The stallions had their first appearance in Lanaken today. 47 combinations competed in the Opening Class for the 'Sires of the World' category. Of the eighteen faultless combinations, Pascal van Laethem stood out in the saddle of Faut-Il Des 7 Valles.
The twelve-year-old son of Comme il Faut completed the 1.40m high course without any faults and took the top spot under van Laethem. The podium was dominated by Belgian horses because in second place, we saw the BWP horse Phenomene Bleu VDM (v. Diamant de Semilly), ridden by Sven Joseph Hadley. Doron Kuipers guided the ten-year-old I Am Codex, a ten-year-old Zangersheide stallion by Codex One, to third place.
On four there was Denis Lynch and Dark Chocolate 48 (v. Casall). The top five was rounded out by Zangersheide-bred Action Man ASK Z (by Action-Breaker) under Soren Moeller Rohde.
Katrin Eckermann and Cascajall victorious in First Qualifier World Champion 6YO
In the six-year-old horses had their first qualification for the Young Horse World Championships in Lanaken in the Ramiro Z Arena. For Jordy Oostvogels and the Zangersheide mare Darline Z (by Dallas VDL), there was the best result under the Belgian flag with a place in the top ten. Victory was for Katrin Eckermann (GER) and Cascajall (v. Casallco).
The 1.35m high course was ridden in two phases. Eckermann set the fastest time on the six year old son of Casallco. For Damian Cojocariu (ROU) there was second place with Con Clarimo (v. Cinsey). Michael Pender (IRL) concluded the top three aboard of GCS Rosie (v. Luidam).