27 February '26
Lightning-fast Julien Epaillard triumphs in Grand Prix Qualifier
© Sportfot
On day three of 'The Zangersheide International', the public was once again presented with a rich programme in which breeding and international show jumping flowed seamlessly together. On the breeding side, there was the first round of the free jumping for the candidate stallions from 08.00 this morning, while later today the various stallion tests traditionally attracted a lot of interest. Before we reached that point, however, there were also a few international show jumping classes on the programme, which again provided for a lot of sizzling sport.
A little before 1 p.m. this afternoon at Sentower Park, the starting gun was fired for the Henders & Hazel Prize, the 1.50m Longines Ranking Test that was valid as a qualification for Sunday afternoon's CSI3* Grand Prix. It was a class against the clock, in which a total of sixty-nine combinations competed. After an exciting run, it was French speedster Julien Epaillard who once again lived up to his name and took victory. Riding the 12-year-old chestnut gelding Easy Up de Grandry (Jarnac x For Pleasure), he raced to the finish line in 60.81 seconds, adding some more to his already rich record.
Epaillard was joined on the 'podium' by two German combinations with rider Katrin Eckermann in2nd place. She had saddled the 13-year-old mare Chao Lee (Comme Il Faut x Chacco Blue) for this Grand Prix Qualifier and together with her former World Champion, Eckermann managed to put a time of 61.11 seconds on the scoreboard.
Her compatriot Michael Jung followed her in 3rd place with the 9-year-old mare Eclaire Z (Epleaser Van 't Heike Z x Stakkato - breeder: W. Vestjens), who was sold in 2024 during the first edition of our Zangersheide Quality Jumpers - powered by MBA. Jung and Eclaire Z crossed the finish line in 62.01 seconds, which thus also earned them a place at the top of the leaderboard.
Two in a row
Before the start of this Longines Ranking Test, the riders of the CSI3* competition had also been in action this morning in a 1.40m class and in it, victory once again coloured black, yellow and red. For the second day in a row, it was Belgian rider Tim Prouvé who was the overall winner with the 10-year-old grey gelding Quasca Artist Vd Guldennagel - V (Asca Z x Connor). In both the1st and2nd phases, Prouvé and Quasca Artist Vd Guldennagel - V provided a flawless performance and with a finishing time of 23.72 seconds they ensured a fantastic double.
The silver in this 1.40m class also remained in Belgian hands thanks to regional rider Michaël Vreys and the 10-year-old gelding Kornadksy d'Harduemont (Cornado II x Gangster de Longchamps). The duo did not make any mistakes and with a finishing time of 24.34 seconds they were back on top after their 3rd place on Wednesday. His namesake Michael Jung joined the two Belgian riders on the podium by also claiming 3rd place in the standings. This time he had the 11-year-old gelding Bcc Van Www.Olland.Biz (Balpar de Trebox Z x Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve) under the saddle, which he piloted safely to the finish in 24.85 seconds in the2nd phase.
Swedish morning win
However, the third day of 'The Zangersheide International' started this morning with a CSI3* 1.35m class and in it it was an up-and-coming talent who took the top prize. Victory went to the young Swede Carl-Hugo Westergren, son of Marcus Westergren who jumped to silver at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup at Jumping Mechelen. Westergren had the 12-year-old mare Frieda (Conthargos x Lawito) under the saddle and with a clear2nd phase in 25.55 seconds he managed to outshine the competition.
First in the line of competition was British rider Millie Allen, who has now been part of Karel Cox's team for several years. Allen was accompanied by the 8-year-old mare Bora Bora Ses Z (Bamako de Muze x Quidam de Rêvel - breeder: M. Eras Van Wien) and with a clear2nd phase in 25.98 seconds she managed to come closest to Westergren. Finally, the bronze went to Belgian rider Giel Vangeebergen and the 19-year-old gelding Compadre van de Helle (Casall x Concerto II). The latter crossed the finish line in 27.10 seconds in the2nd phase, which thus also earned him a spot on the podium.