28 February '26
Marriet Smit - Hoekstra and Liesje Vanderwegen book victories again
© Sportfot
While the excitement for the breeders reached a peak with the denouement of the Zangersheide stallion selection, day four of 'The Zangersheide International' also guaranteed top performances in sport. Riders and audience were treated to a day full of international action, in which some riders managed to confirm their strong form from earlier this week. Thus, both Dutch rider Marriet Smit-Hoekstra and Belgian rider Liesje Vanderwegen ensured a repeat success by each taking a second victory.
Just like yesterday afternoon, another 1.50m Longines Ranking class was on the programme at 'The Zangersheide International' today. It was tonight's sporting finale of the day and was also the last qualifying class for tomorrow afternoon's CSI3* Grand Prix. A total of fifty-seven combinations appeared in the ring in the process, twelve of which completed the spirited basic round run by Raphaël Suarez and his team. Among them was Dutch rider Marriet Smit - Hoekstra, who already signed for a win in the 1.45m main class on Thursday. This time, Smit - Hoekstra had saddled the 12-year-old gelding Duco Z (Dakar TN x Riverman - breeder: P.C. van den Berg) and also managed a flawless performance in the jump-off. In doing so, she crossed the finish line in 32.08 seconds, once again outclassing the competition.
In2nd place we also saw a rider with Sweden's Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli. The wife of Marlon Modolo Zanotelli was accompanied by the also 12-year-old gelding Tipperary (Arko III x Diamant de Semilly) and also provided a clear barrage round. However, Augustsson Zanotelli and Tipperary crossed the finish line in 32.83 seconds, losing out to Smit - Hoekstra and Duco Z.
Smit - Hoekstra's compatriot Michael Greeve took 3rd place in this main class of the day. He sent the 13-year-old gelding Commissar Pezi (Commissario x Bockmann's Lord Pezi), which he took over from Swiss rider Martin Fuchs a few months ago, to the finish in 33.04 seconds, thus also securing a podium finish.
On repeat
Earlier in the day, a 1.40m class also took place for the CSI3* competition and in it, too, we saw an amazon who was able to sit at the top of the leaderboard for the second time already. As on Wednesday in the 1.35m opening class, Belgian rider Liesje Vanderwegen took the top prize with 9-year-old grey mare Razzia-K van 't Kattenheye (Arezzo VDL x Dakar VDL). Vanderwegen and Razzia-K van 't Kattenheye had no faults in both the1st and2nd phases and with a finishing time of 22.67 seconds, they too took two wins.
For the second day in a row, the silver in this class went to Belgian rider Michaël Vreys and the 10-year-old gelding Kornadsky d'Harduemont (Cornado II x Gangster de Longchamps). They too ensured a double clear round, but with a finishing time of 22.74 seconds they had to settle for first place of honour this time too.
The bronze again went to the Netherlands thanks to Leopold van Asten. Who counted on the 8-year-old mare VDL Groep Niagara (Casall x Balou du Rouet), with whom he conjured up a time of 23.37 seconds on the scoreboard.
Belgium versus the Netherlands
Before the start of the two CSI3* classes, however, two CSI1* classes also took place this morning, of which the 1.30m class was the highlight. In this class, the victory was also Belgian thanks to Lars Demeersman and the 11-year-old grey mare Jarretelle Jps Z (Jaguar Van Paemel x Landor S - breeder: Stephanie Pijl). The son of Dirk Demeersman rushed to the finish line in 24.46 seconds in the2nd phase, giving him a slight advantage over the competition.
Demeersman was joined on the podium by two Dutch combinations with rider Dylara Peters in2nd place. She had the 10-year-old mare Lynette NH (Arezzo VDL x Vainqueur) under the saddle and with a clear2nd phase in 24.64 seconds, they managed to threaten Demeersman and Jarretelle Jps Z the closest. Peters' compatriot Joep Schaap then took 3rd place in this 1.30m class. The winner of last year's CSI1* Grand Prix counted on the 16-year-old mare Fornarina Z (Carthino Z x Concorde - breeder: J. Van Der Zanden), whom he guided to the finish in 25.95 seconds.
Third time, good time
The fourth day of 'The Zangersheide International' started this morning with a 1.20m class, in which the saying 'Third time, good time' applied. Indeed, after two2nd places earlier this week, victory fell to Dylara Peters and the 7-year-old mare Off The Road (Comme Il Faut x Kannan). In a class against the clock, Peters and Off The Road sped to the finish in a convincing 50.17 seconds, so this time they did receive the top prize.
Peters led an integral female podium with her victory, with Belgium's Helle-marie Lehoucq in2nd place. She had the 15-year-old mare Goanita (Zandor Z x Bal Pare) under the saddle and after a clear round she managed to stop the clock in 52.62 seconds. Finally, for Charlotte Degeest there was another 3rd place in the ranking. She safely piloted the 6-year-old gelding Charrief van de Molen Z (Checkter x Thunder Vd Zuuthoeve - breeder: Kristof Engelen) to the finish in 55.05 seconds.