FEI Pony Chef d'Equipe Jan Meersmans announced his provisional A and B frame. In hope of winning a team medal at the upcoming European Pony Championships in Sweden, Meersmans organized two clinics at De Pronkenberg to prepare his pupils.
First clinic featured Mariette Withages, chairwoman of the WEG Rome judges and O-judge, as clinician. The contestants had to ride a test which afterwards was discussed with their trainers. Jan Meersmans was very pleased with the 1999 collection of pony riders.
1998 European Champion Delphine Meiresonne is Belgium's biggest hit and with her newest pony Top Yellow she will be able to score high.
Katrien Verreet and Hannelore Volders are established riders but need to keep practicing. Second clinic was hosted at Stal Van Ingelgem, a wonderful equestrian facility in Zemst. Clinician was the German Dr. Dieter Schule who lives near Nurnberg. Schule gave many positive remarks about the Belgian pony riders and guaranteed that a team medal would be a potential chance.
Much progress was made in regard to two years ago, and host Stefan van Ingelgem could only give positive remarks about the pony riders.
Test scores during the clinic
- 1. Delphine Meiresonne - Top Yellow - 67%
- 2. Ruth van Campen - Voltreffer - 65.80%
- 3. Hannelore Volders - Arastou S - 65.50%
- 4. Katrien Verreet - Nurasco - 64.11%
- 5. Aline Driessen - Hogewalds Ilka - 62.80%
- 6. Julie De Deken - Panache - 61%
- 7. Kaatje De Bie - Cupido - 60%
- 8. Kim de Swaef - De Merel's Dennis - 58.50%
- 9. Yoni De Souter - Tetris - 51.50%
After the two clinics Jan Meersmans announced the provisional frames.
A-frame: Delphine Meiresonne, Ruth van Campen, Hannelore Volders, Katrien Verreet and Aline Driessen (reserve)
B-frame: Kaatje De Bie, Kim De Swaef, Julie De Deken, Edmond Gois, Yoni de Souter, Gudrun Patteet.
Last year's Reserve Team rider Annelies Vorsselmans will not be competing the FEI Pony tests in 1999. Her pony stallion De Hofstede Halesius is for sale.