WC 7-year-olds: Belgian champion wins second qualifier
Private Dancer van 't Meulenhof (Gemini x Marius Claudius) became Belgian champion last month, with Norwegian Jenny Korgsaeter riding for Dorperheide Stables. Yesterday she had an unfortunate rail down, but Friday she took revenge with the fastest clear time in the second qualification. And thus secured herself a place in the final on Sunday.
It is remarkable that the top ranked riders on Friday all had a rail down on Thursday. They realised they needed to step it up a notch. And they did, coming in 10 seconds faster than the time allowed. Hannes Ahlmann, who was vice European champion with Germany at the European Young Riders Championships in the summer, also ranked up four faults yesterday. Today he finished in second place with Tokyo 4 (Toulon x Cassini I).
Wilm Vermeir (BEL) piloted Eytuka of Two Notes (Emerald x Chin Chin) to third place. James Whitaker (GBR) and Just Call me Henry (Argento) set the fourth time, just ahead of Jos Verlooy (BEL) and Paris van den Dael (I'm Moerhoeve's Star x For Passion d'Ive Z) from the breeding farm of Eric and Frederik Dekens.
Swede Rolf Goran Bengtsson (Caillan, Casall x Carry) came in sixth today. Thibault Philippaerts and Crystal Claire (Cristallo I x Oklund) won the first qualifier and finished ninth after a clear round this 2nd qualifier. A total of 50 seven-year-olds remained clear.
