The 2017-edition of the Brussels Stephex Masters kicked off on Wednesday, with Canada’s Tiffany Foster taking the top honours in the feature class – the Top Series 1.45m presented by TVH, also counting for the world ranking.

Nine out of the forty riders jumped clear over Uliano Vezzani’s first round track to proceed to the jump-off, where Foster came in as the third last rider with the lovely 11-year-old gelding Brighton (Contendro II x Quick Star). Against the clock, the Canadian rider blew all competition aside with a lightning fast round over the shortened course counting seven fences.

“I know Brighton really well, I have had him for a while now and he is an extremely competitive horse. He is incredible, the faster you go the faster his legs move – you really don’t have to worry about him knocking the jumps down,” Foster laughed. “So, I knew on the open stretches I could go as quick as I wanted to. I trust him, and like I said I know him really well – he knows exactly what he is supposed to do when he goes in the ring and is a real winner. He is an awesome horse,” Foster said after.

“I also have to say that the organizers did a great job today,” said Foster referring to the difficult weather conditions with a proper downpour a little over half-way in the class. “There was so much rain! They made the right decision to hold the class for a little and let the ground dry, so by the time we started jumping again the ground was great. They really did the right thing.”

Coming second in the class was home rider Yves Vanderhasselt on the lovely 8-year-old mare Jeunesse (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Quasimodo Vd Molendreef), that despite being 4.2 seconds slower than Foster had a very fast round to take the lead as the second rider in the ring. Third place went to Germany’s Katharina Offel on JK Horsetrucks Leasure Z (Levisto Z x Treasure Z), also double clear on the big striding grey stallion. Fourth went to Rik Hemeryck – also for Belgium, and fifth to France’s Marie Hecart.

The day started off with the home riders showing top form for host nation Belgium. Henrik Denutte won the Super Cup 1.35m presented by Godiva, riding the 8-year-old gelding Don Flamenco vd Kranenburg (Flamenco de Semilly x Kannan). Four Belgian riders followed to complete the top five in this competition, with Maverick Van Lent in second, Dieter Vermeiren in third, Aiko Paridaen in fourth and Tatiana Troiani in fifth.

The second Super Cup competition of the day – presented by Schäffer – went to a Dutch rider, as Anette Wolf went off with the win in this 1.40m class against the clock riding the 8-year-old gelding Ewoud J (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Burggraaf). Then followed two Belgian riders; in runner-up position Thibault Philippaerts close to two seconds behind the winning time aboard Isoline Van Dorperheide (Winningmood van de Arenberg x Coronado) and then in third Axel Vandoorne on Baileys Louis (Jah S Diamant x Clinton). Germany’s Nicola Pohl finished fourth and Norway’s Therese Søhol Henriksen fifth.

In the Prestige League 1.20m presented by Carlsberg, it was another Belgian victory with Toon Maes and Benita (Calvina Z x Lux) on top. USA’s Alexandra Crown followed in both second and third, while Glenn Van Riet and Isidoor Van Rompaey made sure that there were two more Belgians within the top five in this class. 

It did not stop there however, as Belgium’s Anthony Wellens claimed the victory in the first Top Series class of the day – the 1.40 presented by MAX. Nine of the 35 riders in this competition against the clock produced clear rounds, with Wellens and the 8-year-old stallion Jessien van’t Martendonkerf (Diabeau x Heartbreaker) being the fastest ones. Brazil’s Joao Victor Castro followed almost four seconds behind, aboard Chief Tibri Z (Corland x Berlin) to end second while in third came Patrick Spits – also representing Belgium – on Jacobien Dwerse Hagen (Va-Vite x Querlybet Hero). Germany’s Katharina Offel finished fourth, and Ireland’s Peter Moloney fifth.

Source: Press release Stephex Brussels Masters // Photo (c) Scoopdyga