Two Golds, Two Silvers for KWPN
KWPN breeding grabbed the spotlight at the World Championships for Young Jumpers.
The gold medal in the seven-year-old division was captured by the fantastic jumper Ubalia (Indoctro out of Mabalia NW by Starsky de Brix) and Michael Greeve. Breeder Johan Heins, a former international rider, also deserves credit for the stellar performance, for he bred Ubalia as well as the six-year-old World Champion Jumper Vedor (s.Indoctro). The silver medal was won by Willem Greve aboard his very cooperative Celano daughter Uceline (out of Paulien by Koriander, breeder: S.B.M. Wolfkamp). The 2007 World Champion, Zekina Z, took the bronze. Almost half of the seven-year-olds competing in the jump-off were KWPN bred. Danny Schaper and Utah (Guidam out of Katoberlina ster prest by Amethist, breeder: R.F.G. Zwartjens) rode to a strong fifth place finish. Two KWPN-bred horses also finished in sixth and seventh place, respectively: Ullrich (Indoctro out of Orchidee ster by Corleone, breeder: G. de Jong-Bassa) under Wesley Heijdens and Uranus W (Hornet Rose out of Perlina W by Mr.Blue) with Hester Klompmaker. Uvory (Emilion out of Ivory keur sport (jump) by Bergerac), another world-class horse bred by Johan Heins, finished ninth.
In the six-year-old division, Maaike Bijlsma clocked the fastest time on Vedor (Indoctro out of Maaike by Fedor, breeder: Johan Heins) and won the gold medal. The silver was awarded to the French mare Osibelle de Baussy and her rider Clément Boulanger, and the bronze was reserved for Breemeersen Adorado with Donaat Brondeel. Veldheer (Matterhorn out of Irina elite pref prest sport (jump) by Burggraaf, breeder: B. Wentink) ranked high in the interim standings after two clear rides on Thursday and Friday. In the jump-off, however, he pulled a rail; as a result, he and rider Hans de Vries finished in sixth place. KWPN approved stallions also proved themselves in the Championships, one of which was Verdi (s.Quidam de Revel), who followed in seventh place. Another KWPN stallion finished tenth: Van Gogh (s.Numero Uno).
In the five-year-old division, the Belgian mare Donna Fortuna (s.Nagano) grabbed the gold with Dutch rider Marcel Willems. The KWPN mare Wembley III (Concorde out of Perlita van het Voorhof by Latano, breeder: G. van Helvoirt) and her rider, Englishman Simon Crippen, put in a commendable effort with their time of 36.48 and took home the silver. Dutch rider Arne van Heel aboard the Oldenburg mare Brancaia (s.Baloubet de Rouet) won the bronze. Others in the top ten were Wubbo (Jumbo-Jet out of Brendiela ster pref prest by Zeus, breeder: A. Bekkers), who finished sixth with Alan Waldman. In ninth place were Maikel van der Vleuten with the KWPN approved stallion Warrant (s.Numero Uno), who impressed all with his unlimited scope. Rounding out the top ten was the KWPN mare Wild Thing L (Montreux out of Shinta by Lux, breeder: H. Leusink) with Rachel Burr.
Following the success of KWPN horses in the Hong Kong Olympics and the Four-in-Hand World Championships in Beesd, these Jumping Championships in Lanaken once again put the spotlight on the Royal Dutch Sporthorse.