Roetsenest Enzo, Kielshoop Honeybee's Valentino, El Diego Win 2012 Dutch Young Pony Championships

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The 4-year old Roetsenest Enzo, the 5-year old Bolderman's Valentino, and the 6-year old El Diego were the winners of the 2012 Dutch Young Pony Championships held at the annual Dutch Welsh Pony breed show on Saturday 18 August 2012. With tropical temperatures throughout the day the competition heated up during the finals in which guest judges Angela Krooswijk, Anne Meulendijks and Michelle van Lanen.

The twenty best scoring ponies per age division from the national qualifiers were selected to compete at the finals in Kootwijk, The Netherlands. All ponies were first presented to judges Adriaan Hamoen and Jan Peeters and afterwards the five highest scoring ponies per category were test ridden by either Krooswijk, Meulendijks or Van Lanen. "The ponies that were ridden by the guest riders today were all five top ponies with good gaits," said judge Peeters.

Three palomino's captured the top three places in the 4-year old division. Judith Werkman and the Welsh bred Roetsenest Enzo became the champion after having received 9.5 and 8.5 from the guest judge riders. "Enzo is a fine, good pony. He felt a bit inexperienced but that's because of his age," said Van Lanen. "He gave me a good feeling and I think he has lots of potential for the future." Gioia van den Corput and Di Angelo Sogno (by Orchid Cestani) were the runners-up after already having competed her very young pony at the Brabant Regional Championships the same day in the morning (!). The 14-year old Carlijn Vaessen and High Flown's Orlando (by Bodo) finished third.

There was no doubt about the champion in the 5-year old division: Kielshoop Honeybee's Valentino (by Hagelkruis Valentijn x Oakley Bubbling Bobbety). Under Laurens Bolderman the pony became Utrecht M1 champion on Friday and captured the national young pony title on Saturday. Owned by Stable Bolderman, Valentino also competed at last year's pony finals but then could not excel in the guest judge round. This year it was different and both guest judge riders awarded the licensed pony a 10. "Wow amazing," said Michelle van Lanen. "He did everything with great ease and has a great attitude." Meulendijks added that "I want this pony at home. He's very nice to ride and always moves uphill." The black mare Fianchetta (by Henry) finished second under Belgian Pony Team rider Leyla Larsson. Last year's 4-year old champion, Nero van den Hout (by Orchard Red Prince) now placed third under Jody Tissen.

Maaike Slootweg and the chestnut stallion El Diego (by Evanto's Nieuwmoed) took the title in the 6-year old division by scoring a 10 with the guest judges. Initialy the buckskin gelding Coco Jambo (by Champion de Luxe) was in the lead under Febe van Zwambagt, scoring the highest points with Hamoen and Peeters, but in the guest judge finals he could not excel as much as El Diego. "He is a very nice pony with a good temperament and I think he wil have a nice international future," said Van Lanen. Francis Jansen and the New Forest pony bred Hoppenhof's James were the reserve champions. Van Zwambagt and Coco Jambo finished third.

Photo © Arlette Beukenkamp

Results - 2012 Dutch Young Pony Championships

4-year olds

1. Roetsenest Enzo - Judith Werkman – 86,6
2. Di Angelo Sogno – Orchid's Cestani – 80,6
3. High Flown's Orlando – Carlijn Vaessen -79,1
4. Cartago van 't Molenbosch – Kirsten Jongman – 77,8
5. Tongerenhof Osmium – Guusje van Heeswijk – 73,8

5-year olds

1. Kielshoop Honeybee's Valentino – Laurens Bolderman – 93,5
2. Fianchetta – Leyla Larsso – 88,5
3. Nero van den Hout – Jody Tissen – 79,5
4. Campsterhoven's Baldato – Milou van Engeland -76,8
5. Cezaro – Laura Hoogstraten – 63,5

6-year olds

1. El Diego – Maaike Slootweg – 87,16
2. Hoppenhof's James -Francis Jansen – 83, 16
3. Coco Jambo – Febe van Zwambagt – 79,8
4. Kulberg's Orion – Guusje van Heeswijk – 77,66
5. Maddox – Suzanne van de Ven – 75,8