Grand Prix silver for Andiamix II Hero Z in Bonheiden

After the three-week Easter Tour at Opglabbeek's Sentower Park, international show jumping was once again taking place on Belgian soil last weekend. This time, attention shifted to the Equestrian Centre of Jumping Bonheiden, where the first week of the May Tour 2025 was completed. There, too, the Z-horses again came out strong, including a podium place in the concluding CSI2* Grand Prix.

That honour was reserved for young Belgian rider Louis Lambrecht and the 14-year-old chestnut gelding Andiamix II Hero Z, a son of none other than Aganix du Seigneur Z combined with the blood of Andiamo Z. Lambrecht and Andiamix II Hero Z already made a name for themselves on Friday with an ^eighth place in the 1.40m class and continued that strong performance in the CSI2* Grand Prix. In it, they were among the eight combinations who managed to clear the technical basic round designed by course builder Eddy Geysemans and his team. In the jump-off, they again stayed clear and their finishing time of 40.28 seconds earned them a handsome^2nd place in the rankings, just like at the CSIU25YJ Grand Prix in Opglabbeek in April.

Another notable combination was Lambrecht's compatriot Mathieu Guery with the 10-year-old gelding Time-Breaker S Z, a son of Toulon and Calvados bred in the Netherlands by P. Sleutels. Guery and Time-Breaker S Z secured ^6th place at the CSI2* Grand Prix, but had ensured a podium place at the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test two days earlier. During both the first and second rounds there, they managed to ensure flawless rounds, with ^3rd place as the final result.

However, there was also a blue/yellow victory in Bonheiden thanks to Belgian rider Dieter Vermeiren and the 15-year-old mare Piepke 111 Z, a daughter of Plot Blue and Lord Z bred by the Theeuwes family of Stud 111. Vermeiren and Piepke 111 Z crowned themselves winners of the 1.35m class on Sunday morning, where they were just under half a second ahead of the rest of the field of competitors with a clear^2nd phase in 28.36 seconds.

In addition to his victory with Piepke 111 Z, Vermeiren also managed to jump into the prizes with two other Z-horses. In the 1.35m class on Sunday, he came^second with the 17-year-old grey gelding Kingston Town 111 Z, a son of Kashmir Van Schuttershof and Chellano Z, also bred by Stud 111. They managed to cross the finish line in 28.69 seconds after a double clear round. Then, in the 1.45m Longines Ranking class on Friday, Vermeiren was again one of the prize winners with the 10-year-old mare Carlotta Van 't Specialleke Z D, a daughter of Cornet Obolensky and Ludo W out of Pascale Artois' breeding. A clear jump-off earned the duo ^6th place in the standings.

It was also a successful competition for Belgian rider Benny Naessens and the 11-year-old stallion Balisto Vd Schorre Z, a son of Balou du Rouet and Argentinus bred by Steven Van Eeckhoudt. They competed three times over the weekend, twice making the top ten in the standings. They finished ^7th in the 1.40m class on Friday and one day later they ended their competition week with a great ^3rd place in the 1.40m Small Grand Prix.

Last but not least, Gregory Wathelet also managed to place twice last weekend with the 10-year-old mare Cameron Z, a daughter of Chester Z and Chacco Blue bred in Germany by Paul Schockemöhle. Wathelet and Cameron Z already started their competition on Thursday with a ^7th place in the 1.40m class and one day later they managed to secure a ^4th place in another 1.40m class.