Graham Babes claims a world ranking win in Belgium with Monks I Am Casall
Monday 24 August 2026
Graham Babes claimed victory in the Stephex 3* 1.50m with Monks I Am Casall at Azelhof Horse Events in Lier, Belgium.
“He loves winning, as soon as the rug and sash go on, his ears are forward and he’s posing,” said Graham, who has enjoyed his time in Lier, except perhaps in the trot-up – “We got soaked, but it did brighten up apart from the odd shower with a nice temperature for jumping horses.”
A large field of 86 came forward over the 1.50m track with 22 posting qualifying clear rounds for the jump-off. Graham aboard his sister Stephanie Babes’ 12-Year-old Monks I Am Casall (I’m Special De Muze x Casall) came from mid-draw to land the winning round with 0.63 seconds in hand.
“I started at a good pace, took a long run to an oxer after fence one, galloped to a vertical and was tight and fast back to the double; I saw a shot on a moving stride and the horse locked onto it as well – this is where I won it,” said Graham, who, along with his family, bought Monks I Am Casall as a six-month-old foal.
“He’s been nice-natured all his life, friendly and very level day-to-day, but when he enters the ring and feels the atmosphere, he lights up.”
Graham will be competing at the next two meetings in Lier before moving on to the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain.
“We’re just progressing and making that next step to be smoothly competing in the Grands Prix,” added Graham.
Sandy McClean scored a hat-trick of wins. Don Viepar posted his best win, topping the 3* 1.45m speed, the Rascin x Andiamo 18-year-old outpacing their 62 rivals with 1.49 seconds to spare.
Sandy claimed a victory double in the 1* 1.30m classes with the 13-year-old Corneliuss (Cornetus x Levantos I), heading a British top three by 1.47 seconds over Jay Halim (Gentle) and Jasmin Clark (NPS Java) in the 50-strong class, and beating 74 rivals in the second speed by 3.63 seconds.
Max Routledge slipped Me The Rebel RT into third in the 3* Grand Prix. Only eight of the original 60 starters accessed the jump-off, Max and the Cornet Obolensky x Baloubet Du Rouet nine-year-old jumping another easy clear to finish more than five seconds behind the winner, Brazil’s Yuri Mansur on Incanto VDL. Sandy supplied the fastest time, but a rail down dropped Gino F to fifth.
Max eased the eight-year-old Comme Il Faut stallion Crosby Teer Doorn Z into second in an early 43-horse 3* 1.45m speed 1.05 seconds off the pace.
Georgia Tame lands the 2* Grand Prix in Ermelo with Lucky Chance Z
Georgia Tame featured in two world ranking classes with Susanne Press’s Lucky Chance Z in Ermelo, The Netherlands, winning the Grand Prix.
The pair indicated their intentions in the Provincie Gelderland prize, a qualifier for the Grand Prix, joining the 13-horse decider from a start list of 56, jumping into second 0.90 seconds off the pace.
It set them up nicely for the 2* Grand Prix itself. Forty-three competitors presented for the Grand Prix over a 1.45m course but only eight answered all the questions this time. Georgia had the Casall x Indoctro eight-year-old perfectly placed at each fence to smoothly ease into the top spot with 0.96 seconds to spare.
Amanda Derbyshire is on the Grand Prix podium with Cornwall BH
Amanda Derbyshire claimed two podium places at the Old Salem Summer Jumper Classic 2* with seasoned campaigner Cornwall BH in The USA.
Twelve of the 51 starters returned to contend the jump-off in the $32,000 2* 1.45m with Amanda and the Holsteiner 18-year-old Cornwall finishing 1.75 seconds behind World No 1 Kent Farrington (USA) on Dolores PS.
The pair were close on time in the $65,000 Old Salem 2* Grand Prix, but again had to settle for second place, this time by a narrow margin.
A field of 33 came forward over a 1.45m track, with 15 mastering the first round to return for the jump-off. Amanda gave her best in the jump-off aboard Cornwall, but was bettered by only 0.23 seconds by Brian Moggre (USA) riding Johann FS Z.
Image: Graham Babes/Facebook
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