And that’s another victory for Domien Michiels in the Prix St. George Briljant Cup! With a win yesterday ánd today Domien and his handsome grey gelding Panthero van de Vogelzang, have a promising position for the freestyle final on Saturday.

“I had a really great ride today. This was the very first time in the arena that I felt like I had Panthero perfectly where I want him to be. I got goosebumps at times and I laughed and enjoyed myself during my test. At the end of the test one big mistake crept in, but that was the only negative thing. I’ve been riding Panthero since he was broken under the saddle so I schooled him myself, which is a lot of fun. I hope it will be a horse for the Grand Prix, he shows a lot of talent for it.”

Freestyle Final
How Domien looks forward to the Freestyle final on Saturday? “We managed to achieve a good position for the final, but every test has to be ridden and a distraction error is easily made, especially with a stallion. We are going to give it our best try!”

The second price in the Briljant Cup was for Eline Borrey De Coninck. With her Dollars she was in the lead for quite some time, but with 69.206% she had to settle for the second spot. Saidja Brison & Kenzo received exactly the same score as Eline and they became third.

Diamant Cup
The Diamant Cup was very popular amongst the riders, judged by the impressive starting list of 35 competitor on the second day of the rankings. With a convincing test, Yasmine Es-Salehy and her chestnut mare VRDS Nea’s Donna Qizara where the winners with a nice score of 71.303%. Saidja Brison followed closely with her Ladykiller. With 71.242% this combination won the second price. The top three of the Diamant Cup was completed by Aure Spleeters and Sunny de la Ferme Rose, who received 69.485% of the judging panel. Saturday, the best competitors of the Diamant Cup will compete in the finals with a Freestyle to Music.

You are invited
We still have a few very nice days full of beautiful dressage sport ahead of us and the weather forecast also looks good. As a spectator you are very welcome in Lier. From up to and including Sunday 29 May, the entrance fee is 10 euros per person. Via the website and the social media channels of Belgium Dressage Events, you find the timetable, starting lists, results, list of participants, the livestream and off course the latest news.

For the riders
Our photographer Leanjo de Koster of Digishots is here to capture all the thrills and spills. You can check out and order the pictures via www.digishots.nl.

Startlists/results
Pictures
Livestream

Photo: Digishots

“The first day, coming in first in the first test and finishing as first. Couldn’t be better,” Jorinde laughed after the award ceremony. “Everyone always says it’s disadvantageous coming in first anyway, but this is already the second time I came in first and won, so for me it’s an advantage now.”

The Diamant Cup has a big field of competitors, but in this case the early bird catched the worm.  The 12-year-old Johnson daughter Rose Belle is one of Jorinde’s four horses. “This is a horse of a client of mine, they rode her first. I took the reigns over and it’s going super well now. The owners are also in Lier, so that they here while we’re winning is super nice.”

Extra motivation

Busy days for Jorinde Verwimp at the Belgian Dressage Championships, 15 students to help and four horses to ride. How do you do it? “Bit of luck with the starting times and plan as much as possible,” she says, laughing. How is Jorinde looking at the rest of the week? “It has already started well in any case. So now I have to try to continue this. I’m looking forward to it, this win gives some extra motivation.” Her trump card for the Big Tour is Charmer. “Charmer has had some rest after the World Cup Final in Omaha, he seems in shape at home so we will see how he it goes here.”

Briljant Cup

After the Diamant Cup the second class of the day was the Briljant Cup. And this class had brilliance pair stealing the show: Domien Michiels and Phantero van de Vogelzang. With a score of 72.364% they smashed the competition and took the win. The second place went to Claudia Dorpmans and Bravo Benico (69.576%) and Sally Jacobs won the third place with Monamie (68.485%).

Platina Cup

After the Diamond Cup and Briljant Cup is was time for the Platina Cup. Nick van Laer rode his outstanding Jack Daniels N to the victory and scored 70.588%. Isabel Cool came in second with a score of 69.235% on her ride Herr Charmeur Coolhorses. The third place was for the beautiful Heros Begijnhoeve and Rob van Puijenbroek, they received a score of 67.794% of the judges.

The first day is done, and it was a good one! We hope to welcome you in Lier one of these days. Thursday through Sunday, the entry fee is 10 euro per person. Our photographer Leanjo de Koster of Digishots is here to capture all the thrills and spills. You can check out and order the pictures via www.digishots.nl.

Startlists/results
Pictures
Livestream

Photo: Digishots

The Belgian Dressage Championship will start in two days and is held in Lier from May 24 through 28. The registration has closed and that means we now know which names will contend for the Belgian dressage titles. One thing is certain, the entry list features a record number of combinations and nearly all the reigning champions are present to defend their title.

During the Pentecost weekend, Belgium’s top riders in the senior, youth and para dressage divisions descend on the Azelhof Equestrian Centre in Lier to compete at the Belgium Dressage Championship.

Belgium’s finest

The reigning Belgian dressage champion Larissa Pauluis is set to participate with two horses. Both her Olympic Flambeau and her ace of the World Championships Dressage of Herning, First-Step Valentin, are featured on the entry list. The winner of silver, Amandine Prevost, and the bronze medallist Charlotte Delfalqu, are also in attendance to secure another podium position. And the list goes on, several other top Belgian riders eager to get their hands on the medals are Jorinde Verwimp, Laurence Roos, Jeroen Devroe and Domien Michiels.

Youth steps up

Besides the Belgian Championship at Grand Prix level, there is the Small Tour championship. Isabelle Cool is the reigning Belgian Champion and does not forfeit the chance to defend her hard-earned title. On the list of participants in the U25 class we find the current champion Laura Luyten. Last year’s champion of the Junior division Jette de Jong has made the transition to the Young Riders and plans to compete aboard two horses. Liezel Everas also made a step forward. This year, the reigning pony champion contends among the Junior riders, as will Children champion Amber Hennes.

Commentary by Gert Jan van Olst

In addition to the Belgian Championship segments, the show program includes classes for 4- to 7-year-old dressage horses, the Diamant Cup, the Briljant Cup, and the Platina Cup. The young horse classes on Thursday are a training competition for which Gert Jan van Olst provides the commentary. Friday marks the start of the competitions, at night the day is concluded with a rider’s party.

You are invited

It promises to be a week filled with exciting dressage sport and the weather forecasts are equally bright. We hope to welcome you in Lier. Thursday through Sunday, the entry fee is 10 euro per person. Via the website and the social media channels of Belgium Dressage Events, you find the timetable, starting lists, results, list of participants and the latest news.

They did it again today, after winning the CDI 4* Grand Prix on Saturday, the Swedish Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino old. (by Danone 4) also took the win in the Grand Prix Special on Sunday, with 77.660%. They were closely followed by -also from Sweden- Juliette Ramel and her Buriel K.H. (by Osmium) with a score of 76.298%. The top three was completed by German Dorothee Schneider and Sisters Act MT old. (by Sandro Hit), with 73.468%.

We spoke with Therese after her winning ride: “Today I was really satisfied with our ride. This was our first competition this year, so you never know what you can expect. Sometimes the circumstances at indoor competitions are a bit more difficult than outside, but Dante felt really good here and he liked the arena and the environment.”

One in a million horse

If she can explain what makes Dante Weltino special? “Dante is a once in a million horse. I have been riding him since he was 5-years-old and he is twelve now, so we did the whole journey together. He is definitely the horse of my life, who has made so many dreams come true already: the final of the Olympic games, the World Championships finals, European Championships finals. Yes, he is my dreamhorse.”

Grand Prix Freestyle

In the Grand Prix Freestyle there was a big win for Belgium. Larissa Pauluis rode a super freestyle with her Flambeau (by. Ampere) and they took the win with 77.550%. The second place was for Fie Christine Skarsoe from Luxembourg. With Imperador Dos Credos (by Rubi) she scored 74.090%. It was quite a close call, but with 73.845% Richard Davison won the third prize with his Bubblingh (by Lingh).

Results

Photo Therese Nilshagen: Digishots

The standing ovation during the lap of honor was for the Belgian rider Larissa Pauluis today. Together with her First-Step Valentin (by Vitalis) she won the CDI 3* Grand Prix Special with a score of 71.489%.

“I was really happy with First-Step Valentin today! He is still young and he is a stallion, so sometimes it’s hard for him to stay focused in the ring. But today he did the job and we made no big mistakes. I bought him when he was 2,5-years-old and trained him to the Grand-Prix, so that’s quite special.”

First international win

“It’s the first time for First-Step Valentin that he wins an international competition and it’s extra special that it happened here today, at CDI Lier. For me this competition is an amazing place to be, everything is just perfect: the organization, the stables, the arena. I really like riding here.”

The second place was for the Swedish Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson with Bergsjoholms Valbonne (by Blue Horse Zack) with a result of 71.340%. Dutch rider Gerdine Maree and her Holiday (by Dream Boy) won the third prize with 69.723%.

Spanish dance moves

In the CDI 3* Grand Prix Freestyle the Portuguese Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo was the winner, after riding a spectaculair freestyle at uplifting Spanish music. The judges placed him at the top of the rankings with his stunning Spanish gelding Euclides Mor, with a solid score of 75.430%. The French Camille Judet Cheret became second with her lovely Scoop Du Bois Luric. She scored 73.000%. The third place was for the Hungarian Benedek Pachl and Donna Friderika. Their performance was rewarded with a score of 72.415%.

Results

Photo Larissa Pauluis: Digishots