In the first round of the Blom Stallion Competition, Jur Vrieling won the Z-Class with Heineken VK VDL (s.Zirocco Blue VDL). Thomas Mertens won with Biscayo-son Blom's Icarus the M Class. In the L Class, 12 four-year-olds stayed clear.

Of the 17 participants in the class Z, eight reached the jump-off. Jur Vrieling knew what to do with the stallion he has been riding for about six weeks, the KWPN approved stallion Heineken VK VDL (Zirocco Blue VDL from Regina Adelheid Z elite sport-jump pref prest d-oc from Rebel II Z) from breeder Mark van Kleef and the VDL Stud. "He is extremely sharp, just like his father, and also super careful. And I can go fast with him, I like that!", Vrieling laughs calling from the busy Equestrian Center De Peelbergen. "Heineken VK VDL has a lot of quality and I wanted to give his co-owner Kelly van Kleef a nice birthday present today. That was successful! "Also the at second place finished High Shutterfly (Sir Shutterfly from Cerasinaa elite EPTM-spr PROK from Chin Chin, breeder G.J. Kappert) has a new rider. He forms a very fitting combination with Lennard de Boer, with whom he jumped two smooth rounds at Z-level. Third place went to Hotspot (Hors la Loi II from Hermione de la Pomme by Nabab de Rêve, breeder Family Dingen), who went completely flawlessly, ridden by Mathijs van Asten.

Blom's Icarus quickest five-year-old

With 18 combinations in the jump-off, there was some good competition in the M Class. Thomas Mertens rode Blom's Icarus to victory. Thanks to the fast, sharply driven jump-off of Thomas Mertens, sponsor Rinus Blom was able to award the first prize to his own horse. The Biscayo-son Blom's Icarus (out of Carentina by Caretino, breeder M. Verschoor) was closely followed by the KWPN-approved stallion It's Highlander VDK (Kannan out of Verite van de Kalevallei by Chin Chin) from breeders Geert de Sloover and Joeri Stevens ridden by Elmar van Hoorn. "Joeri gave me the assignment to go for the win. In hindsight, things could have been done faster, but I was still playing a bit", says the rider from Groningen. "It's Highlander is very sharp from himself; he is fast in his frontleg, has a lot of power and a super attitude. With such a horse you can go for the win. In the basic course he was a bit tense because of the audience and that's why I did not take too much risk”, says Elmar. The third prize was claimed by It's Otto (Etoulon VDL from Uranda JB ster IBOP-spr pref perst by Coromino, breeder: J.M. Breukink) ridden by Albert Zoer. Again a sharp, cautious stallion who had two excellent clear rounds in this first leg of the Blom Stallion Competition 2018/2019.

Flawless

Just like last year, the stallions in the L Class jump at penalty points and time instead of style points. A total of 14 stallions stayed clear in both rounds. Twelve of them are KWPN approved. The young stallions made a good impression and encountered few problems in the course. One of the striking, clear jumping KWPN approved stallions is the scopey Comme Il Faut son Jappeloup (out of Coralie by Cassini I, breeder Merschmann) of Herman Seiger, presented by Pim Mulder. "He is very careful, very handy on the jump and does everything with great ease. He has not made many miles yet, so it says a lot about his good attitude about how he jumped his rounds today ", the rider is enthusiastic. "We take it easy with him, because we think he is one for the future!"

Rest of double clears

Also the KWPN-approved stallion Jenkins (Charisma out of Aurante DD ster EPTM-spr pref PROK of Cantos breeder CG Vernooy) stayed clear with Rob Heijligers, followed by Je Suis Equus Tame (Qlassic Bois Margot out of Tame Tame of Quaprice Z, breeder: SNC Brohier) ridden by Steven Veldhuis, Jumper Verdi (Verdi out of Votti Lottie ster pref prest PROK by Fuego du Prelet, breeder: André Weernink) ridden by Bart Bles, Jay Star (Big Star out of Earl Gray elite IBOP-spr sport-jump pref PROK from Cardento, b/reg.p. Alexandra van der Peijl) with Guido Schoemaker, Jargon (Farfan M out of Celebration Z by Calvin Z, breeder HJM Span) with Marco Brinkman, Just One (Toulon out of Kyolga keur sport-spr sport-dres pref perst by G. Ramiro Z, breeder Hetty Melgerd) with Megan Laseur, Johnnie Walker VDL (Zapatero VDL out of Elia elite EPTM-spr d-oc by Mermus R, breeder H.G.J. Kroeze) ridden by Alex Gill, Jubel ES (Harley VDL out of Maxime O keur prest by Lauriston, b/reg.p. Egbert Schep) with Bart Lips, Eurocool's Just Apple (Verdi out of Ulina du Rouet stb pref prest PROK by Baloubet du Rouet, b/reg.p. Nico van Maaswaal) ridden by Remco Been, Justice HL (Harley VDL out of Noblesse Oblige elite pref prest PROK by Epilot, breeder Corry Dolstra) under Caroline Müller and last but not least Jamboree TN (Vigo d'Arsouilles out of Belle Amie II S elite EPTM-spr sport-jump PROK from Carolus II, breeder Family Van Straaten from Den Ham) with Zoï Snels.

 

JS/YBF Photo Heineken with Jur Vrieling: Digishots