Day one came to a conclusion with the introduction of a brand new team class the 9 year old Stallions set as a 1.40m 2 Phase class for the first qualifier. This class saw twenty combinations battle it out for top honours across two phases. The KWPN claimed a victory on day one with Ronnie Jones and the nine year old Key West [Otangelo x Phin-Phin] . They flew across the grass, stopping the clock at a lightning fast 27.68 seconds helping secure KWPN a solid start!
“Key West felt really good. He jumped here last year for the KWPN team as an eight year old. He loved that grass ring and felt really nice. We love coming here and he is really happy too,” explained Jones. Jones is feeling positive about his line up for this weekend as a part of the KWPN team. “We’ve got him, Ruth [Dowie] has another five year old stallion here, and I’ve got my mare Kaleche who came from the same breeder as Key West in the 2*.”
Their strong showing on day one means the KWPN now leads the division with an impressive 239 points. The Selle Français studbook sits close behind with 224 points. Rounding out the top three after day one is the Anglo European Studbook with 214 points in the 9 year old Stallions division.
Riding for the Belgian Warmblood Horse, Loewie Joppen made it look easy aboard the nine year old Pallieter vd N.Ranch [Cornet Obolensky x Toulon], delivering the first double clear of the class and setting the bar high with a time of 28.65 seconds. Next to go was Thea Jelcic for the KWPN aboard Jaloubet K VDL [Baloubet du Rouet x Polydor]. Jelcic soared over the final fence, posting a double clear and tentatively claiming second place with the ten year old stallion.
The Selle Français studbook was next in the ring. Dylan Levallois started on course with the nine year old Funky Music Semilly [Diamant de Semilly x Apache d'Adriers]. The pair delivered a double clear to tentatively claim second place, and were met by cheers by the Selle Français team as they jumped the final fence. Filippo Tabarini rode into the ring aboard the nine year old Creme de la Creme Z [Cornet Obolensky x Carthago Z] for Studbook Zangersheide vzw. The pair put on the gas to the last fence but could not catch the lightning fast Joppen, jumping into second place.
Next to go was the Belgian Warmblood Horse with Sven Joseph Hadley and Phenomene Bleu VDM [Diamant de Semilly x Nabab de Reve]. Fresh off a top ten finish in the Sires of the World class in Lanaken, the pair went full gas to the final fence, jumping into first place. Next up was the Selle Français studbook with Francois Xavier Boudant and GFE Falko de Hus [Baloubet du Rouet x Vivaldi du Seigneur]. Boudant delivered a clear round with the nine year old stallion. The pair were met by cheers as they crossed the finish line, claiming a fourth place finish.
Bas Moerings was next in the ring for the KWPN with the ten year old Jesther [Cardento x Guidam]. The pair delivered a smooth and clear round, securing a top ten finish. Gemma Stevens entered the arena with Pandito van't Merelsnest Z [Plot Blue x Norit Larino] for Studbook Zangersheide vzw. Stevens rode full gas in phase two aboard the nine year old stallion, claiming sixth place. Representing the Anglo European Studbook, Iris Hakvoort rode into the ring with ADSL van www.Olland.Biz [Allegro x Namelus R]. The pair came home on a clean sheet to secure a top ten finish.
As day one drew to a close, riders and friends gathered in the Palace du Concours to toast a successful first day of competition. Don’t miss a moment as the competition heats up at the final event of the season at the Longines Tops International Arena this weekend in Valkenswaard.
8 Year Old 1.40m 2 Phase
The opening competition for eight-year-olds for the WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy was won by Irish combination Jack Ryan and DSH Lucky Junior on this first day at Longines Tops International Arena. The competition counted 47 horses representing 10 different studbooks. The descendant of BBS Mcgregor and registered with the Irish Sport Horse was the very fastest in the second phase of his round, stopping the clock at 26.8 seconds. The elegant grey was bred and is owned by Seamus Drea. A representative of Springpferdezuchtverband Oldenburg-International e.V. (OS) finished in second place: Chucky PS ridden by German Marcel Schneider. Chucky is a son of Chacoon Blue out of a Cornet Obolensky dam. The gelding was bred at Paul Schockemöhle's Gestüt Lewitz and rider Scheider himself is now the owner. Third place went to a KWPN breeding product, Lalique, ridden by Olympic bronze medallist Maikel van der Vleuten. The bay mare sired by Berlin is owned by Gabriela Roger Ibars.
All placings in this first competition for eight-year-olds were added up, putting Oldenburg-International (OS) in the lead with a total of 239 points. The Irish Sport Horse Studbook is currently in second place with 228 points followed by the KWPN with 224 points.
5 Year Old 1.20m Not Against the Clock
The five-year-olds rode a class with obstacles up to 1.20m and they did not have to ride on time. A clear round was enough for first place. 33 out of 57 combinations managed to do so and they all finished in first place. In the standings, six studbooks, Oldenburg-International (OS), Irish Sport Horse Studbook, KWPN, Selle Français, Anglo European Studbook and the Danish Warmblood now share first place with 270 points each.
6 Year Old 1.30m 2 Phase
The class for six-year-olds, a two-phases competition, was also won by an ISH-registered horse. Maximum Numero Too HSH was ridden to victory by Irishman Sven Joseph Hadley in 24.22 seconds. The gelding is a descendant of Aganix du Seigneur out of a mare by Numero Uno. Breeder is Eamon McArdle and owner Hadley Sport Horses Ltd. The Selle Français mare Illiz de Plabenn came second with French rider Gwenole Le Guen. Illiz de Plabenn's sire is the stallion Rock'n Roll Semilly and her dam is a descendant of Robin II Z. The Selle Français studbook also took third place with Irreelle de Talma. The bay mare is a breeding product of the stallion By Ceira d'Ick out of a Quaprice Bois Margot mare.
In the standings, the Selle Français studbook leads with 243 points thanks to Illiz de Plabenn, Irreelle de Talma, Iliade de Beaufour, Indy de Talma, Isfandiyar Semilly and Isis de B'Neville. The Irish Sport Horse studbook is in second place with 239 points followed by the KWPN with 221 points.