Release date: 19/08/2020

Wednesday was Finals’ day for four categories: Four, five, six and seven-year-olds entered the main arena at Tops International Arena for the KWPN Championships, Blom Cup titles. Three days with  beautiful and exciting sport at Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard.

Doron Kuipers and Just Special VK convincing six-year-old champion
After winning the semi-final, they also convincingly won the Final. That’s what the Falaise de Muze daughter Jus Special VK did with Doron Kuipers in the Blom Cup for six-year-olds. “I took Just Special VK to Doon’s stables about six weeks ago, especially for the Blom Cup,” said breeder Mark van Kleef. He bred the mare (out of Energy VK stb-ext PROK by Toulon) out of a bloodline he has been using for several generations. “We started this bloodline with her great grandmother and Doron is also riding Just Special’s  half sister Hollywood VK. We are very serious about breeding jumping horses and we annually breed about 25 foals. This is a great recognition.”
Last to go in the 14 horse jump-off, Doron and Just Special VK were the fastest. Steven Veldhuis and stallion competition winner Je Suis Equus Tame (Qlassic Bois Margot out of Tame Tame by Quaprice Z, breeder S.N.C. Brohier), owned by Jan Greve, finished runners-up. The cooperative stallion showed impressive scope and carefulness. The Moerings family, 2019 breeder of the year, was also present at the championship. Bas Moerings rode a super fast round with the home bred Jilsther (Diamant de Semilly out of Blisther keur sport-spr prest by Farmer) which gave him third place in this Blom Cup.

Lamborghini wins Blom Cup for four-year-olds
It was an exciting battle for the Blom Cup for four-year-olds. Both the VSN Champion Love de Vie (by Grandorado TN) and Lamborghini (by Dallas VDL) scored a 9.3 and 9.0 in the Final. A jump-off was needed to determine de winner. It was only the third time that Willem Greve rode the Grandorado TN daughter Love de Vie (out of Eau de Vie by Vigo d’Arsouilles, breeder Herman van Triest and Jos Meuleman) who normally is under the saddle of Juulia Jylas. The pair was defeated by Lamborghini (by Dallas VDL out of Wiske ster sport-spr PROK by Kojak, breeder Testers family) with Stijn Testers who were the fastest in the jump-off to win the title.
Judges were Enda Carroll of Ashford Farm and Ralf van Venrooij, who both were impressed by the quality of the horses in the Final. Luka-Cara (by Akarah Hero Z out of Vera Cara sport-spr prest by Casco, breeder H.W.M. Hekking from Raalte) scored 9.3 for jumping and 8.9 for moving in between fences with owner Rianne Nalis to finish third.
“We have seen really good horses today. The complete top 10 were horses I expect to see in the big sport in the future,” said Enda Carroll afterwards.

Title five-year-olds for Kardinaal HX with Pieter Keunen
The KWPN approved stallion Kardinaal HX (by Don Diablo HX) is the new champion of the Blom Cup for five-year-olds. The stallion proved unbeatable under the saddle of Pieter Keunen.
Ten combinations reached the jump-off of the KWPN Championship. Five of them were clear in b oth rounds of the championship final and Kardinaal HX (out of Wimette ster sport-spr by Karandasj, breeder Hendrix Stables) finished in the fastest time. The stallion impressed with his exceptional carefulness and good attitude.
“We always believed in Kardinaal HX and it is great he won the championship here. He descends from a fantastic sporting bloodline and he was the only stallion out of a Grand Prix mare who received approval that year. And he has proven himself,” said Paul Hendrix. Giavanni Romano gave it all as last to go with Eldorado van de Zeshoek son Kaspar R (out of Termieque elite prest PROK by Baloubet du Rouet, breeder M. Rietberg from Holten) but was just a bit slower than Kardinaal HX and finished runner-up. Third place went to Kristian Houwen with the edgy Cidane daughter Kiekeboe VM keur EPTM-spr ( out of Burandot ster IBOP-spr sport-spr PROK D-OC by Contendro II, breeder Jan van Meever).

Ruben Romp and Icarus V unbeatable in Blom Cup seven-year-olds
Ruben Romp and the Biscayo son Icarus V, owned by main sponsor Rinus Blom and Robert Muntel, won the semi-final and they repeated this victory in the Final. Seven combinations qualified for the decisive jump-off of the KWPN Championship for seven-year-olds for the Blom Cup. Ruben Romp competed with only one horse in the championship and it was a clear hit with Icarus V (out of Carentina by Caretino, breeder M. Verschoor from Haarle). The won both the semi-final and the final in which all qualified 20 combinations started with a clean slate. “I think we all want to win here, I sure do. It is also great for the owners,” said a happy Ruben Romp. “Icarus V is very fast by nature and that is an advantage. This week all went as it should and it gives me a lot of confidence for the future.”
Sophie Hinners also gave it a good shot with Istabraq TCS (by Durrant out of Cor de la Crow Z by Crown Z, breeders Tim and Leida Collins-Strijk and Egbert Schep) and finished runner-up with the gelding owned by Hendrix Stables. The KWPN approved stallion Incanto VDL (by Kannan out of Donnalina ster pref PROK by Indoctro, breeders Lohuis brothers from Nijverdal) performed also another clear and smooth round and finished third.

(source: KWPN)