Gold For Zum Gluck

Five-year-old Valverde and six-year-old Zum Glück lead from the start to win

- Selene Scarsi

Bundeschampionate, Warendorf, Germany

MORE than 35,000 attended this year’s Bundeschampionat in Warendorf. The highest scorers of the preliminary tests in the five- and six-year-old dressage divisions, Valverde and Zum Glück, built on their performances in the qualifiers to take the two main gold medals at stake.

The most advanced class, the six-year-old division, went to Dutch rider Robin van Lierop and Oldenburg stallion Zum Glück RS2 OLD (Zonik x Florestan). The Kasselmann-bred stallion was the price highlight of the 2017 PSI Auction, where he was sold to Dutch couple Saskia and Jacques Lemmens of RS2 Dressage for €850,000 (about £757,778). Last year, van Lierop was the first-ever Dutchman to pick up a medal at the Bundeschampionate. This year, he produced an impeccable test to claim gold.

The trot, which was awarded a nine, had plenty of cadence, with flowing half-passes and easy lateral work. The huge walk collected beautifully to produce tiny turns on the haunches for 9.5.

The canter, awarded a 10, included gorgeous extensions and four secure, uphill changes. As Dietrich Plewa, who provided commentary from the judges’ box after each ride, put it, this test was “a succession of highlights”.