Liege CSI 4*
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The 14th running (1-5 Nov) of the popular Belgian show also included a variety of national classes plus a CSI-J and the first international classes were on Thursday. The Junior 1.40m class had 36 starters and a jump-off between 8. It was won by the host country's Wouter Devos on Cantaloup 2 (by Carthago). Ireland's Darragh Kenny on Neverland had 4 faults and was 5th. Andrea Weinberg, 17 year-old daughter of international riders Peter and Helena, was 17th on Locksley with 4 faults in the 1st round. She suffered a bad fall in the summer of 2005, so it is good to see that she is back in action at this level. Her mother (Yorkshire's Helena Dickinson (a European YR medallist for GB - many of us remember her partnership with the exuberant Just Malone) who recently re-married and is now Helena Stormanns, was also competing at the show. In the equivalent class on Friday, the winner following a 4 horse jump-off, was Sweden's Alexander Zetterman on Lotus. Ireland's Frank Curran on Lolita had 4 faults and finished 12th, just ahead of Andrea Weinberg. Darragh Kenny on Neverland had 8 faults and was 21st.
The Senior classes got underway on Friday with a 1.35m faults & time which had 53 starters, 12 of whom were clear. Fastest was Egypt's young star, Abdel Said on Team Harmony Maureen, 1.79 quicker than Belgium's Kristof Cleeren on Cardoso van de Helle, to win 900 euros. Robert Bevis on Hosire des Chaines won 200 euros for 7th. Mark Armstong on Kannelle de la Baie (8 year-old mare by Allegretto - a new ride for him - she was formerly ridden by Germany's Marc Bettinger) had a time fault and was 13th. Robert Whitaker on Lacroix 9 had 2 faults and was 16th. Alex Rident on Kiwi des Gres had 6 and was 32nd, and Tim Gredley was eliminated with Sjarmette. Ireland's Harry Marshall on Morning Star was 12th and Denis Lynch on Hello Popsie finished 28th with 4 faults.
The Prix Euphony, a 1.40m 2 phase had 51 starters, 24 of whom went clear in the 1st with 8 staying clear in the 2nd. Francois Mathy jnr (an economics graduate who is on the committee of the International Jumping Riders Club) on Ivoire du Rouet (10 year-old stallion by Quatoubet du Rouet) took the 1,600 euros 1st prize. Canada's Courtney Vince on Nalla was just 0.21 behind and won 1,300 euros and the 1,000 3rd prize went to Belgian-born Gregory Wathelet who now represents Ukraine, with Lantinus. Robert Bevis on Wexford was 14th with 4 faults and Mark Armstong on Sefana 21st with 6 faults. Robert Whitaker on Vicky van de Grundeval was equal 26th with 4 faults in the 1st phase. Denis Lynch on Schnee Sturm was equal 43rd with 9 faults and Harry Marshall on Rainman 48th with 12 faults. The Prix du Journal Spectacle (1.45m) had a field of 42 starters and 12 qualified for the jump-off. Quickest clear - 28.98 - came from Robert Whitaker on Prima Vera (9 year-old mare by Concorde) to earn 4,900 euros. Christian Ahlmann on Sinclaire (11 year-old Hannoverian gelding by Singular Joter) was runner-up in 29.59 winning 3,700 euros and Gregory Wathelet on Hyades Belmaniere (11 year-old SF gelding) took 2,700 for 3rd. Brazil's Cassio Rivetti on Olona was 4th and Tim Gredley on N Ulisina had the only other clear (32.54) winning 5th prize of 1,200 euros. Ludo Philippaerts on Vici van't Plutonia Hof was fastest of all - 28.87 - but had 4 faults. Harry Marshall on Ado Annie and Mark Armstrong on Thesaura were 13th and 18th with 4 faults each. Denis Lynch on Gem of India came 24th with 8 faults. Alex Rident on Hermes de Bruyeres and Robert Bevis on Lucy May were 37th and 38th with 13 faults.
Ireland had a win in Saturday's Junior 1.30m thanks to Frank Curran and Nallinimo whose clear was 0.24 faster than Switzerland's Stefanie Lauber on Chrescada. Darragh Kenny on Lisa de Jaf was 5th. 15 of the 35 starters produced clear rounds. The Junior Grand Prix (1.40m) also had 35 starters but only 4 qualified for the jump-off, and it proved to be another victory for 16 year-old Alexander Zetterman on Lotus (7 year-old Holsteiner mare) who had the only double clear. Andrea Weinberg on Locksley (13 year-old gelding by Lucky Luke) was 9th taking the final prize. Darragh Kenny on Neverland (8 year-old gelding) was 12th with 4 faults and Frank Curran on Lolita (8 year-old mare) 23rd with 8 faults. The Prix du Champagne Taitinger was a 1.35m 2 phase with 41 starters, 21 going clear in the 1st and just 6 doing so in the 2nd. Switzerland's Werner Muff on Catch Me II (9 year-old Rheinlander mare) was quickest, winning 1,000 euros. Robert Bevis on Lucy May won 350 euros for 5th place. Denis Lynch on Hello Popsie was 12th, and Alex Rident on Kiwi des Gres 16th with 4 faults each. Harry Marshall on Rainman and Mark Armstrong on Kannelle de la Baie were 20th and 21st with 8 faults. Robert Whitaker on Prima Vera had one time fault to finish equal 22nd.
The Prix Vivacite was a 1.40m Table C which had 46 starters and gave Abdel Said his second win with Team Harmony Maureen. Their penalty-free round in 48.51 earned 4,900 euros. Next best was Robert Whitaker on Vicky van de Grundeval 1.11 behind. 3rd was Christian Ahlmann on Sebastian (7 year-old gelding by Lux Z). Robert Bevis on Hosire des Chaines was 16th in 58.01 which included a 4 secs penalty. Denis Lynch on Schnee Sturm was 17th (58.23 including 8), Tim Gredley on Sjarmette 26th (65.36 including 4), Mark Armstrong on Sefana 33rd (75.80 including 4). Harry Marshall retired Ado Annie. The Prix du Ministere de l'Agriculture (1.45m) had 47 starters. 17 qualified for the jump-off and 8 were clear again. It was close fought and Spain's Manuel Fernadez Saro on AK Canabis Z (11 year-old stallion by Contender) emerged the winner of the 4,900 euros to prize. Just 0.08 slower was Eric van der Vleuten on Pitareusa. 3rd was Belgium's Dirk Demeersman on Tiquila (10 year-old mare by Major de la Cour) a further 0.60 behind. 4th was Canada's Eric Lamaze on Narcotique de Muze II (9 year-old by Darco) and 5th Christian Ahlmann on Sinclaire just 1.69 slower than the winner. Alex Rident on Hermes de Bruyeres won 700 euros for 8th. Robert Whitaker on Lacroix 9 finished 13th with 4 faults, just missing the prize money. Denis Lynch on Gem of India was 27th with 4 faults in the 1st round. Robert Bevis on Wexford had 13 and finished 42nd and Harry Marshall on Morning Star was eliminated.
Sunday's first class was the Prix du Journal Vers l'Avenir and had 43 starters. This time it was the turn of Kristof Cleeren and Cardos van de Helle (11 year-old Holsteiner gelding by Calando I) to head the list, achieving the fastest of 13 clears to earn another 1,000 euros. Runner-up was Eric van der Vleuten on Pirouette (9 year-old by Lux). Tim Gredley on Sjarmette was 9th of the 12 prizewinners, exactly 7 secs slower than the winners. Robert Bevis on Wexford (10 year-old Irish-bred gelding), Denis Lynch on Schnee Sturm and Alex Rident on Kiwi des Gres were 19th, 22nd and 25th with 4 faults each. Mark Armstrong on Kannelle de la Baie was 27th with 6 faults and Robert Whitaker on Vicky van de Grundeval was eliminated. The Prix Ethias was a 1.40m Accumulator which had 41 starters, 12 of whom scored the maximum of 65 points. The 1,600 euros top prize went to Ludo Philippaerts on Tauber van het Kapelhof (10 year-old stallion by Darco) who was 1.38 quicker than Cassio Rivetti on Ozone de l'Heribus (7 year-old mare). Denis Lynch on Hello Popsie (8 year-old British-bred mare by Hairos out of a Dallas mare) was 3rd, Robert Whitaker on Lacroix 9 was 4th and Robert Bevis on Hosire des Chaines was 7th. Mark Armstrong on Sefana was 15th with 62 points and Harry Marshall on Rainman 32nd with 44 points.
The Grand Prix de la Ville de Liege (1.50m) had a field of 46 and 8 qualified for the jump-off. Fastest of the 3 double clears was Eric Levallois on his WEG 2002 Team Gold medal winning partner, Diamant de Semilly (15 year-old stallion by Le Tot de Semilly). Christian Ahlmann on Lorenzo (9 year-old Westfalien gelding by Lord Caletto) was 1.07 slower while the American rider Jennifer Jones on Cashmire opted for a steady round almost 10 secs slower than the winner's. Their pay cheques were 22,000, 17,000 and 11,000 euros respectively. Gregory Wathelet on Lantinus was just 0.04 slower than Eric but had 4 faults. Cassio Rivetti on Olona, Jos Lansink on Ta Belle van Sombeke, Austria's Gerfried Puck on S+L 11th and Bleeker (11 year-old Westfalien gelding by Prominenz) and Belgium's Yves Simon on Mazann des Perees took the 6th, 7th and 8th awards. Mark Armstrong on Thesaura and Alex Rident on Hermes de Bruyeres were 19th and 21st with 4 faults. Harry Marshall on Ado Annie and Denis Lynch on Gem of India were 31st and 32nd with 12 faults, Tim Gredley on N Ulisina was 38th with 16 and Robert Whitaker on Prima Vera were among the 5 to retire.
