16 September '25
Z-horses colour the podium in the CSI2* Grand Prix of Esposende
© Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida
A lot of attention went to the various five-star competitions in Riesenbeck and Williamsburg last weekend, but of course, in addition to these, a lot of other international competitions took place. In Portugal, for example, the Clube HÃpico Do Norte in Esposende was jumping at two-star level for the second week in a row, where the CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday became a great success for our blue and yellow studbook colours.
A total of forty-one combinations made their appearance in this 1.45m Grand Prix, and of these, twelve managed to advance to the decisive jump-off. Those twelve included two Z-horses and one of them was the 12-year-old stallion U2 Westleven Z, a son of Uto Kervec and Calypso III who was born to breeder Wim Onsia. U2 Westleven Z has been a combination with Portuguese rider Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida since the end of last year and last weekend it became clear that they are now completely in tune with each other. After the duo also made themselves heard on Friday with a 3rd place in the 1.40m class, they became winners of the CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday! Almeidea and U2 Westleven Z managed to repeat that flawless performance in that jump-off and with a finishing time of 44.47 seconds, they were more than half a second ahead of the competition.
Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida: "I am very happy that I was able to win this Grand Prix with U2. It is a very special horse for me and he really shows quality. He was very sensitive in the beginning, so it took a while to get to know each other. But now we have found each other and I am really looking forward to the future with him."
But 3rd place in this CSI2* Grand Prix was also taken up by a Z-horse thanks to Portuguese rider Antonio Matos Almeida and the 10-year-old stallion Fernando Z (Focus GLN x St. Ludwigs Equilino) from the breeding farm of De Claesstraete Stables. They too managed to stay clear again in that jump-off, reaching the finishing line in 46.09 seconds.
On Saturday, Brazilian rider Felipe Ramos Guinato secured a podium place with the 9-year-old stallion Que Paso Z (Quabri De L'Isle x Cambridge) from breeder Anton Vullers. During the 1.40m class in two phases, they did not show any faults and this resulted in a nice 3rd place. For Portuguese Henrique Drumond and the 8-year-old chestnut stallion Commerald Z (Comme Il Faut x Emerald van 't Ruytershof - Breeder: LVP Stables) there was another 5th place in this class, while his compatriot Rodrigo Silva Morgado and the 14-year-old gelding Othello Z (Ogano Sitte x Caletto I - Breeder: F. Verhagen) took 7th place.