05 August '26
Z-horses are making their mark in Lier
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Studbook
© Sportfot
It was a busy weekend in Belgium, with not one but two international show jumping competitions on the calendar. At Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, the three-star competition of the STP Riders Series was on the programme, whilst the Azelhof in Lier also hosted the international show jumping community for the whole weekend. A large number of Z-class horses also made an appearance in the arena and managed to deliver a whole series of fine performances.
The finest Z-class performance came from the now 16-year-old mare Tinkoucha Hero Z, a daughter of Tinka’s Boy and Diamant de Semilly from Luc Henry’s stud, who secured a place on the Grand Prix podium. Ridden by her Belgian rider Leonie Peeters, Tinkoucha Hero Z jumped clear in the first round, making the pair one of the seventeen combinations to qualify for the jump-off. In the jump-off, they repeated that flawless performance and, with a finishing time of 41.36 seconds, secured second place in the rankings.
Also in the jump-off of this Grand Prix, we saw Peeters’ compatriot Morine Donnay riding the 9-year-old mare Charisma van de Broekkant Z, a daughter of Cicero Z and Cornet Obolensky, bred by Inno Lamers of De Broekkant BVBA. Donnay and Charisma van de Broekkant Z galloped to the finish in 44.58 seconds, securingsixth place.
Seventh place went to the French rider Virginie Echternach Jaubert and the 12-year-old chestnut mare BB D’Fee Sauveniere Z (Balou du Rouet x President), bred by Fabienne Daigneux-Lange. The pair, who had also securedsixth place on Thursday in the 1.40m class, also rode a clear round in the jump-off, but took 45.08 seconds to complete their round.
There was also a strong performance from the Greek rider Ioli Mytillineou and the 9-year-old stallion Ansingh de Lis Z (Aganix du Seigneur Z x Kannan – breeder: W.M. Lisman). They clocked a fast time of 42.31 seconds in the jump-off, but a small fault along the way ultimately saw them finish in10th place.
Four victories
Alongside these fine Grand Prix results, there were, of course, plenty of other successes for the blue and yellow colours to celebrate, including a string of victories. One such victory was secured by the Belgian rider Lars Van Rossem on the 12-year-old mare Little Star d’Ysenbeeck Z, a daughter of Le Diamant Horta and Jamar d’Ysenbeeck Z, bred by Herlinde De Coninck and Stijn Herrebosch. Van Rossem and Little Star d’Ysenbeeck Z, who began their competition on Thursday with a4th place in the 1.35m class, secured this victory in the 1.35mclass on Sunday morning, in which they completed a clear-roundsecond phase in 32.53 seconds, giving them a lead of almost one and a half seconds over the competition.
On Saturday afternoon, it was van Rossem’s compatriot Seppe Wouters who secured a Z-class victory with the 8-year-old mare Libelle Asborne Z, a daughter of Lector vd Bisschop and Calvaro Z, bred by Asborne BVBA. Wouters and Libelle Asborne Z secured this victory in the 1.40m Final, in which they were one of thirteen pairs to qualify for the jump-off. There, they once again produced a clear round and, with a finishing time of 42.32 seconds, managed to narrowly hold off the competition.
The day before, Colombian rider Dayro Arroyave also claimed victory with the 9-year-old gelding Kafka Van Paebroeck Z, a breeding product of Koen Sneyders that combined the bloodlines of Kannan with those of Zangersheide’s flagship stallion Carthago Z. Arroyave and Kafka Van Paebroeck Z were the best in the 1.40m class, where, with a convincing finishing time of 61.17 seconds, they were a good two full seconds ahead of their closest rivals.
A fourth and final ‘Z’ victory went to the Belgian rider Nico Baerts on the 9-year-old gelding Nustria Ultra Z, a son of Nixon van ’t Meulenhof and Utrillo Z, whom Baerts bred together with Dominique Hardy. Baerts and Nustria Ultra Z got off to a flying start on Thursday, going on to win the 1.40m class.
Numerous places of honour
During a second 1.40m class on Thursday, Belgian rider Ellen Vandeven once again made her mark with the 11-year-old grey mare Titanne Vd Rottery Z (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Clinton – breeder: Eddy Geenens). In a time trial, they kept all the bars neatly in place, finishing insecond place.
Another combination to secure a podium place was Belgian rider Nathan Budd with the 8-year-old chestnut mare Close Call NH Z (Cashpaid J&F Z x President – breeder: Jolien Devos). During Thursday’s 1.40m class, Budd and Close Call NH Z put in a flawless performance, securingthird place.
Finally, Belgian rider Simon Prouvé also enjoyed a successful weekend with the 11-year-old gelding Bobby Prova Z (Billy Congo x Andiamo vh Kapelhof Z), who was born and reared at the Prouvé family home. The pair began their competition on Thursday with aninth-place finish in the 1.40m class, followed by aseventh-place finish on Friday in another 1.40m class.