By Jo de Roo
Photography: FEI/Stefan Lafrentz
On Sunday, September 25 all the age-group finals for five-, six-, and seven-year-old showjumpers took place at Zangersheide, Lanakan, which saw high-qualify from beginning to end. It was a double win for the Irish Sport Horse studbook, and one world title for the Holsteiner Verband.
Representing the Irish Sport Horse studbook, BP Goodfellas (Stakkato Gold - Goodwins Loyalty x OBOS Quality, bred by Kevin Babington & GBBs International Ltd) won the five-year-old final in partnership with three-time young-horse World Championship winner Gerard O’Neill. O’Neill first performed with Goodwins Loyalty almost 20 years ago and said; “Five weeks ago, there was a great show in Ireland. Goodfellas’ regular rider was qualified with four horses for the final, but he was allowed to ride a maximum of three horses. So, he asked me if I could ride Goodfellas. I really like the horse, and said ‘if you want to bring him to me, you can bring him’, so I rode him. The first fence was too deep, that was my fault. The horse jumped fantastic and now I am here.”
The silver medal was claimed by Olivier van der Vaart and the BWP-registered Ristretto van de Heffinck, a son by Aldo du Plessis out of GP mare Libelle vd Heffinck (Cooper van de Heffinck - Utopie x Diamant de Semilly), bred by the Hamerlinck family. Utopie produced not only Libelle, but also the approved sport stallion Kafka van de Heffinck, winner of the five-star Grand Prix in Athens. Ristretto was sold earlier this year via Horse Auction Belgium.
Jarno van Erp took the bronze medal, riding the KWPN-approved stallion Mindset ES (Aganix du Seigneur - Hosanne ES x Kannan, breeder Egbert Schep). Hosanne ES ranked seventh in the national championship final for seven-year-olds in 2019, under the saddle of Kim Hoogenraat and afterwards performed at international two-star level. “After the stallion inspection Mindset came to me. From the first jump I made with him, I knew this is a super good horse. I’m crazy about him. He once more showed his qualities today. He is very intelligent and always wants to do it for his rider,’ van Erp declared.
Gold for ISH in 6yo age group
In total, 40 combinations started in the six-year-old final with 14 progressing to the jump-off. Thanks to the mastery of ABC Saving Grace and her rider Ethen Ahearne, Ireland claimed the second world title of the day. Patrick Kehoe bred the new six-year-old world champion ABC Saving Grace by crossing progenitor Kannan with Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser (Cruising - Arctic Diamond x Diamond Lad). Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser not only produced ABC Saving Grace, but also the international five-star showjumpers ABC Quantum Cruise and ABC Private Jet. “I competed with the horse for the first time in February or March. So far, she has only jumped at national level. In Dublin I ranked fifth in the national championship for six-year-olds. This is our first international show,” said Ahearne, competing for the first time in the WBCYH in Lanaken... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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