Z-horses have fertile weekend in Opglabbeek

A lot of action last weekend outside our borders, but another international competition took place on Belgian soil in the past few days. The venue was the Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, where many riders gathered for a busy two-star competition. It was a fruitful weekend for our blue and yellow studbook colours, with several Z-horses impressively jumping into the limelight.

One of the horses that managed to shine at the Meynaerts' home was the 10-year-old mare Chica Bomb Van Plockroy Z, a daughter of Comment vh Lindehof and Ogano Sitte, who was born and raised at the Vreys' home in Oudsbergen. Under the saddle of son Michaël Vreys, Chica Bomb Van Plockroy Z has already had a great season so far and last weekend they once again showed their qualities. After an immediate victory in the 1.40m opening class during the opening day on Thursday, the successful duo also secured a top ranking in the concluding CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. Vreys and Chica Bomb Van Plockroy Z stayed clear in the first round, making them one of only seven combinations to advance to the jump-off. In it, they seemed on their way to a second victory, when in 36.20 seconds they managed to put the fastest time on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, in their haste a fault also rolled out of the scoops, so they had to settle for ^4th place.

A similar 'course' was reserved in Opglabbeek for Vreys' compatriot Brecht Goossens and the also 10-year-old stallion Alaska Z, a son of Asca Z and Utrillo Vd Heffinck bred by Nicky Dilliën and her partner Jean Jordens. Goossens and Alaska Z also started their show on Thursday with a victory, where they became the final laureates of the 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier. In a class against the clock, they crossed the finish line in 66.93 seconds, over a second and a half faster than the competition. And also at the CSI2* Grand Prix, Goossens and Alaska Z managed to qualify for the jump-off. In it they also ran up against four penalties and with a finishing time of 37.48 seconds they followed just behind Vreys and Chica Bomb Van Plockroy Z in ^5th place.

With two wins, it was also another particularly successful weekend for Dutch rider Piet Raijmakers Jr. and his 13-year-old mare Van Schijndel's Olaya Z (Ogano Sitte x Concorde - Breeder: F. Van Och). In both the 1.35m class on Friday and Saturday's, Raijmakers Jr. and Van Schijnel's Olaya Z managed to outclass the competition, extending their record once again.

In the 1.35m class on Thursday, it was Belgian rider Mike van Belle who ensured a Belgian victory with the 9-year-old mare Happy Chin de Saulieu Z, a daughter of Heavy Metal and Kannan bred by Franz Collart. Van Belle and Happy Chin de Saulieu Z finished in 24.81 seconds, giving them a lead of eight hundredths of a second over the competition.

While Christian Ahlmann helped make nice in Riesenbeck, Germany, last weekend, British rider Joe Clee defended our stable colours in Opglabbeek. Among others, he called on our 8-year-old stallion Ansigh de Lis Z, the son of Aganix du Seigneur Z and Kannan who was bred in the Netherlands by W.M. Lisman. Clee and Ansingh de Lis Z competed in a 1.40m class three times over the weekend and also managed to jump into the prizes three times. After a ^7th place on Thursday and a ^5th place on Saturday, the highlight of the weekend followed on Sunday with a great^2nd place.

In Opglabbeek Joe Clee also brought our 8-year-old stallion A Man After Midnight Z (Aganix du Seigneur Z x Aldatus - Breeder: Zangersheide Stud Farm) to the start and they too managed to qualify three times. An ^11th place in the 1.40m class on Thursday was followed by an ^eighth place in both the 1.40m class on Saturday and Sunday.

Another notable combination in Opglabbeek was Canadian rider Jonathan Ding and the 9-year-old mare Chacoon Z (Chacoon Blue x Numero Uno - Breeder: J.J.M. Pex). Ding and Chacoon Z made three appearances in the ring, which also resulted in a place at the top of the leaderboard three times. On Thursday they started their competition with a ^6th place in the 1.35m class, and the following days a ^4th place in the 1.40m class on Friday and a ^3rd place in the 1.40m class on Sunday followed.

There were also two placings for Belgian rider Jens Thys and the also 9-year-old grey mare Jade Z (Jaguar Van Paemel x Lancaster V - Breeder: Carmen Raymakers). Thys and Jade Z immediately got off to a good start on Thursday when they gained ^4th place in the 1.40m opening class, while on Saturday they did even better and secured ^3rd place in another 1.40m class.

Finally, Belgian rider Andres Vereecke also managed a podium place with the 14-year-old gelding Dukaat van Herkenrode Z (Dicasi O.H. x Darco - Breeder: Cynthia Gilissen). In the 1.40m class on Friday, Vereecke and Dukaat van Herkenrode Z did not make a mistake in either the^1st or^2nd phase, resulting in a great ^3rd place.