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| Quick snapshot of Antwerp as we strolled around |
Needless to say, as I write this from home sweet home; that I survived my first long road trip as chauffeur. Myself and the Guru headed from Luxembourg to Antwerp overnight to check out the opening leg of the 2014 Longines Champions Tour.
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| Hoodie I splurged on as I was so cold - was not prepared for wind; hopefully lesson learned! |
There were two other classes on before the main event at 6.30pm. There was a 1m15 class on first which we spent the entire time watching the warm up arena - such nice horseflesh although nowhere near the quality of the animals that followed in the later classes.
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| Cute castle on the waterfront |
The shopping was super disappointing, we were definitely not the target audience for the few stands that were there. I was half hoping (but not really expecting) to find a Charles Owen, Tredstep Ireland and/or Ogilvy stand so that I could see the products on my shopping list in person. Sadly not to be so shall hold out hope for next equine adventure tbc ;-)
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| White tents & cranes are LGT showgrounds - photo taken from castle above |
That's enough talk from me; I'm now going to leave you with my poor quality camera phone photos - hope you can make out the horses :-p
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| Dirk Demeersman & Artemise du Houssoit in 1m45 class |
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| Artemise du Houssoit really caught my eye, she is gorgeous SBS 8yo mare by Sherman-Sitte & Ksar-Sitte mare |
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| Nick Skelton & Aristio (mini-Arko) |
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| Aristio is an AES 8yo stallion by Arko III & Voltaire mare |
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| Nick & Aristio sproinging |
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| The magnificent Carlo & Sergio Alvarez Moya |
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| Ludo Philippaerts & Challenge v. Begijnakker |
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| Nicola Philippaerts & Forever D'Arco Ter Linden |
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| Nicola & Forever @ Jump 1 |
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| Shane Breen & the stunning Balloon |
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| Balloon & Shane Jump 1 |
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| Mark McAuley & Isco de Amoranda |
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| Mark & Isco Jump 1 |
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| Eric Lamaze & the fabulous Powerplay |
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| Cameron Hanley & Dundee v. Dwerse Hagen |
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| Cameron & Dundee Jump 1 |
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| Denis Lynch & Coulisa; isn't she a looker? |
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| Denis & Coulisa |
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| Coulisa & Denis |
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| Edwina Tops-Alexander & Old Chap Tame |
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| ETA & Old Chap again - another rubber ball of a horse |
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| The legends that are Rolf-Göran Bengtsson & Casall ASK |
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| Rolf & ASK |
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| Kevin Staut & For Joy van'T Zorgvliet Hdc |
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| For Joy & Kevin Jump 1 |
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| Kevin & For Joy @ Jump 6 |
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| Reed Kessler & Cos I Can |
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| Reed & Cosi - who has the same sire as my Kika! |
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| Reed & Cos I Can heading for fence 6 |
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| Over they go! |
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| Luciana Dinis & Cassius 56 |
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| Sadly I messed up my timing to snap them over the jumps |
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| Ben Maher & the gorgeous and aptly named Diva II |
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| She's a beauty |
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| Ben & Diva |
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| Michael Whitaker & Elie van de Kolmen |
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| I can't remember if I mentioned that MW was on the same flight as me to Brazil last year - starstruck moment for me as I gawped when he passed my seat |
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| Jump 6 for Michael & Elie |
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| The gorgeous Taloubet Z & Christain Ahlmann |
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| Taloubet fence 1 |
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| Plot Bleu & Marcus Ehning |
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| *drool* |
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| Penelope Leprovost & Nayana |
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| Penelope won a lovely diamond prize for being the Leading Lady rider |
Apologies for the photo quality and that they are so far away. I was also a lazy bum and only took photos during Round 1 of my favourite riders & horses - so as to actually watch the other rounds and not be hiding behind my phone trying to click at just the right moment to get the sproing shot. This means I managed to miss the top 3 even though The 3rd place Belgian youngster was on a stunnig horse - what a dreamboat...the horse! I wasn't perving on the kid!