Belgian riders continue to dominate!
The Belgian riders continue to provide great performances and especially victories during this second week of the Z-Tour 2022! Of the five three-star classes that were on the program yesterday, two again noted a Belgian victory. For example, the 1.50m high Longines Ranking class was won yesterday afternoon by François Mathy Jr. with his 14-year-old grey stallion Casanova de L'Herse (Ugano Sitte x Kashmir Van Schuttershof). The course of coursedesigner Bernard Mathy and his team remained quite tough, because of the fifty-seven combinations that appeared at the start, only six were able to qualify for the jump-off. Mathy managed to keep a cool head in the jump-off and again managed to ensure a clear round. He crossed the finish line in 41.66 seconds and thus ensured yet another Belgian victory.
Second place went to France thanks to Valentin Besnard and the 11-year-old stallion Beau Gosse du Park (Quaprice Bois Margot x Kannan). He also managed to keep the zero on the scoreboard in the jump-off, only it took him almost half a second longer than Mathy in 42.10 seconds. The third place was again for Belgium thanks to Yves Vanderhasselt and his 13-year-old top mare Jeunesse (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Quasimdo Vd Molendreef). Vanderhasselt, who also finished second in the 1.40m opening class on Thursday, crossed the finish line in 43.29 seconds, but also saw a pole roll out of the cups.
Before the start of this 1.50m main class, a 1.45m class was scheduled at the Ratina Z Arena in which Gilles Thomas convincingly took the victory with his 9-year-old stallion Comdero I Van Beek Z (Comme Il Faut x Vigaro). In a class against the clock Thomas finished in 63.58 seconds and with that performance he was almost 4 full seconds ahead of his closest pursuer. And that closest pursuer was the Dutch lady rider Megan Laseur. She was again in the saddle of the 9-year-old gelding It's A Walk In The Park (Numero Uno x Calvados), with whom she already managed to secure a 3rd place on Friday. Laseur finished yesterday in 67.48 seconds and with that she secured another top ranking. Christian Ahlmann completed the podium in third place with our 8-year-old grey stallion Columbus Z (Cornet Obolensky x Baloubet du Rouet). He also managed to keep the 0 on the scoreboard in a time of 67.92 seconds.
In the 1.35m high morning class it was the British rider Joseph Clayton who took the victory. He appeared in the ring with the 10-year-old mare Jalanna (Jalil x Fabriano) and claimed the victory with a clear round in 54.69 seconds. After a third place on Friday, the Belgian lady rider Karen Oris confirmed her good form this time with a second place. In the saddle of her 10-year-old mare Mali d'Or (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Marome NW) she crossed the finish line in 55.73 seconds. The third combination that managed to get a podium place here was the Luxembourg lady rider Odile Gierech with the 9-year-old gelding Nostradamus Vd Watertoren (Glasgow-W vh Merelsnest x Saygon). Gierech finished here in 57.07 seconds.
The program at the Almé Z Arena started yesterday morning with a 1.40m class in 2 phases special and, just like Friday during the 1.35m class, the victory went to the Swiss rider Pius Schwizer and his 14-year-old gelding H5 Zapzerap (Zapatero x Ramiro ). Schwizer rushed to the finish in 26.33 seconds and again managed to leave everyone behind. For the Dutch lady rider Kim Emmen there was again a second place with her 12-year-old mare Farah (Arezzo VDL x Concorde), with whom she already shone on Thursday and Friday. She stopped the clock in 26.37 seconds and with that she was just short of knocking Schwizer off the throne. Belgian lady rider Sylvie Morrier followed in third place with her 13-year-old mare Jet Set du Beaumont (Domino de Moyon x Skippy II). She crossed the finish line in 26.95 seconds in the second phase.
The last CSI3* class on the program yesterday was a 1.30m class and here it were the Swedish combinations that showed the best results. The victory went to lady rider Isa Hjortsäter with the 11-year-old mare Filaloha (Cohiba x Irco Mena). In both the first and the second phase she managed to keep it clear and this in a time of 27.97 seconds. Her compatriot Emma Emanuelsson followed in second place with the 9-year-old mare Kannograna PS (Kannan x Catapult 7). They also provided a flawless round and crossed the line in 28.92 seconds. Finally, the Dutch rider Piet Raijmaker Jr. completed the podium in third place. He brought his 8-year-old stallion Jaloubet (Baloubet du Rouet x Clinton) clear to the finish in 31.34 seconds.
