"This is what a jumper horse looks like”, said judge Nathalie van der Mei after the winning strike of the KWPN stallion Highway M TN (s.Eldorado van de Zeshoek). He won the L Class.  The M class went to Global Express. Florian was the best in de Z/ZZ class.

It was not easy for the youngest lot of Jumper stallions. The Van der Valk-hall in Zuidbroek is pretty impressive and several stallions, who performed well in the second leg of the Blom Stallion Competition, could not come to a top-achievement last night. But the winner made a super impression. The KWPN-stallion Highway M TN (Eldorado van de Zeshoek out of Zelana by Chellano Z, bred by Peter Verdellen Paarden Fok & Opfok from Horst) was ridden by Patrick van der Schans. In the first round he received a 9 for his jumping, in the second one even a 9,5. Judges Nathalie van der Mei and Daan Nanning: “This is what a Jumper horse looks like! A real pleasure to watch. He jumps off the pole, is sharp, shows scope and is careful. We think he is quite a stallion to handle, but that is the character you need for the higher sport.”  With two points difference Heart Touch got second place. Heart touch (Untouched out of Dymphonie elite IBOP-spr by Vingino, breeder Yvonne Copal from Biest-Houtakker) was ridden by Leon Kuypers. Hij received and 8,5 for jumping and got some nice comments from the judges. “He is lightfeeted, careful and jumps with suppleness and scope. When he becomes stronger in his canter and could collect a bit more he will be very good.” In the M-Class the KWPN-stallion Global Express (Oriënt Express uit Dame Ricard van Laudanum xx, fokker E.A.R.L. Haras de la Gisloterie uit Sainte Marguerita d’Elle) excelled again. For a long time Grandorado TN (Eldorado van de Zeshoek out of Charmieque elite IBOP-spr EPTM-spr sport-spr by Carolus II, breeders M. Rietberg and D.J. Verhoeven from Holten seemed to be winning.

The winner of last years competition, who was ridden by Willem Greve showed his incredible qualities and had the fastest time for a long time. Last competitor Lennard de Boer,  rode an excellent jump-off and took a full second off the time with Isah cup winner Global Express. The last class of the evening was the combined Z/ZZ class. Albert Zoer showed, as last starter of the four horses in the jump-off, what his Florian is so good at: Winning! All horses in the jump-off went clear so there was a lot of pressure on Zoer’s shoulders. The very work-willing Florian (Zirocco Blue VDL out of Beyoncé P ster sport-spr van Cardento, breeders P.W. and T.F. Pijnacker-Dam from Augstbuurt) did his utmost and went round in two seconds less than the leader till that time, Flying Dream (Zapatero VDL uit Windoctro Ryal K keur IBOP-spr van Indoctro, fokker Jan Kazemier uit Oldekerk) ridden by Kimberley Winsingh. “Florian never disappoints me”, said Albert Zoer. “I can always count on him!”   The finals of the Blom’s stallion Competition will be held during the KWPN Stallion Show on Thursday night February 2nd.