03 Sep Lorenzo de Luca dominates sixth stage of the BEMER Riders Tour in Belgium
(Lier) “She’s a really good Porsche 911! She is very fast, she doesn’t lose any time and jumps off the ground quickly!” – Italian show jumping star Lorenzo de Luca compared his Zangersheide black mare Promise Z to a German sports car after his sensational victory in the sixth rating competition of the BEMER Riders Tour in Lier, Belgium. De Luca and Promise Z took over a second off the runner-up, Eduardo Pereira de Menezes (BRA) and H5 Chacco’s Charlie PS (46.03). Third place went to the Belgian Jeroen Appelen on Monte Blue PS (48.11).
50 combinations, who had fought hard for their starting place from the 100-strong field of the qualification, started the Grand Prix of Lier on Sunday afternoon under bright sunshine. According to the rules, 13 pairs qualified for the second round of the most high-class competition of the CSI3* Azelhof and provided plenty of excitement. Abdulrahman Alrajhi from Saudi Arabia and his powerful Hanoverian Ventago opened the second round clear and in 49.34 seconds. Jeroen Appelen and Monte Blue PS were able to beat the time a little later and set a new best mark, which ensured a podium place and 15 points in the Riders Tour Ranking. Brazilian Eduardo Pereira de Menezes on H5 Chacco’s Charlie PS was two seconds faster but sensed his time was up for grabs: “My horse was fantastic but I got too far out in the line to the penultimate jump and knew a smarter ride could be faster than mine.” This came from the winning pair of the qualification: Promise Z jumped fast and agile like a cat for Lorenzo de Luca – best time and victory in the Grand Prix of Lier.
De Luca jumps to fourth place in the ranking
Only on Friday, de Luca had said that the victory in the qualification was the biggest win in the career of his Gestion Priamus Z daughter. Today the mare was able to outdo this compliment once again. “She jumped so strong, I was so confident after the last round on Friday. She is in such good form that I tried again today. I knew there were some fast riders coming after me, so I pushed hard in the second round. As I said, I am really grateful to have her in my stable and I am looking forward to what is to come,” said a very overjoyed Lorenzo de Luca, who immediately moved into fourth place in the BEMER Riders Tour ranking with 20 points today.
Organiser Mike Hazebroek was very happy to host the international show jumping series for the second time: “We had 200 horses on the waiting list, all of them wanted to come this weekend. Having the BEMER Riders Tour here has added another star to our event, we are now not a three-star, but a four-star show!” The seventh leg of the BEMER Riders Tour leads to Austria, the CSI Arena Nova indoor event will take place in Wiener Neustadt from 5 to 8 October.
Result BEMER Riders Tour rating competition, CSI3* – 1m55 Grand Prix LR – Big Tour, Table A over 2 rounds
- Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) & Promise Z, 0/44.82
- Eduardo Pereira de Menezes (BRA) & H5 Chacco’s Charlie PS, 0/46.03
- Jeroen Appelen (BEL) & Monte Blue PS, 0/48.11
- Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) & Ventago, 0/49.34
- Abdullah Mohd al Marri (UAE) & James vd Oude Heihoef, 0/49.46
- Thomas Galilea (ARG) & Vertigo WAF, 0/52.38
- Victor Bettendorf (LUX) & Simolo de la Roque Z, 4/44.46
- Christophe Vanderhasselt (BEL) & Arthuro de Sarlar Z, 4/46.51
- Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) & Nector vd Bisschop, 4/50.27
- Christopher Burton (AUS) & Chedington Hazy Toulana, 4/50.81
- Marine Scauflaire (BEL) & Cuba Libre de Nevada, 5/51.62
- Maria Costa (USA) & Iceman B SFN, 4/52.13
- Titouan Schumacher (FRA) & Carera des Brimbelles, 8/48.01
All results: https://results.equi-score.de/event/2023/24571/en/livelist/37
Ranking of the BEMER Riders Tour after six of eight stages
1. Patrick Stühlmeyer (GER), 35 Punkte
2. Michael Viehweg (GER), 26
3. Hans Dieter Dreher (GER), 25
4. Michael Kölz (GER), 20
4. Jodie Hall Mcateer (GBR), 20
4. Lorenzo de Luca (ITA), 20
7. Eoin McMahon (IRE), 17
7. Penelope Leprevost (FRA), 17
7. Michael Greeve (NED), 17
7. Evelyne Bussmann (SUI), 17
7. Christian Kukuk (GER), 17
7. Eduardo Pereira de Menezes (BRA), 17
Stages of the BEMER Riders Tour 2023/24
Horses & Dreams meets Sweden, Hagen a.T.W. / GER, 19. – 23. April 2023
Pferd International, München-Riem / GER, 18. – 21. May 2023
CSI Ommen, Ommen / NED, 06. – 09. July 2023
Fest der Pferde, Donaueschingen-Immenhöfe / GER, 27. – 30. July 2023
Turnier der Sieger, Münster / GER, 24. – 27. August 2023
CSI Lier Azelhof Horse Events, Lier / BEL, 31. August – 03. September 2023
CSI Arena Nova, Wiener Neustadt / AUT, 05 – 08 October 2023
VR CLASSICS, Neumünster / GER, 15. – 18. February 2024
Photo: Lorenzo de Luca takes fourth place in the BEMER Riders Tour Ranking with 20 points. Congratulations from Dorothee Hahn for the Riders Tour, BEMER partner for Belgium Kelly Seghers and the Hazebroek family. © Pegasus Photo Creations