Main role for Nikita CK Z in the CSI2* Grand Prix of Bonheiden

Lots of international action abroad over the past few days, but there was also plenty of competition on Belgian soil again last weekend. The setting this time was the equestrian centre of Jumping Bonheiden, where a two-star competition was scheduled from Thursday to Saturday. The CSI2* Grand Prix therefore already took place on Saturday evening, with a leading role for the mare Nikita CK Z.

The CSI2* Grand Prix formed the apotheosis of three days of international show jumping on Saturday evening and brought a total of thirty-nine combinations to the start. Course designer Luc Verboven and his team had mapped out a technical course, with only four combinations eventually managing to qualify for the jump-off. Among them was Belgian rider Jeroen de Winter and the 8-year-old mare Nikita CK Z, a daughter of Nixon van 't Meulenhof and Diamant de Semilly from the breeding farm of Kristof Ceulemans. De Winter and Nikita CK Z also managed to keep their cool in the jump-off, finally securing a fine^2nd place.

On Friday, the highlight of the day was the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test and in it too we saw a Z-horse shine in the top three of the rankings. That honour went to Winters compatriot Bart Jay Junior Vandecasteele and the 11-year-old gelding Kadee van de Renthoeve Z, a son of Kannan and Baloubet born to breeder Bart Sips. In a jump-off for which eight combinations qualified, Vandecasteele and Kadee van de Renthoeve Z managed to put the fastest time on the scoreboard in 38.57 seconds, but a fault on the way meant they eventually had to settle for ^3rd place. Moreover, at the CSI2* Grand Prix they were among the prize winners again. Then they were good for ^6th place after seeing a fault in the first round.

There were also two placings in Bonheiden for Belgian rider Elke Appeltans and the 12-year-old black gelding Karamba de Poteau Z, a son of Kannan and Calando I bred by PGMBH Hammes. They also managed to take prizes during these two main classes of the weekend with ^7th place during the Longines Ranking Test on Friday and ^4th place during the CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday evening.

Before the CSI2* Grand Prix started, the 1.40m Final took place on Saturday afternoon, in which some Z-horses also provided the necessary success. ^5th place went to Belgian rider Dennis Caubergs with the 9-year-old Kathmandu Dv Z (Kannan x Fidji Of Colors - breeder: Devos Stables), while rider Maartje Verberckmoes and the 8-year-old chestnut mare U-Pleasure N Z (Untouchable x For Pleasure - breeder: Guido & Wout Neven) took ^6th place. Both did not have any faults in the first round or the jump-off.

Finally, rider Marthe Heudens also secured a top 5 ranking with the 13-year-old chestnut stallion Comdero I Van Beek Z (Comme Il Faut x Vigaro - breeder: Guido Herrijgers). During the 1.35m class on Saturday, they provided a flawless performance, finishing in ^4th place.