De Jong, Goovaerts, Van den Steen, Buelens, Defalque, Roos Win 2019 Belgian Dressage Championships

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2019 Belgian Dressage Championships

Pony rider Jette de Jong, children rider Alexander Goovaerts, junior rider Amber van den Steen, young rider Kayleigh Buelens, Under 25 rider Charlotte Defalque, and senior Grand Prix rider Laurence Roos became the winners of the 2019 Belgian Dressage Championships held at Stable Hulsterlo in Meerdonk, Belgium, on 7 - 11 August 2019.

A group of 11 combinations contested the FEI pony level division. The winner was Jette de Jong on Ico van de Beekerheide (by Icoon x Kooihuster Folkert), who produced a hattrick in Meerdonk, winning all three rounds with 70.029% in the team test, 73.270% in the individual and 75.170% in the Kur to Music. She stayed far ahead of the competition with a total of 218.469 points. De Jong was the only member of the Belgian Pony team selected to compete at the 2019 European Pony Championships in Strzegom, Poland, that opted to ride the Nations, which concluded just one day before the team departed on the long journey to Poland. Fellow team members Van Nuffelen, Joosen and Everars chose to conserve their pony's energy and did not show at the Nationals. The silver medal went to new comer Clara Collard on the former Belgian team pony Orchid's Borneo (by Justice HR). Trained by Carmen de Bondt, Collard placed second in all three rounds with 69,143%, 71,459% and 73,380%. Wim Verwimp's student Louise Brauwers scored bronze aboard N-Constantino van de Bolkerhoeve (by Constantin x Fidji de Fleury). The pair grew into the competition and posted bigger scores on the board each day. They started with a 67,229% in the team test, upped it to 68,757% in the Individual and finished on 70,795% in the freestyle.

Alexander Goovaerts on Habiba van het Bloemenhof

For the children, juniors and young riders returning from the 2019 European Championships in San Giovanni, Italy, there was also little rest time for the horses ! The 1200 km trip back to Belgium was on 29 July, while the Nationals kicked off on 7 August 2019.

In the children's class Alexander Goovaarts and Habiba van het Bloemenhof (by Quaterback) grabbed the gold medal with 211.327 points in total but he felt the heat from silver medalist Maite Colling on Rapallo CL (by Rotspon x Lancier). Goovaerts was second in the preliminary test (68.885%-) but won the team test (72.192%) and the individual test (70.250%). Colling won the preliminary test (69.462%) but dropped to second place in the team test (70.654%) and individual test (69.321%). Bronze went to EC team member Brittany Clabots on Flugel (by Weltmeyer II) who scored consistent marks round 66-67% in all three rounds.

There was no doubt about it that Amber van den Steen is Belgium's ruling junior rider this year. After placing fifth in the Kur to Music finals at the 2019 European Championships, Van den Steen and Fame (by Ampere x Sultano) were a league of their own at the Nationals. Coached by Jeannette Haazen, Amber scored 73.333% in the team test, 72.294% in the individual and 74.950% in the Kur to Music to total 220.577 points. The silver medal went to Danish Belgian Karoline Vestergaard on Junior Hit (by Sandro Hit x Calvani) who finished second on 212.053 points. She posted 69,182%, 69,971% and 72,900% for three second places. The bronze went to a new duo on the scene, former pony rider Maud Adriaensen on the Oldenburg licensed stallion Bailamos Bioley (by Sir Donnerhall x Florestan). They were third three times with 67,667%, 68,971% and 70,740%.

Kayleigh Buelens on Fifty Ways to Victory

In the Young Riders division Kayleigh Buelens wielded the axe of power on her 8-year old Fifty Ways to Victory (by Foundation x Harvard). She was the only rider to score above 70% three times. With 72.824% in the team test, 74.235% in the individual and 77.120% in the Kur to music the pair freewheeled to their first national title and Young Riders gold. This capped off a great season for Buelens, who was Belgium's best at the 2019 European Young Rider Championships in San Giovanni, where they finished 12th in the Kur to Music. Suraya Hendrikx and Black Beauty (by Gribaldi x OO Seven) landed the silver. Hendrickx, who recently received an administrative sanction from the FEI as Black Beauty testing positive to Regumate at the 2019 CDIO-YR Hagen in June, was on excellent form in Meerdonk with scores growing each round. They started off with a second place in the test test on 68.941%, wen to third place in the individual with 70.235% and were a clear second in the Kur with 74.080%. Laura de Grave and Feuertanz (by Florencio x Don Bedo) took the bronze medal after posting 68,500%, 70,647%, and 71,650%.

Unfortunately there were no Belgian riders sent or willing to go to the European Under 25 Championships, but four came to the fore for the Nationals. Charlotte Defalque, who has also been competing in the senior GP division this year, became the National Under 25 Champion on Botticelli (by Vivaldi x Koss). She Scores 71.088% in the Intermediaire II, 71.487% in the Short Grand Prix and 73.980% in the Kur to Music. Nico Nyssen, who has two CDI Under 25 competitions down his belt in the past two years, steered Esteban M (by Sandro Hit x Jazz) to silver with 65,882%, 67,564% and 69,800%. The bronze went to Lore Vandeborne on Ikke-Pia van de Bergerhoeve (by San Amour x Donnerhall) with three consistent 66% marks.

A meagre field of just five senior Grand Prix riders traveled to Meerdonk for the feature divison of the Championships. Four of Belgium's team members for the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam (19 - 25 August 2019), including the team reserve, opted not to compete at the Nationals. Furthermore two injured horses prevented multiple national champion Jeroen Devroe to compete at the 2019 Nationals. His student, however, was there and Laurence Roos and Fil Rouge (by Stedinger x Argentinus) easily secured the title with 70,457% in the Grand Prix, 70,553% in the Special, and 73,755% in the Kur to Music. Tom Heylen with Gucci H (by Gribaldi x Wundermeyer) became the reserve champion and silver medalist after placing second three times on 67,500%, 68,404%, and 71,390%. The bronze went to Domien Michiels on Intermezzo van het Meerdalhof (by Gribaldi x Balzflug) with 66,826%, 66,830%, and 69,485%.

Photos © Digishots

Results - 2019 Belgian Dressage Championships - Meerdonk

Pony Riders

1. De Jong Jette - Ico van de Beekerheide - 70,029 - 73,270 - 75,170 --- 218,469
2 Collard Clara - Orchid's Borneo - 69,143 - 71,459 - 73,380 --- 213,982
3 Brauwers Louise - N-constantino V/d Bolkerhoeve - 67,229 - 68,757 - 70,795 --- 206,781
4 Waverijn Lisa - Dornier - 67,171 - 68,649 - 68,950 --- 204,770
5 De Strooper Florentien - Die Feine Lady B - 64,343 - 65,757 - 67,900 --- 198,000
6 Biermans Emilie - Kronio van de Delthoeve - 65,857 - 64,703- 66,435 --- 196,995
7 Hertogs Seppe - Bacardi Breezer - 66,200 - 66,351 - 64,020 --- 196,571
8 Biermans Lore - My Worry - 33 63,571 - 64,973- 66,255 --- 194,799
9 Blommaert Ine - Nia Domo's Evita - 61,800 - 63,162 - 65,810 --- 190,772
10 Van Daele Juliette - Carlos - 61,829 - 61,919 - 65,200 --- 188,948
11 Opsomer Julie - Dirano du Bois - 61,143 - 61,270 - 65,960 --- 188,373

Children

1. Goovaerts Alexander - Habiba Vh Bloemenhof - 68,885 72,192 70,250 --- 211,327
2 Colling Maïté - Rapallo C.L.- 69,462 - 70,654 - 69,321 --- 209,437
3 Clabots Brittany - Fluegel - - 67,615 - 67,962 - 66,714 --- 202,291
4 Van Rijckeghem Zara - Fairy Queen- 69,231 - 67,231 - 64,964 --- 201,426
De Rover Xyliana - Hamlet - 56,115 - 58,385 - DNS --- 114,500

Junior Riders

1. Van Den Steen Amber - Fame - 73,333 - 72,294 - 74,950 --- 220,577
2. Vestergaard Karoline Sofie - Junior Hit - 69,182 - 69,971 - 72,900 --- 212,053
3. Adriaensen Maud - Bailamos Biolley - 67,667 - 68,971 - 70,740 --- 207,378
4. Vanevelghem Liesl - Faustland - 65,061 - 65,882 - 68,020 --- 198,963
5. Arcq Lisa - Quantum of Solace- 63,697 - 67,176 - 67,385 --- 198,258
6. Lowyck Emma - Dior - 64,152 - 65,735 - 67,340 --- 197,227
7. Sneyaert Aline - Esprit van de Heernis - 64,545 - 65,176 - 66,745 --- 196,466
8. Laermans Zoë - Cenda de la Fazenda - 65,273 - 64,059 - 65,700 --- 195,032
9. Nicasi Maxine - Estival - 62,758 - 64,235 - 66,820 --- 193,813
10. Sannen Aurélie - Farao - 64,152 - 61,059- 66,610 --- 191,821

Young Riders

1. Buelens Kayleigh - Fifty Ways to Victory - 72,824 - 74,235- 77,120 --- 224,179
2 Hendrikx Suraya - Black Beauty - 68,941 - 70,235 - 74,080 --- 213,256
3 De Graeve Laura - Feuertanz - 68,500 - 70,647 - 71,650 --- 210,797
4 Luyten Laura - J2l Lamborghini - 67,029 - 68,559 - 71,870 --- 207,458
5 Pieters Beaudine - Elbrasco - L -66,235- 66,912- 70,385 --- 203,532
6 Lammens Lauranne - Hilcara Van Het Vijverbos - 65,647 - 66,147 - 68,730 --- 200,524
7 De Backer Xanthe - Batiqar - 64,000 - 66,235 - 69,815 --- 200,050
8 van der Voort Aurélie - Don Domingo - 65,588 - 64,647 - 68,965 --- 199,200
9 Beck Delphine - Zelion B - 63,765 - 65,676 - 66,725 --- 196,166
10 Wouters Tess - I'm Donnerstein Vd Biebosschen - 63,559- 66,588 - 66,005 --- 196,152
11 Van Nespen Marieke - Giorgio Armani -63,735 - 64,471 - 66,740 --- 194,946
12 Adriaenssens Arranka - Garmeur G - 63,735 - 64,588 - 65,850 --- 194,173

Under 25

1. Defalque Charlotte - Botticelli - 71,088 - 71,487 - 73,980 --- 216,555
2 Nyssen Nico - Esteban M - 65,882 - 67,564 - 69,800 --- 203,246
3 Vandeborne Lore - Ikke-pia V/d Bergerhoeve - 66,765 - 66,256 - 66,795 --- 199,816
4 Ponsaerts Anne - Carrera - 62,853 - 63,282 - 66,435 --- 192,570

Senior Grand Prix

1. Roos Laurence - Fil Rouge - 70,457 - 70,553 - 73,755 --- 214,765
2. Heylen Tom - Gucci 'H' - 67,500 - 68,404 - 71,390 --- 207,294
3. Michiels Domien - Intermezzo Van Het Meerdaalhof - 66,826 - 66,830 - 69,485 --- 203,141
4. Reimer Jennifer - Daiquiri - 65,978 - 64,191 - 68,030 --- 198,199
5. Meiresonne Delphine - Diva Noir SVB - 64,239 - 63,106 - 67,635 --- 194,980