The Applaus son Explosion has claimed the Isah Cup for six-year-olds under Simon Schröder. It was a great success for Explosion's breeder and registered party Piet Keunen, whose son Pieter convincingly claimed third place with the KWPN-approved stallion Entertainer. Second place was for the powerful jumper Elomas Blue SFN.

Thirteen six-year-olds returned for the jump-off, in which the powerful jumper Elomas Blue SFN (Mr.Blue out of Aitolona elite IBOP-jump s.Tygo, breeder: H.A. van der Weide of Riel) with Wout-Jan van der Schans had the best position. Although the duo jumped another clear round, they ended sixth in the final, in which fifth place would have been good enough for the championship. As a result, the keen Applaus son Explosion (out of Wajuline s.Numero Uno), registered to Piet Keunen of Venlo, rightfully won the championship under Germany's Simon Schröder. Breeder Piet Keunen couldn't contain his happiness: “Awesome! We've been through so much with this horse: no one could stay on him, and I think another person wouldn't have kept him. But because I bred him and have always had a lot of faith in his talent, we persisted. And he clicks really well with this rider: they started the 1.30m in June, and now they're the champions here! The tension took about five years off my life,” laughs Piet Keunen, who sold a 50% share in Explosion to Stal Hendrix six months ago. The leader in the interim standings, Wout-Jan van der Schans with Elomas Blue SFN (s.Mr.Blue), made the jumper's registered party proud with his second place finish.

The KWPN-approved stallion Entertainer (Warrant of Shilavsca Fortuna ster prok s.Corland, breeder: René Kouwenhoven of Oldemarkt) was his own best advertising in the Isah Cup. Performing well over three days, the stallion and Pieter Keunen were rewarded with third place in the final standings. “His talent is really apparent now. We've always had a lot of faith in the stallion, but he used to get distracted easily. Since he started competing at the 1.30m level, he's totally focused on his job and is a real dream of a horse!” The talented jumper and KWPN-approved stallion Elton John (Clearway out of Vilotte s.Kannan, breeder: Alan Waldman of Putten) finished fourth under Zoï Snels, while the KWPN-approved stallion Elvaro (Calvaro out of April Love M ster prok sport-jump s.Heartbreaker, breeders: M.A.G. Maas of Suré and Daan Nanning of Dalfsen) ended eighth under Niels Nanning. In addition to these horses, the following horses also earned a ticket to the World Championships in Lanaken: Elano (Numero Uno out of Romy stb-ext s.Burggraaf, b/rp: H.G.P. Oude Engberink of Rosum) under Peter Olthof, El Divo (Lord Sandro out of L.Buberth 44 keur sport-jump s.Germus R, b/rp: Dekstation De Havikerwaard of De Steeg) with Bart Bles, the 2014 World Champion: Earley (Harley VDL out of Zardenta prok s.Indorado, breeder: M. van Kollenburg of Best) with Maikel van Mierlo, and Escada sport-jump (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve out of Soul Sister ster sport-jump s.Darco, breeder: A. van Wijngaarden of Didam) with Oda Charlotte Lyngvar.