver a flawless round in both the1st and2nd stages and with a finishing time of 24.24 seconds, they were exactly a quarter of a second ahead of their closest pursuer. Moreover, on Saturday afternoon, Pisani and Charlemagne JT Z were again on target when they took 6th place in the 1.45m accumulator class.
Another notable combination was Swiss rider Martin Fuchs and the 10-year-old gelding Falcon du Toultia Z (For Pleasure x Copin Van De Broy), who was born to breeder Fabien Schreiber. Fuchs and Falcon du Toultia Z already started their competition on Thursday with a 4th place during the 1.45m class, but also ensured a top ranking during the 1.50m class on Friday. Both in the first round and the 'winning round' they did not make any mistakes, which finally earned them a nice 5th place.
There were also two placings for Belgian rider Jules Van Hoydonck and the 10-year-old mare Kalleb JB Z (Kaiser van het Lambroeck x Viënto Uno W), from the breeding farm of E. Jansen - Bruurs. They jumped into first prizes on Thursday with 8th place in the 1.45m opening class, while on Saturday evening they claimed 3rd place during the 1.45m accumulator class.
Earlier on Saturday, Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen had also secured a top 5 ranking with her 9-year-old mare Farah Z (For Pleasure x Caretano Z - breeder: Freek Hoogenboom). During the 1.50m speed class, Thijssen and Farah Z neatly kept all the obstacles in the scoops, securing 4th place.
Finally, Brazilian rider Yuni Mansur also had a successful competition with the 8-year-old stallion Blitz Van De Molenbrug Z, a son of Bisquet Balou van de Mispelaere and Darco bred by Eveline Storme. Mansur and Blitz Van De Molenbrug Z started within the two-star competition and became the final laureates of the 1.40m class on Thursday afternoon. In a class against the clock, they sped to the finish line in 59.15 seconds, keeping competition behind them. A day later, Mansur and Blitz Van De Molenbrug Z confirmed this performance by claiming another 4th place during another 1.40m class.
