02 March '26
Top performance for Carabella vd Neyen Z in Helsinki World Cup
© Stal Hendrix
While most of our attention last week naturally went to the fourth edition of 'The Zangersheide International', there was of course a lot of other international showjumping sport going on worldwide. The Finnish capital Helsinki was the setting for the last World Cup stage of the Western European League, where the top international competitors competed for the precious points one last time. In a strongly fielded competition, Carabella vd Neyen Z managed to jump into the limelight with an excellent performance and a well-deserved podium place.
The Helsinki Expo Centre was fully packed on Sunday afternoon for this final Longines FEI Jumping Word Cup of the season and received a total of thirty-nine combinations at the start. Of these, seven managed to clear the 1.60m base course run by Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge and his team to secure a place for the jump-off. Among those seven barragists were Norwegian rider Oda Charlotte Lyngvaer and her 12-year-old mare Carabella vd Neyen Z, the daughter of Carrera VDL and Lux Z bred by Yves Claes, with whom Lyngvaer was also good for 4th place in the 1.50m class on Friday. As the penultimate combination to reappear in the ring, Lyngvaer and Carabella vd Neyen Z sped to the finish line in 38.04 seconds, finishing in2nd place just four hundredths of a second from Swiss winner Steve Guerdat.
Oda Charlotte Lyngvaer: "I will forever remember this day as the day I bínearly beat Steve Guerdat! (laughs) Bella did a really great job, I am incredibly proud and grateful that I get to ride such a horse. It really is a dream come true that we have now qualified for the World Cup final."
Also in the jump-off at this Helsinki World Cup we saw French rider Kevin Staut and the 10-year-old mare Vida Loca Z, a daughter of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Cornet Obolensky bred in Italy by Soc. Agricola A R.I. Edeldame. Staut and Vida Loca Z managed to put the fastest time on the scoreboard in 37.54 seconds, but a mistake on the way ultimately kept them from victory and relegated them to 5th place.
Eighth place then went to Belgian rider Jordy van Massenhove and his 14-year-old breeding product Verdiamo Z, a son of Verdi TN combined with Andiamo Z. Van Massenhove and Verdiamo Z neatly kept all the rails in the basic round, but one penalty point for exceeding the time allowed meant they missed out on a place in the jump-off.
On Saturday evening the CSI5* Grand Prix was enjoyed in Helsinki, where there was also a top classification for a Z-horse. For that, French rider Marc Dilasser and the 11-year-old grey mare Make My Day Z Du Gevres, a daughter of Mylord Carthago and Ukato from the breeding farm of Jan Sips and Martijn Cerpentier. Dilasser and Make My Day Z Du Gevres, who had already gained 8th place in the 1.50m class the day before, kept it neatly clear in both the basic round and the jump-off, which eventually earned them 4th place in the standings.
With two top 10 placings, it was also a successful show in Helsinki for Norwegian rider Mira Oliva Hoidal and the also 11-year-old stallion Darior Von Hary Z (Diamant de Semilly x Hornet Rose), who was born to breeder Heinz Mertens. Hoidal and Darior Von Hary Z started their competition on Friday with a 7th place during the 1.45m class, while on Sunday morning they did just a place better during the 1.45m high morning class, taking 6th place.
Finally, there were also two combinations who secured2nd place throughout the weekend. For Dutch rider Mans Thijssen and the 11-year-old gelding Nero Z (Numero Uno x Lupicor - breeder: Stal Meulendijks) this was during the 1.45m class on Friday, while Italian rider Giampiero Garofalo sent the 12-year-old mare Kadessa Z (Kannan x Harley VDL - breeder: J.A.M. Bocken) to silver during the 1.45m class on Saturday.