Tuesday, 21 March 2017 CSI2* Oliva Nova (ESP)

Perfect start to the outdoor season for Gerco Schröder

The time of the indoor tournaments has almost passed and many riders are already being drawn to warmer climes to give an early welcome to the “green season”. So it was too for GLOCK Rider Gerco Schröder (NED) who, accompanied by GLOCK’s Dobelensky, GLOCK’s Debalia, GLOCK’s Lausejunge, GLOCK’s Zaranza and GLOCK’s Cognac Champblanc, travelled to Oliva Nova in Spain last weekend. The CSI2* event gave all of the GLOCK horses a chance to show their excellent form and bring a lot of good results and top placings home.

It was two clear rounds over the obstacles for Gerco and the nine-year-old KWPN gelding GLOCK’s Dobelensky (bred from Cornet Obolensky) in the Gold Tour over 1.30 m. On Friday, GLOCK’s Debalia, also nine, delivered a penalty-free round over 1.35 m and, on Saturday, jumped over 1.45 m to tenth place. Things also went almost perfectly for GLOCK’s Lausejunge. The cheeky Westphalian gelding improved day by day in the 1.45 m competitions. Following seventh place on Thursday and an outstanding second place on Friday, Gerco and “Lauser” achieved third place in the Grand Prix jump-off on Sunday.

Gerco took it emphatically steady with Holsteiner gelding GLOCK’s Cognac Champblanc. This mighty jumper of a grey gelding, bred from Clearway, drew some tournament air for the first time following a well-earned break: “Cognac felt really super and I reckon he’s already looking forward to the next competitions” was GLOCK Rider Gerco’s contented summary. Also building up again is GLOCK’s Zaranza. This 13-year-old son of Karandasj had to have an operation for colic last autumn, but readily took the Oliva Nova course over 1.30 m in his stride.