With captain of Belgium Dressage Events Wim Verwimp, we look back at a very successful week. Wim: “I think everything went really well this week. At the beautiful location of Azelhof we have everything to organize a competition for the Belgian dressage sport at the highest level. I think we’ve succeeded with that again this year.”

Positive respons

“The positive response of the riders during the week was quite overwhelming, but so much fun to hear. They are all happy with the organization, the stables -this is the second year we have permanent stables-, the footings, the prizes, everything. It gives us as an organization a lot of energy to keep on going with this event and to think about how we can do it even better.”

CDI Lier 2024

The date for next year has already been set: from February 27^th till March 3^rd CDI Lier 2024 will take place again at Azelhof!

Charlotte Fry & Jackson scored a hattrick in the Small Tour competition. With a smashing 75.775% they also won the Freestyle today, and that was the third win in a row for this lovely couple. Charlotte took Jackson to CDI Lier to let him gain experience in international competitions and a bigger entourage. Jackson learned a lot this week and he proves himself to be a promising horse for the future.

The top three was completed by the Netherlands and Belgium. It was the Dutch Quinty Vossers with Inferno who became second, with a nice score of 73.670%. The Belgian Jorinde Verwimp scored 73.600% with her Golddream vd Kempenhoeve and she won the very well deserved third price.

This afternoon we have a clinic with Tineke Bartels & Kevin van Ham, at 14.30PM, followed by the CDI 4* Grand Prix Freestyle to Music. Visit CDI Lier or follow the sport from home, through the free live stream of ClipMyHorse.

Visit the Free Livestream

See all results 

Photo Charlotte Fry & Jackson: Digishots

She came, she saw and she conquered. The Swedish Therese Nilshagen was the first rider to enter the arena in the CDI 4* Grand Prix with her Dante Weltino Gold Old. (by Danone 4). None of the 19 other riders managed to improve her smashing score of 75.54%.

Therese was closely followed by her Swedish colleague Juliette Ramel, who rode Buriel K.H. (by Osmium) to the second place with 75.239%. The German Dorothee Schneider was third with her Sisters Act MT Old. (by Sandro), they were rewarded with 73.609%. The fourth place was for the Belgian Larissa Pauluis with Flambeau (by Ampere), they received an average 71.565% from the juries. Finnish rider Yvonne Österholm was placed fifth with Ironman H (by Bordeaux).

Small Tour

The win in the Small Tour Inter I went to Charlotte Fry and Jackson. With 72.382% they achieved a convincing victory. “Jackson was really good, today’s test was already much better than last time, so yes, I’m happy! It was only his second Inter I test ever so it’s all still new for him. Also, this is probably the biggest entourage he’s ever been in but he handled it very well. He was a little nervous so we had some small mistakes, but he’s going to be very exciting for the future.”

Special horse

Jackson is a special horse for Charlotte. “Jackson is a little nervous and he needs to have a good partnership with his rider, so he’s really a one-person horse. Once he trusts you, he gives everything. That’s what I like about him. He’s still new to the competitions but it’s going really well, I’m happy with his progress.”

Belgian rider Jennifer Reimer became second with her Daiquiri Royal (by Dancier) with 70.471%. She was followed closely by the Dutch Marieke Ponzo Dieu-de Pundert who became third with Haliego (by Diego), with 70.441%. Dutch Saskia Poel also did well with Hero-K (by Charmeur) and ended at the fourth place. Belgium’s Isabel Cool completed the top five with Herr Charmeur Coolhorses (by Charmeur).

Results

Photo Therese Nilshagen: Digishots

There were tears, cuddles and a smile from ear to ear. The Danish rider Ida Kirstine Bjørn is more than proud on her just 9-years-old lovely Hussmanns Jackson and couldn’t believe the smashing 77.183% she scored in the freestyle.

“This was so amazing. Hussmanns Jackson did so really well”, she told us afterwards. ”He just totally smashed our previous record in the freestyle. He scored so much higher than ever before, that’s just amazing. Specially in this big arena, with a lot of people.”

Just 9-years-old
“He is just 9-years-old and hasn’t got a lot of experience. We started riding Young Riders about a year ago. So I still feel he’s a little bit green sometimes. When I got him, he knew the changes, but he didn’t do competitions at all. I have him for one and a half year right now.” Hussmanns Jackson seems to like the arena in Lier. On the first day he took the win with a score of 71.961% and he became third on Thursday with a score of 71.079%.

“He likes the attention”
“On Thursday he got a bit tense but today he just enjoyed, I think he knows when people are looking at him. He likes the attention, but his power needs to be manageable, though. He has got a lot of blood and he is quite a sensitive horse, but that’s getting better and better. He’s really growing up and always putting his best foot forward.”

Final year as a Young Rider
Can you tell us something about your plans and dreams with Hussmanns Jackson? “It’s a bit scary to say, but I hope to go to the Europeans. Although we have got a lot of good riders and horses in Denmark. So we’ll see, but for now we will do the best we can. It’s my last year as a young rider so I just want to enjoy it.” And then, U25? “I’m sure he has got the potential for U25. So hopefully we can come back to Lier next year.”

Belgian Jette de Jong second
With a really small difference between the second and third place, the Belgian Jette de Jong took the silver spot. Her horse Heavenly Charming ended up with a score of 73.667%. The British Jessica McConkey scored 73.650% with Wilson Stensvang and became third.

Juniors
The Dutch Esmee Broers made it to a hattrick, winning the Freestyle with Kiki G as well today. The score of 74.833% did get her on top of the podium. The Belgian Anna Peeters became second with Harlekin, she scored 73.583%. Also the third place went to a Belgium rider. This time Clara Collard and Escape managed a top 3 result, with a score of 73.250%.

U25
The final class of today was the U25 and again it was an entire Dutch podium. Zoe Kuintjes made it to a third win this week with her partner in crime Cupido RS2. They scored 72.615% in their Freestyle. Julia Bouthoorn and Choice Finch became second with a score of 71.510%. The third place was for Lotte van den Herik and her stallion Giovanni. Their performance was rewarded with a score of 70.755%.

Results

Photo Ida Kirstine Bjørn: Digishots

Who doesn’t know him? He is a familiar face at national and international competitions and so too at CDI Lier. He has been working there since the first edition. Without him, no rider would be able to start, as he is responsible for opening and closing the arena. We are talking about Jos Struys.

Jos Struys
CDI Lier 2023
© DigiShots

What he likes most about CDI Lier? “The people and the stewards, I’ve known them for years.” He sees all the horses very closely and does his task with concentration. “I keep an eye on everything. I am not allowed to move and I watch carefully what the judges are doing.” And that is important. “I noticed once that the judge’s bell stopped working. I have to keep an eye on that.” Whether what he does is boring? “No, I never find it boring.”

Jos is a real horse lover and thanks to his work he has been to many places. “I like being at hotels. It’s nice and here they also have a very nice hotel.” Does he ever go on holiday? “This is my holiday, I just grew into it that way. I do get busier and busier, because it’s hard to get volunteers.” But Jos doesn’t seem to mind.

When not at work, Jos can be found among the horses. “I have three horses I take care of sometimes. I go there by bike. One of them is as tall as 1.80m. I give them attention and sometimes I have to put blankets on. My sponsor Onori made those.” Proudly, Jos shows a photo. “That horse is attached to me, and I to the horse. When he sees me, he is happy. Horses have to get to know you.”

What he likes best about his work? “That I can be close to the horses. I hope to continue doing this work for years to come.” And we hope so too!

 

Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken

 

Een bericht gedeeld door Belgium Dressage Events (@belgiumdressage_events)