The Lente Tour in Lummen is a very popular "season opening event" for the outdoor season, where a huge amount of horses and riders compete from early morning to late in the evening. Now it's time for the second weekend and Stal Forst?n-Pentti is represented in Lummen by Noora and Thomas. Our horses were loaded for Lummen on Thursday morning, and it's time again for another show weekend to start.

Sunday: Noora places third in 1m40 final with Campari and ninth in 1m35 with Navarro.

Noora starts at Lummen with Isaac du Jonquet, Campari and Navarro. Noora's fourth thought horse, Lara will stay at home as a precaution, as she had slightly beaten her other front leg in the box or the pasture.

Thomas Ehrnrooth, who is training at Stal Forst?n-Pentti, starts with his three horses Anatolica, Cariette and Corvette.

At the same time in Hockenheim, Mikko makes his debut and season opening in The Ferrari Challenge. Thursday starts with a free practice session in the evening. Friday it's time for the qualifying session, and the actual race is driven on both Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday

Our horses have arrived to Lummen and all is fine. Noora starts tomorrow the event with Campari on the so-called Derby -arena at 0900 in 1m35 against the clock. Approximately at 1300 it's time for Isaac du Jonquet and 1m40 with jump-off on the same arena. Navarro starts his weekend on slightly lighter line, and jumps 1m30 with jump-off on the so-called Agora -arena at 1430.

Thomas and his horses start the show in the 1m30 and 1m35 classes. Cariette jumps 1m35 in the morning on the Derby -arena, Anatolica starts in 1m30 against the clock on the Agora -arena and Corvette jumps 1m30 with jump-off on the same arena.

Mikko has got his first laps under the belt in Hockenheim, driving today a free practice session. Mikko was pleased with the car and feels confident for the Friday's qualifying session.

Friday

Stal Forst?n-Pentti had a nice and sunny day in Belgium.

Campari became today a winner of international classes, when Noora guided the young stallion fastest around the 1m35 course against the clock!
- A fluent course, but by no means a wild riding against the clock, was Noora's account of the excellent ride, where the national anthem was played.

Navarro, who only recently made a comeback after some time off, was again very fresh and eager according to Noora. Navarro jumped a really good, clear first round and Noora decided not to start in the jump-off. Still good for a placing (8. /65)!

Noora was again testing a new, different bit with Isaac. This time the bit was a little  too sharp and made the horse a already irritated. Isaac's and Noora's class ended today with two knockdowns, despite the course not being "that bad" by far.

Thomas was taken by surprise with Cariette. The mare started well and precisely on the 1m35 course, but then suddenly stopped at the natural water fence of the Derby -arena. So today unfortunately then two refusals for horse and rider, but they'll have a new go tomorrow! Anatolica showed good and relaxed jumping in the 1m30 class, taking though unfortunately one rail down. Corvette made also a good first course in Lummen. Despite a somewhat unnecessary knockdown on first fence, Thomas and Corvette gave today a really positive impression.

Saturday

Saturday results in placings for Thomas and Corvette, Noora and Navarro. Noora's Campari has a day off.
Saturday went smoothly, despite yet one less successful gear-test for Noora and Isaac. Noora was testing a short martingale, which seemed fine in the warm-up, but didn't work at all on the course itself. Isaac was quickly getting annoyed by the martingale and jumping and riding became very awkward according to Noora. Noora stopped directly after fence number 3 and for Sunday horse and rider returns to the "good old" bit and gear arrangements they used all winter with success.

The comeback making Navarro was yet again doing a marvelous performance, being both relaxed and extremely careful in the same time. Noora told she didn't ride for time, as the horse is not yet in best physical form after the recent return. Saturday though, Navarro jumped everything on the 13-fence course with ease and eager, so we are seeing him getting quite prepared for the outdoor season. A placing (13. /108)!

Thomas found Corvette being in great form in Saturday's 1m30 against the clock. Thomas made no serious attempts for a really fast time, but a fluent and clean run was good enough for a fine seventh place (7. /45). Cariette was still a little tense on Saturday, doing a really fine course, but the unfortunately dropping the two last fences. Anatolica was also good on Saturday. Two rails down, but those were perhaps more minor rider errors, than errors of the horse - a new go on Sunday.

Sunday

The final day in Belgium's Lummen brought our team yet two placings more, as Noora rode both Campari and Navarro to excellent results.

Noora and Campari started today in the 1m40 with a jump-off final on the Derby -arena. A very confident horse and rider had no problems in putting in yet another double clear performance. Noora and Campari finished third (3. 91) after the jump-off, where Noora was concentrating on making a sensible and good course.
- I'm sure we could have easily taken at least two seconds off the time, Noora told about their pace in the jump-off.

Noora and Navarro placed today on a splendid ninth (9. /58) place! They started in the 1m35 final with a jump-off, which was ridden on the Garden -arena. Noora was still holding back the horse in the jump-off, as the he is now very eager, but perhaps not yet in best routine. Navarro has really shown this weekend to have made a proper return and recovery from the off active showing.

The weekends only more challenging horse has been Isaac du Jonquet, who has been testing some different gear and bit solutions. Today Isaac, who has been jumping superbly all winter, was not in his best form, and Noora decided to retire after a while, as all didn't feel quite right. Noora told she really looks forward to get all back on track with the horse again, and for next weekend they might try some different changes.

Thomas started with Anatolica in the 1m40 final. A fairly good course, but two minor mistakes led to two knockdowns, which kept Thomas outside today's jump-off. Corvette had a bad day today. The talented, but sensitive horse, who took a fine placing yesterday, did not finish today after two refusals. With Cariette Thomas made a good effort in the 1m30 final. An unfortunate mistake meant no jump-offs and thereby placing outside the top positions today.

Mikko was making his d?but in the all Ferrari 360 Modena, Ferrari Challenge class. On Saturday Mikko finished his heat as fourth, despite being leaned on quite a few times in the early moments of the race. On Sunday Mikko was not quite so lucky and was facing technical difficulties after got rammed into in the opening parts of the race. Mikko was doing really great, but had then to retire as the car was overheating. It seemed apparent that the Ferrari Challenge is much tougher class than the last year's gentleman-like Porsche racing. Mikko looks forward to the next race, which apparently is Silverstone for his part.

Organizers website:

• Lummen

Results summary for Noora and Thomas:

• Lummen II results summary

Ferrari Challenge official website:

• Ferrari 360 Challenge