Extreme U.S., Nalegro, Merlot VDL Win 2024 KWPN Stallion Competition Finals

Breeding

KWPN

The 5-year old Extreme U.S., the 6-year old Nalegro and the 7-year old Merlot VDL became the winners of the 2024 KWPN Stallion Competition Finals held at the KWPN stallion licensing in 's Hertogenbosch on 2 February 2024.

After three selection trials in Kronenberg, Ermelo and Groningen, where stallions earned points, the finals were ridden in Den Bosch. Points from the qualifiers and the finals were totalled to determine the winner. However for the youngest stallions at L-level, the points of the three qualifiers were totalled and in Den Bosch they only presented themselves to the public

L-level: Extreme U.S.

The winner after the three qualification rounds was Renate van Uytert aboard Extreme U.S. (by Escamillo x Vivaldi), bred by Paul Schockemöhle and co-owned by the breeder and Joop van Uytert. The stallion won the ranking with two points ahead.

The second placed stallion was also owned by Joop van Uytert: One Million (by Vivaldi x Apache), bred by M Gotink and presented by Dutch young rider team member Robin Heiden. Dutch junior team rider Lara van Nek placed third on her mom Willeke Bos' home bred Obsession Taonga (by Vitalis x All At Once).

M-level: Nalegro

Last year's L-level reserve champions Charlotte Fry and Nalegro (by Painted Black x Negro) ruled the roost this year at M-level, which brought afoot four pairs for the Finals in Den Bosch, while nine competed on the qualification circuit. Bred by J. Hanse and owned by Van Olst, Nalegro scored 89,6 in the finals with 8.8 for walk, and 9 for trot, canter, harmony and general impression.

The runner-up was Femke de Laat aboard Network, a Just Wimphof x Negro bred by Daan Staller and owned Danique Broekema. He scored 87,6 in the finals with 8.5 for walk and canter, 8.8 for trot and 9 for harmony and general impression. Fry and Nacho (by Negro x Krack C) were third with 87.2 points in the finals.

Z-Level: Merlot VDL

Only one horse competed in the Z-level final in Den Bosch and he was the automatic winner: Merlot VDL (by Bordeaux x Florencio), bred by the Klinkhamer family, owned by VSL stud and presented by Femke de Laat. The stallion scored a total of 84,2 points in the finals with 8 for walk, 8.7 for trot, 8.3 for canter, 8.5 for harmony and 8.5 for general impression.

The second competitor, the soon to be 7-year old Gorgeous Black Art (by Toto Jr x Rubiquil), travelled to Den Bosch to be presented to the audience, showing off fully established piaffe and passage under Dutch team rider Thamar Zweistra, but he did not get ranked in the competition finals. He was competed in the qualifiers by Benedek Pachl and missed the one in Groningen.

Perfect Pair Prize

For the first time the KWPN society decided to award a "Perfect Pair" Prize for the "most promising performance" show casing "harmony and friendliness".

Belgian 4* judge Jacques van Daele was in charge of the harmony score in all the tests of the KWPN Stallion Competition Final and at the end of the day he decided to give the Perfect Pair prize to Charlotte Fry on O'Frederic (by For Romance x Fidertanz) for most harmonious presentation.

One week after Fry and the judges face heavy headwind on social media for their winning score and way of riding at the CDI-W Amsterdam, KWPN and Van Daele honoured the British medal winning team rider and world champion with this new prize.

Results - 2024 KWPN Stallion Competition Finals

L-level

1 Extreme U.S. - Renate van Uytert-Van Vliet - 89,2 - 89 - 82,6 ---260,8
2 One Million - Robin Heiden 87,2 - 84,4 - 86,4 --- 258
3 Obsession Taonga - Lara van Nek - 86,2 - 85,8 - 86 ---- 258
4 O'Toto van de Wimphof - Renate van Uytert-Van Vliet - 85,6 - 82,6 - 83,8 --- 252
5 Secret Lover - Charlotte Fry - 81,8 - 84,4 - 82,4 --- 248,6
6 O'Frederic - Charlotte Fry - 83 - 81,4 - 82,4 --- 246,8
7 One Two Three - Yessin Rahmouni - 77,8 - 77,4 - 76,4 --- 231,6
8 Ozzy TN - Kim Alting - 76,6 - 0 - 79,8 --- 156,4

M-level

1 Nalegro - Charlotte Fry - 86,2 - 88,2 - 89,6 --- 264 ----- 89,6 ------ 353,6
2 Network - Femke de Laat - 85,2 - 84,2 - 84,6 --- 254 ----- 87,6 ------ 341,6
3 Nacho - Charlotte Fry - 82 - 83,2 - 83,6 --- 248,8 ----- 87,2 ------ 336
4 Nordic Blue Horse - Danielle Heykoop - 83,6 - 82,2 - 82,4 --- 248,2 ----- 79,4 ------ 327,6
Next Romancier - Robin Heiden - 79,6 - 81,8 - 81,8 --- 243,2 ----- DNS ------ 243,2
Newport - Febe van de Zwambagt - 78,8 - 83 - 79,8 --- 241,6 ----- DNS ------ 241,6
Number Two - Jill Bogers - 82,6 - 77,8 - 80,8 --- 241,2 ----- DNS ------ 241,2
Night Shadow - Amber de Groot - 77,8 - 75,4 - 77,2 --- 230,4 ----- DNS ------ 230,4
Dark Rousseau - Kim Alting - 0 - 84,6 - 83 --- 167,6 ----- DNS ------ 167,6

Z-level

1 Merlot VDL - Femke de Laat - 85,6 - 86,2 - 84,8 ---- 256,6 ----- 84,2 ------ 340,8
Gorgeous Black Art - Beni Pachl - 84,2 - 82 - 0 --- 166,2 ----- DNS ------ 166,2