Halla Isriwica Z enjoys a successful weekend in Zuidwolde

In the Netherlands last weekend, it wasn’t just international show jumping that took centre stage at the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard; the CSI in Zuidwolde also once again delivered several days of top-class sport. There, too, a number of Z-class horses put in strong performances, securing a victory and several other fine results.

The most eye-catching name in the north of the Netherlands was undoubtedly that of the 9-year-old mare Halla Isriwica Z, a daughter of Hickstead White and Vleut who was born to her Dutch breeders Gerrit and Arrietta Griemelink. Halla Isriwica Z competed in Zuidwolde under the saddle of British rider Thomas Whitaker, and together they secured three top-10 placings. On Thursday and Friday, Whitaker and Halla Isriwica Z had already made their mark with a^2nd place in the 1.35m class and a^6th place in the 1.40m class, but they saved their best performance for the 1.40mclass on Saturday morning. In both the^first and^second phases, they kept all the bars neatly in place and, with a finishing time of 26.33 seconds, they outclassed the competition by around three-quarters of a second.

Halla Iriwica Z was not, however, the only Z-class horse to take centre stage during this 1.40m class on Saturday morning, as the bronze medallist also wore blue and yellow. This was secured by the German rider Christina Gierlich on the 10-year-old mare Aluna Z, a daughter of our chestnut stallion Aganix du Seigneur Z and Lancer II, who was born and bred at the Gierlich family’s home. They too completed two clear rounds, but took 27.10 seconds to successfully complete their^second phase.

During Friday’s 1.40m class, her compatriot Felix Hassmann secured a podium place with the 12-year-old chestnut mare Carrie Brad Shaw SHO Z, a daughter of Chaman and Cassini I, bred by Gert-Jan Bruggink and Pia-Luise Aufrecht of Stal Het Oosterbrook. A clear-round^second phase in 27.83 seconds earned the pair a fine^second place in the rankings.

Also in this class, the Colombian rider Fabian Andres Martinez Hernandez was among the prize-winners with the 9-year-old chestnut mare Costa Dorado Sdw Z (Cicero Z x Diamant de Semilly – breeder: Bomo NV). They finished the^second phase in 28.77 seconds, which was enough for^fourth place in the rankings.

Finally, Dutch rider Niels Elshof also secured^4th place with the 10-year-old gelding Addicted To You Z, a son of Akarad Hero Z and Voltaire from the stud farm of N. Hulstein. They secured this^fourth place in the 1.35m class on Friday, also after a clear round.