Grand Prix glory for Disney Z in Kronenberg

Kronenberg's Peelbergen Equestrian Centre was once again the setting for international show jumping last weekend, with a two-star competition on the programme from Thursday to Saturday. The absolute highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly the CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon, in which the stallion Disney Z managed to claim a leading role.

A total of fifty-five combinations filled the starting list of this CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon, in which the level proved to be particularly high. Of these fifty-five contenders, no fewer than seventeen managed to complete the 1.45m-high basic round successfully and thus qualify for the jump-off. They included Irish rider Eoin McMahon and the 10-year-old stallion Disney Z, a son of Dimitri Z and Numero Uno bred in Norway by Baekgaarden Youngster A/s. McMahon and Dimitri Z, who won a class in Opglabbeek last month, also made sure to go clear in the jump-off and with a finishing time of 42.14 seconds they secured silver.

Furthermore, home rider Niels Knape also managed to make it into the top 10 of the standings with the 11-year-old chestnut gelding Bravo Mansolein Z, a son of Big Star Jr K Z and Totoche du Banney from the breeding farm of Haras Mansolein in France. They finished after a clear jump-off in 43.87 seconds, which was finally good for 7th place in the rankings.

With three top 5 placings, it was also a particularly successful weekend in Kronenberg for Swedish rider Petronella Andersson and the 9-year-old mare All Minka van het Gerendal Z, a daughter of Agana van het Gerendal Z and Echo van 't Spieveld who was born to the Verhey family of Gerendal Stables. Andersson and All Minka van het Gerendal Z jumped to 4th place during both the 1.40m class on Thursday and the 1.45m-high Medium Tour on Friday, but held their best performance during the Medium Tour Final on Saturday morning. In a jump-off for which seventeen combinations qualified, the pair rushed to the finish line in 39.11 seconds, finishing 2nd.

Furthermore, Greek rider Ioli Mytillineou was also among the prize winners at this Medium Tour Final with the 9-year-old stallion Ansingh de Lis Z, the son of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Kannan from the breeding farm of W.M. Lisman in the Netherlands. Mytillineou and Ansingh de Lis Z also provided a clear jump-off and with a finishing time of 44.05 seconds they took 9th place.

Besides her good performance with All Minka van het Gerendal Z, Petronella Andersson also managed to jump into the prizes with the 10-year-old mare Elégance Bleue VDM Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Canturo - breeder: VDM / Fam. Bruggeman). During the 1.45m-high Longines Ranking Test on Thursday, they ensured a flawless round, which earned them 5th place in the rankings.

Finally, two descendants of Dominator 2000 Z also made themselves heard in Kronenberg. For example, during the 1.40m class on Friday, Belgian rider Seppe Wouters and the 8-year-old grey mare Dolce Vita VDH 2000 Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Latano - breeder: Heidi Suls) gained 6th place, while Dutch rider Leon Thijssen and the 10-year-old gelding Damascus Van Stal Cipa Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Ustinov - breeder: Den Eynde & Van De Backer) claimed 10th place in the 1.45m-high Medium Tour on the same day.