Speed, scope and precision tested from day one

Superb sport, huge crowds and happy faces, that’s what the FEI World Championships for Young Jumping Horses (Thursday 24 September – Sunday 27 September) brought about. A very tough competition, resulting in three thrilling jump offs for gold, silver and bronze. The new world champions are 5 year old VDL Groep Quinthago Z, ridden by Leopold van Asten, Christian Ahlmann´s 6 year old Charles 56 and Lamarque, Karl Brocks’s 7 year old. The new world title holders represent Studbook Zangersheide, Westphalia and Holstein.

Although not all German horses qualified at the Bundeschampionate actually competed at Leon Melchior´s Domain Zangersheide in the Belgian village of Lanaken, German riders were pretty much in control. Mario Stevens won a silver medal in the 7 year old division. Karl Brocks and Sebastian Haas took fourth place. Walter Lelie from Belgium was the big surprise, winning two bronze medals aboard the KWPN bred 5 year old Zig-Zag (Kojak x Namelus R) and the 6 year old BWP bred Derly Chin (For Pleasure x Nabab de Reve). 

Literally hundreds of young show jumpers competed in each age group. Three all weather show grounds provided superb conditions. In order to qualify for the final riders needed to be in the top 40. Sometimes two double clears in the qualifying rounds were not good enough to make it to the final, which was a Table A with jump off. So speed, scope and carefulness were tested from day one.

Christian Ahlmann’s victory with 6 year old Charles was a very special one. Father George Ahlmann bred this blood typed horse out of Scarlett, Christian’s first international horse. “I rode S with her in Germany, but also the international Young Rider classes”, says Ahlmann. “My father bought Scarlett when she was young. At that time she had Las Vegas as a foal beside her. Las Vegas later became Gianni Govoni’s Grand Prix show jumper!” 

Christian Ahlmann was very happy to do so well on the private grounds of his future father in law Leon Melchior. His girlfriend Judy-Ann joined the victorious party, winning the Sires of the World class (an international Grand Prix at 1.50 m level for stallions) aboard her favourite horse Levisto Z. It was Judy-Ann’s second consecutive win in this prestigious class. “I didn’t expect to be faster”, she said. “Vincent Voorn and Priamus Z had been very fast. But we just gave it all.”

Rather emotional was Judy Ann’s bronze medal in the 7 year old class. “My mare As Cold As Ice Z is bred by my father in two generations. And her sire Artos Z also was bred by my father. It is so great that my father is still here to enjoy this moment, he so much deserves this!”

All three jump offs for the world titles were exciting. But the last one, with Karl Brock from Germany clinching victory in the 7 year old group, was absolutely thrilling. When Brocks found out that his race against the clock had resulted in the World title, he raced his Holsteiner Lamarque around the show ground, both hands raised high in the air.  

QUOTES

Karl Brocks: “Normally I can’t be faster than Mario Stevens and Corlanda. I know that mare, she is fast! But I thought: hey, this is the World Championship, let’s give it our best!”

Christian Ahlmann: “I hadn’t been here in Lanaken for 15 years. The last time I won the Sires class with Aldatus. Winning the World title is a great moment for my family.”

Walter Lelie: “I try to find very good show jumpers at a young age. Then I try to find co-owners to buy these young talents. That’s the only way for me to have and to ride top horses such as Zig-Zag and Derly Chin.”

Result 5 year olds
1.     VDL Groep Quinthago Z (v.Quinar Z)      Leopold van Asten         0/0/40.27
2.     Audi’s Elisa (v.Toulon)                           Ivo Biessen                   0/0/40.89
3.     Zig-Zag (v.Kojak)                                 Walter Lelie                   0/0/41.75
4.     Epleaser van ’t Heike (v.For Pleasure)    Mathijs van Asten          0/0/41.93
5.     Exclusive de Carmel (v.Calvaro Z)         Yves Awouters               0/0/42.00

Result 6 year olds
1.     Charles 56 (v.Calato)                             Christian Ahlmann         0/0/35.92
2.     Drumiller Lough (v.Heartbreaker)           David O’Brien                0/0/37.13
3.     Derly Chin de Muze (v.For Pleasure)       Walter Lelie                   0/0/37.64
4.     Conny (v.Carpaccio)                              Sebastian Haas              0/0/38.55
5.     Royal Queen (v.Nassau)                                    Dennis van den Brink     0/0/39.29

Result 7 year olds
1. Lamarque (Limbus x Coriano)                 Karl Brocks                   0 / 0 - 38.80
2. Corlanda (Cordalmé Z x Landcapitol)      Mario Stevens               0 / 0 - 39.17
3. As Cold As Ice Z (Artos Z x Carthago)    Judy-Ann Melchior         0 / 0 - 40.10
4. Codex One (Contendro I x Glückspilz)     Karl Brocks                   0 / 0 – 43.18
5. Very Nice (Cantos x Cadillo)                   Timothy Hendrix            0 / 4 – 38.73

Result Sires of the World
1. Levisto Z (Leandro x Carolus I)                          Judy-Ann Melchior         0-0/37.80
2. Audi’s Gestion Priamus Z (Pucci x Grannus)        Vincent Voorn                0-0/38.42
3. BV Projects Cartoon Z (Caretano Z x Alme Z)     Eiken Sato                    0-0/39.10
4. Lord If de Chalousse (If de Merze x Fury de la Cense) Karina Rie Truelsen            0-0/42.41
5. Ukato (Stakkato x Literat)                                  Willem Greve                0-4/40.19