The programme on the third day of the KWPN Championships featured the second round of the semi-finals of the Isah Cup for the 5-,6- and 7-year-olds. Grate Viola RS (s.Ultimo) and Fleurabella V (s.Diarado) are now heading the rankings of their age classes.

Isah Cup 5-year-olds  The experienced jumper Steven Veldhuis en the Ultimo-mare Gratia Viola RS (Ultimo out of Saskia elite pref prest s.Corland, breeder Redmill Stables, Enschede) took the opportunity to show their talents in the second round of the Isah Cup in Ermelo. Steven Veldhuis is known as a fast rider and he lived up to the expectations; the pair crossed the finish line with Gratia Viola RS in 24,28 seconds. This meant that in the challenging two phase course the elite mare bested the KWPN-approved stallion Global Express Orient Express HDC out of Dame Ricard s.Laudanum xx, breeder Haras de la Gisloterie, Basse Normandy) ridden by Lennard de Boer. The KWPN stallions also showed a good performance. Willem Greve and Grandorado TN (Eldorado van de Zeshoek out of Charmieque elite EPTM(spr) IBOP(spr) sport(spr) s.Carolus II, bred by D.J. Verhoeven, Holten & M. Rietberg, Holten) achieved another clear round. Bianca Schoenmakers and Gladstone HDH (Capistrano out of Fly s.Ferragamo, bred by A. Dahl, Sprockhövel) took revanche after a fault on Monday, the pair completed the course without any penalties and placed seventh today. Unfortunately not enough to qualify for the finals, but as a KWPN-approved stallion, Gladstone HDH may still come back to participate hors concour. Gino (Biscayo out of Vrouwe Bureveld elite pref IBOP(spr) s.Burggraaf, breeder N.W.J. Duineveld, Hem) and Grodino (Eldorado van de Zeshoek out of Sorina prok s.Celano, breeder J. van Loon, Valkenswaard) placed themselves for the final, despite the one time penalty they both received in the second phase. A total of 25 horses will start in the final for five-year-olds tomorrow morning.

Isah Cup 6-year-olds   

Bert-Jan Zuidema and the outstandingly jumping Fleurabella-V (s.Diarado out of Bonieta-V sport(spr) s.Chin Chin) claimed the victory today and thereby the duo also grabbed the lead in the intermediate rankings of the Isah Cup. The KWPN-approved stallion and the winner of the 2015 Isah Cup Florian (Zirocco Blue VDL out of Beyoncé ster sport(spr) s.Cardento, bred by P.W. Pijnacker & T.F. Pijnacker-Dam, Augsbuurt) jumped to the second position with his rider Albert Zoer. The third place was for Geert Moorings and his homebred Fasther (Vigo d’Arsouilles out of Blisther keur sport(spr) s.Farmer), followed by the Czech rider Emma Augier de Moussac and her successful Brighton Bay - previously Fulltime Fortuna (Ultimo out of Anoulavsca Fortuna ster prok s.Kreator xx, breeder P. & A.M. Rinkes-Tjeenk Willink, Pesse). The top-five was completed by Kevin Olsmeyer and Ferrari (Viceroy T out of Solitaire elite sport(spr) s.Voltaire, breeder T. Olsmeyer, Doorwerth). A group of 25 horses stayed clear of any penalties both in the first round yesterday and today's course, these horses have qualified themselves for the final tomorrow.  

Isah Cup 7-year-olds  

Lennard de Boer and Edgar M (Arezzo VDL out of Aramee O.A. Ster s.Marlon, breeder E. Meijer, Den Ham) completed the two phase course in a fast time, Willem Greve and the incredibly talented Escapade H (Vingino out of Valesa ster pref prok s.Democraat, breeder A. Hendriksen, Bennekom) also showed a steady and fast round but could not surpass Lennard and his Arezzo VDL-offspring. The two are currently number 1 and 2 in the rankings and seem likely candidates for the title. Pictures (C) Digishots