Belgian Grand Prix rider Vicky Smits-Vanderhasselt gave birth to a baby boy early this morning 8 July 2011. The delivery went well and mom and son are doing fine.
The boy has been named Nikias. He weighs 3.400 kilograms and is 50 centimeters tall. The father is Belgian international show jumping rider Christoph Vanderhasselt.
Smits-Vanderhasselt is Belgium's highest scoring Grand Prix rider at the moment aboard her own and stud Farm Van de Helle's Hanoverian mare Daianira van de Helle (by Dream of Glory). After winning shows in Munster, Bremen, Braunschweig and good placings in Dortmund, Smits quit competing in March 2011 going into the sixth month of her pregnancy. Her pregnant belly became an inconvenience going.
At the moment it is uncertain whether Smits and Daianira will be on form on time to join the Belgian team at the 2011 European Dressage Championships.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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