02 Sep A Promise for great things as Lorenzo de Luca wins the BEMER Riders Tour qualifier
(Lier) The successful Nations Cup rider Lorenzo de Luca from Italy flexed his muscles when he took the top position on the opening day of the sixth BEMER Riders Tour leg at Azelhof in Belgium and won on the mare Promise Z in the fastest time of 30.58 seconds in the jump off. De Luca now goes into Sunday’s rating competition with a decisive advantage over the competition — he is the last rider to start. Second place went to El Ghali Boukaa (MAR) on Ugolino du Clos, who was only slightly slower with 30.82. The podium was completed by young Belgian Thibeau Spits with Foncetti vd Heffinck (32.13).
“She is fantastic, she knows exactly where the poles are. I am really happy to have her in my team of horses,” Lorenzo de Luca praised his ten-year-old black mare by Gestion Priamus Z. “The course was very demanding, the time in the first round was tight, especially at the end. I have had Promise Z for more than a year now and today is the biggest win of her career. She has so much potential, I can’t wait for her to start at 1.60m level. Today she was able to prove herself against some very good competition.” For six and a half years Lorenzo de Luca was a rider at Stephex Stables, working side by side with, among others, Daniel Deusser, who finished seventh today with Otello de Guldenboom. During this time, the Italian recorded his greatest successes. In 2016, he won the Grand Prix of Dublin with Ensor de Litrange and was also part of the winning Nations Cup team.
Thibeau Spits can win more points
Ten horse-rider combinations jumped clear today. The Dutch course director, Henk Linders, and his team had set some technically demanding tasks for the 100-strong starting field. Excellent double clears by the seven top pairs in the first round and in the jump-off therefore spoke for the high quality of their performances in the international world ranking class. The Belgian rider Thibeau Spits has already opened his Riders Tour points account in Hagen and can hope for the chance to improve his position in the ranking on Sunday. With today’s third place, he is in a good position to do so. The sporting action continues on Sunday afternoon, when the best 50 pairs of the qualification, including the pre-qualified riders, will start in reverse order in the sixth rating competition of the BEMER Riders Tour. The Grand Prix of Lier will be decided as an international jumping competition over 1.55m with two rounds. ClipMyHorse.TV will broadcast live from Lier.
Result BEMER Riders Tour qualification for the rating competition, CSI3* – 1m50/1m55 LR – Big Tour – GP Qualifier, Table A with jump-off
- Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) & Promise Z, 0/30.58
- El Ghali Boukaa (MAR) & Ugolino du Clos, 0/30.82
- Thibeau Spits (BEL) & Foncetti vd Heffinck, 0/32.13
- Maria Costa (USA) & Iceman B SFN, 0/32.83
- Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) & Nector vd Bisschop, 0/32.95
- Christophe Vanderhasselt (BEL) & Arthuro de Sarlar Z, 0/33.08
- Daniel Deusser (GER) & Otello de Guldenboom, 0/33.98
- Victor Bettendorf (LUX) & Simolo de la Roque Z, 4/31.98
- Omar Abdul Azis Al Marzooqi (UAE) Dalida van de Zuuthoeve, 4/33.79
All results: https://results.equi-score.de/event/2023/24571/en/resultlist/32
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 (ITA) won the qualifier with Promise Z on the opening day of the 6th BEMER Riders Tour stage at Azelhof in Belgium © Pegasus Photo Creations