14 July '26
Impressive Z-class performances in Valkenswaard
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Studbook
© Paardenfotograaf
The Netherlands once again hosted top-level international show jumping last weekend. The summer season kicked off with the Summer Classic at the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, featuring competitions at both four- and two-star levels. A large number of Z-class horses also made their appearance in the arena and, throughout the weekend, they once again delivered a series of fine performances.
One of the Z-class horses that caught the eye at the stables of Jan Tops and his wife Edwina Tops-Alexander was the 13-year-old chestnut stallion Enola Gay Of Two Notes Z, a son of Emerald van ’t Ruytershof and Chin Chin, bred by Toby Huys. Enola Gay Of Two Notes Z has been partnered with Dutch rider Kevin Jochems for several weeks now, and that new partnership resulted in their first podium finish last weekend. During the 1.45m class on Sunday afternoon, they raced to the finish in 65.45 seconds, ultimately securing a finethird place in the rankings.
With this performance, Jochems and Enola Gay Of Two Notes Z finished one place ahead of the Frenchman Robinson Maupiler and the 11-year-old stallion Karan-K van ’t Kattenheye Z (Kannan x Caretano Z), who tookfourth place in the rankings. Maupiler guided the horse bred by Tony and Mieke Raman to the finish in 65.80 seconds, meaning the pair narrowly missed out on a top-three finish.
On Saturday evening in Valkenswaard, all eyes were on the 1.50m Longines Ranking class, in which two Z-level horses managed to break into the top five of the standings. The best performance came from Dutch rider Harrie Smolders and the 9-year-old gelding Estrello EH Z ( Emerald van ’t Ruytershof x Graf Top), with the letters EH referring to the breeding programme of Axel Verlooy of Euro Horse BVBA. In a timed class, Smolders and Estrello EH Z crossed the finish line in 66.91 seconds, securing4th place.
Infifth place was his compatriot Mathijs van Asten with the 11-year-old stallion Vedet DK Z (Vagabond de la Pomme x Carthago Z), who was bred in the Netherlands by Stal De Krochten. They too delivered a flawless performance, clocking a time of 67.56 seconds.
With two top-10 placings, French rider Olivier Perreau and the 9-year-old stallion Leopard des Joanins Z (L’Arc de Triomphe x Quick Star – breeder: Stephane Monier) also put in a strong showing in the four-star competition. They immediately made their mark in Friday’s 1.50m class with a6th place and went on to secure a creditable7th place in Saturday evening’s 1.50m class.
Finally, American rider Rachel Penner also achieved a fine result with the 11-year-old mare Snowmass, a daughter of Toulon and Darco who was born to breeders Cédric and Delphine Tilleman as Tirelire T&L Z. During Saturday’s 1.45m class, they produced a clear round in both the first round and the jump-off, finishing in5th place.
Two-Star Competition
Alongside the four-star competition, a two-star competition also took place in Valkenswaard, where we were treated to two blue-and-yellow victories. One of those victories was secured by Olivier Perreau and the 8-year-old mare Celeana Des Joanins Z (Chacco Blue x Bamako de Muze), which once again brings us back to a horse bred by Stephane Monier. Perreau and Celeana Des Joanins Z were the overall winners of the 1.40m class on Friday, in which they finished ten hundredths of a second ahead of the competition with a clear-roundsecond phase in 28.03 seconds.
Third place in this class was also taken by a Z-class horse, ridden by the Brazilian rider Camila Mazza De Benedicto on the 9-year-old gelding Carrasco N89 Z (Clarimo ASK x Andiamo – breeder: Nick Verlies). After a clear-round jump-off, they crossed the line in 28.87 seconds, which was enough to securethird place in the rankings. The young Dutch rider Siebe Leemans and the 11-year-old mare Plopsa Blue Z (Plot Blue x Calvados Z – breeder: Ann van Heyst) tookfifth place in this class. In the jump-off, they clocked a time of 29.91 seconds.
Also on Friday, a 1.35m class was on the programme for the riders in the two-star competition, and victory there too went to the blue and yellow colours. This was secured by the Monegasque rider Inigo Lopez de la Osa Franco and the 10-year-old mare Desiree E Z, a daughter of Dominator 2000 Z and Upsilon van de Heffinck, bred by Patrick Franssen. They kept the bars down in both thefirst andsecond phases and, with a finishing time of 32.01 seconds, managed to outclass the competition.
The main event of the day on Friday was a 1.45m speed class, and our blue and yellow colours were also represented at the top of the rankings there. The bronze medal went to the American Jessica Springsteen and the 11-year-old gelding Cayman de Poteau Z (Cayado x Casall ASK – breeder: PGMBH Hammes). After a strong round, they stopped the clock at 61.56 seconds.
It was also a successful weekend for Siebe Leemans and the 9-year-old gelding Assie Mie Nou Z (Aganix du Seigneur Z x Indoctro – breeder: Stal Donkers). They first caught the eye on Saturday with asecond place in the 1.40m class and rounded off their competition on Sunday with asixth place in another 1.40m class.