Major Events at Zangersheide
Monday, September 25, 2006
The annual World Breeding Championships for Young Horses took place at this superb venue in Lanaken, Belgium, from 14th to 17th September. As usual there were 2 preliminary classes for each of the age-groups, with the best qualifying for their championships on the last day, consolation classes being held on the Saturday.
The 6 year-old category was sponsored by the Muermans Group - the Final being worth 4,500 euros to the winner. Britain's David McPherson, now working for Paul Schockemohle, was the rider of the 6 year-old champion, A Pickachu de Muze, a BWP by Kannan out of a mare by Chin Chin. They had the fastest of 3 clears in the 6 horse jump-off for the 1.35m class in which there were 43 starters. Joe Clee (who won the 2002 Foxhunter title with Unbelieveable Darco), and who is now working in Belgium, took 6th with An Sidec, a KWPN by Andiamo Z.
Both had been among the 105 clears out of 204 starters in the 1st qualifier (1.30m not against the clock) as were Hannah Paul with Terra Rosa (by Concorde), Philip Miller with Caritiar Z (by Chellano Z) and Talan (by Concorde), and Joe again with Umdiwar van het Juxschot Z. Mennell Watson with Halida du Rouet (by Baloubet du Rouet and out of a Darco mare) had 4 faults. David McPherson had 5 faults with his other two rides, Baloubet's Lady (another by Baloubet du Rouet) and Chopin Z (by Carthago Z).
8 faulters included Simon Nicholson with Marcolas G (by Alme de Nids out of a Lars Irco G Mare) and Rachel Burr with Truleva (a KWPN by Manhattan). Derek Morton with Mr Majestic (by Concorde) was eliminated. The 2nd qualifier was one round, faults & time and this was won by the eventual champion whose prize for this was 625 euros. Marcolas G was clear, finishing 20th, as was An Sidec in 25th. Talan, Caritiar Z and Umdiwar had 4 faults apiece, while Halida du Rouet and Mr Majestic each had 8 faults.
In the Consolation class of 125 starters who jumped a 1.30m course, Umdiwar was 6th, Terra Rosa 15th, Caritiar Z 22nd, Marcolas G 25th, Halida du Rouet 31st - all of them going clear. Talan had 4 faults, Chopin Z had 8 faults. Mr Majestic and Truleva were both retired.
The 5 year-old classes were funded by La Silla, the champion taking home 2,500 euros. Here the winner was Calvados Z (by Chellano Z) ridden by Holland's Roelof Bril who was the fastest of 7 clears in a 15 strong jump-off. The 48 starters jumped a 1.25m course. Philip Miller rode Di Cornish's Univeau (by Numero Uno) into 12th place. British-based Australian rider Rowan Willis finished in 28th with a 4 fault round on Sue Welch's Uleia, a mare by Oklund. Renkum Offcentre, a stallion by the popular AES stallion Renkum Valentino, was ridden for Henk Menderman by Holland's Tim Franssen into 31st for a 5 fault round.
Hannah Paul and Udokus (by Murano) were eliminated. Neither of the qualifying classes (1.20m) were against the clock. There were 198 starters in the first with 116 going clear, including all of the above plus Mennell Watson on Etna B (by It's the Business out of a Darco mare), Laura Renwick and Kirsch (by Kannan out of a Carnaval Drum mare) and Charlotte Foreman on Alimo (an AES mare by Animo).
David McPherson on Desperado Z (by Darco out of a Ramiro Z mare) had 4 faults. Hannah Paul and Ulaine (a mare by Kojak) had 9 and Nick Benterman with Vivaro (by Grosso Z) were eliminated. 62 of the 196 starters on Friday went clear, including Uleia, Univeau, Renkum Offcentre and Desperado Z. Alimo, Ulaine and Etna B had 4 faults. Kirsch and Vivaro were eliminated. The Consolation class saw 123 starters tackle a 1.25 course against the clock. Etna B went clear and finished 22nd. Ulaine had 1 time fault for 35th. Desperado Z, Alimo and Kirsch had 4 faults each. Vivaro had 10 faults.
The 7 year-old category was sponsored by Hofmann Bank, the champion being rewarded with 5,000 euros. 11 of the 35 starters in the 1.40m Final went clear and the fastest of the 3 who were clear again was Classic Lady a SWB by Cardento, ridden by Sweden's Svante Johansson who was 1.67 secs faster than Laura Renwick and the SF mare Limelight de Breve (by Allegretto) who has been very successful at all stages of her career so far. 3,000 euros was the value of their prize.
Sweden's Niklas Arvidsson was the winner of 1,000 euros in the 1st qualifier also set at 1.40m (149 starters) with VDL Empire (by Emilion) who had the fastest of the 23 clears in the 48 horse jump-off. Limelight de Breve had 8 faults in the jump-off. Amanda Edwards and her mother-in-law's Cotton Candy II (a home-bred mare by Heartbreaker) finished 93rd with 6 faults.
Claire McCarthy and Special Graf (stallion by Burggraaf out of an Indoctro mare) were 122nd with 9 faults. Friday's qualifier, again a 1.40m class with a jump-off, was won by Belgium's Dennis van Tilburg on VDL Sill (another by Emilion) who had the fastest of 10 clears, runner-up being Wonderfull-Miltoo (by Grandeur out of a Darco mare) ridden by Ludo Philippaerts. 37 of the 143 starters were clear initially but several elected not to go in the jump-off.
Cotton Candy II won 125 euros for her 9th place finish. Limelight de Breve was 41st with the fastest 4 faults in the first round and Special Graf had 5 faults. Saturday's consolation class (1.35m) was one round against the clock. It had 89 starters and Brazil's Carlos Rivetti on Palouchin du Ligny (stallion by Baloubet out of a Chin Chin mare) won the 1,125 euros first prize. Special Graf had 13 faults and Cotton Candy II did not take part.
Friday's warm-up class for competitors in the FEI Zangersheide Sires of the World Championship (for approved stallions aged 8 or over) had a 1.40m course and a first prize of 1,000 euros, with placings decided on faults and time. 12 of the 48 starters went clear, the fastest being the 11year-old Van Schijndel's Rascin (by Ramiro) ridden by Piet Raymakers Jnr. who went on to finish 8th in the Final. 10th place and 175 euros went to the lovely skewbald 8 year-old O'Combo de l'Eau (by Concorde out of a Samber mare) ridden by Pennie Cornish. The 1.50m Grand Prix held on Saturday had 46 starters and 10 went clear. The champion was the 11 year-old Gestion Priamus Z (by Pucci out of a Grannus mare) ridden by Vincent Voorn (son of 2000 Olympic Silver medallist Albert Voorn) who had 1 time fault and won 6,250 euros. Pennie retired O'Combo de l'Eau.
The European Open for Future Masters (CSI***) ran on alongside the European Open Masters CSI**** (21st-24th September). This innovation was designed to give riders aged under 25 the chance to compete at this level, because many have few opportunities as Senior riders tend to take priority in terms of selection or invitations. The winners of the 3 Finals will have their own and their horses' travelling expenses to Monterrey for the Intercontinental Future Masters Championship next spring, paid for by Zangersheide.
All 3 sections were sponsored by Bank Hofmann and Thursday's Bronze League qualifier (1.30m) attracted 101 starters of which 47 went clear. The fastest of the 28 double clears was Belgium's Vincent Lambrecht on Orage a 10 year-old mare, their prize being 1,000 euros. Robert Whitaker had Vicky van de Grundeval in 10th place. He rode her the 8 year-old in Young Horse classes in Germany earlier this year. She came to him along with his top ride Lacroix 9 from France's Hubert Bourdy who took the Bronze Individual medal in the 1990 WEG when Robert's dad John won Silver. Hannah Paul was 14th with Lucky, and Chris Frazer with Aragon was 27th.
Chris trained with Di Lampard who subsequently arranged for him to widen his experience by being based in Germany at the establishment of Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Denmark's Bo Kristofferson. Friday's qualifier was a 1.35m 2 phase in which 97 started, with 26 achieving 1st phase clears. Fastest of the 19 to go clear in the 2nd was Germany's Philipp Schober riding a mare called Wachterin. Chris was 19th and Robert 21st. Hannah had 1 time fault in her 1st phase. The Final took place on Saturday afternoon in the Ramiro Z arena (named in honour of the great sire ( Holsteiner 1965-1995) who was one of the first stallions to have a career jumping at top international level, ridden by the late Fritz Ligges, and who sired Olympic Gold medallist Ratina Z). The 40 starters were reduced to 17 for the jump-off in which only 5 went clear again. Fastest by over a second was Robert Whitaker who won 2,400 euros. Hannah finished 31st with 4 faults and Chris 33rd with 8.
The Silver League 1st qualifier (1.40m), worth 1200 euros to the winner, had 101 starters of whom only 14 were clear. Fastest of the 8 also fault-free in the jump-off was Belgium's Marjan Poukens on Little Lady. Chris Frazer was 8th on Corint. Richard Beecroft was 16th Iron de Roz Fao, having had 1 time fault. Hannah Paul finished 46th on her father's Saffier van de Brandkreek (by Heartbreaker) with 5 faults, Gemma Plumley 74th on Johnsey Estates' Rendez Vous (by Clinton) with 11 faults, and Robert Whitaker on Prima Vera was eliminated.
Next day's form was different and Robert won the 1.40m 2 phase (97 starters) with the 9 year-old mare by Concorde taking home 1,500 euros. They were fastest of 24 who were clear in both phases. Runner-up was Maekel van der Vleuten (son of Dutch international rider Eric) on Audi's Parmala Douche (a mare by Mr Blue who was so successful when ridden by Bert Romp). Chris was 23rd and Richard was 28th with 4 faults in the second phase. Gemma finished 58th, Hannah 62nd both with 4 faults in the 1st phase.
The Final was held late on Saturday afternoon and 38 tackled the 1.45m first round, of whom 8 went clear. The 4,800 euros first prize was won by the Egyptian Abdel Said riding Team Harmony Sky. Based in the Netherlands this 17 year-old was very impressove when winning the under-23 Grand Prix at last year's Towerlands CSI**. Runner-up was Maekel van der Vleuten. Chris was 11th with 4 faults, Richard 26th with 12 and Robert 31st on 14 faults. The consolation class open to competitors in Bronze, Silver & Gold categories took place on Saturday morning in the Alme Z arena. The 2 phase 1.30/1.40m class had 131 starters, of which 37 were clear in the 1st phase. The 1,000 euros winner's prize went to Germany's Frederik Knorren on Jumping Carlos (by Caretino). Hannah finished 51st with 4 faults in the 1st phase, Richard Beecroft 85th on Key Defendent with 8 faults. Gemma did not start either of her two.
First qualifier in the Gold League (1.45m) had 79 starters, 20 of them progressing to the jump-off. Maekel van der Vleuten was successful again, this time with Audi's Naomi (by Concorde), winning 1,500 euros. Hannah Paul was 8th on Iquem du Plessis with the slowest of the clears. Sian Price was on 13th on Rambo III (12 year-old by It's the Business),and Chris Frazer 15th on Magic Boy ( a 10 year-old Rheinlander by Mackintosh) , both with 4 faults in the jump-off. Gemma Plumley finished 21st on Continue B. Richard Beecroft 24th on Key Defendent, both with 1 time fault.
Robert Whitaker was 68th on Nepos Van Limbo with 13 faults. 77 started in Friday's 1.45m 2 phase and winner of the 2,200 euros first prize was Dutch rider Caroline Poels on Poco Loco (by Ircolando) fastest of 11 who were clear in the 2nd phase. Sian was 15th with 4 faults in the 2nd phase. Chris was 27th with 1 time fault, Robert 33rd, Hannah 40th with 4 faults apiece, and Gemma and Richard 57th & 58th with 8 faults each. The Final (1.50m) was on Saturday afternoon in the Ratina Z arena and 10 out of 32 starters went into the jump-off, 8 of which were clear again. Fastest by a margin of 2 secs to take 8,200 euros was Sweden's Sofia Kroon on Gucci, a 14 year-old KWPN gelding. Chris and Sian did well to be 2nd and 3rd winning 7,000 amd 5,700 euros respectively, while Hannah got 1,000 for 8th place.
British riders also fared well in the Special Invitational classes during this show. Jane Davies on Tulip van de Heffinck (by Cash) won the first Merit Capital Medium Tour (1.35m) worth 500 euros which had 16 starters. She also took 7th with Patrick. Tracy Priest was 6th on Laetitia and Lawley Squibb 8th on Rusty, all of them having been clear. The first La Silla Small Tour (1.10/1.20m) had 43 starters and was won by Tracy Priest on Symphonie van het Eikelbos (by Darco) who was rewarded with 600 euros. Jane Davies was 3rd on Puidam (by Guidam), Lawley 8th on Lara Joy II and Marcus Reeder 11th on Quirina. Saturday's Small Tour Final (1.15m/1.25m ) had 39 starters and was won by Jane on Puidam with the fastest of 4 clears in the 13 horse jump-off, adding 1,800 euros to their winnings. Marcus and Tracy were 16th & 17th with 4 faults apiece and Lawley had 5 faults. Jane had another win, worth 900 euros, on Tulip van de Heffinck in the 15 starter Medium Tour 1.35m against the clock. Tracy came 3rd and Lawley 7th. 13 were forward for the Medium Tour Final, only 3 of whom made the jump-off. Belgium's Nina Verlooy on Flash Bounce was more than 2 seconds faster than Tracy to win 2,700 euros. Tracy's 2nd was worth 1,8600 euros and Jane took 1,350 for 3rd.
The establishment's competition infrastructure was redesigned for 2006 and it is claimed that the 3 sand arenas and the training paddocks can withstand all weather conditions. There can be no doubt that the contribution made by 80 year-old Dutch-born Leon Melchior (who set up Zangersheide initially as a competition yard and later founded the stud in the 1970s) to the world of show jumping is truly remarkable.
For full details see www.zangersheide.com/en
