Sentower Dressage Festival CDI 3* Brings International Top Dressage Sport to Belgium

Dressage

Belgium

Sentower Dressage Festival on 21 - 25 April 2021 will be bringing international top dressage sport to Belgium and for the first time dressage will take centre stage at the state-of-the art Sentower Park Equestrian Center in Opglabbeek (BEL).

Sponsored by Emmers Equestrian, the CDI 3* Opglabbeek will include all divisions from Pony to Grand Prix, set in the best conditions for high performance sport.

Third Time's a Charm

The Sentower Dressage Festival was supposed to have its premier on 17 - 21 March, but the event got cancelled when the FEI called out a lockdown on European mainland shows due to the EHV-1 outbreak in Valencia, Spain.

This set-back did not dampen the spirit of show organizers Josy Everars and Wim Oosterlinck, the driving forces behind the Sentower Dressage Festival.

They re-negotiated a new date with Sentower Park, an equestrian facility that over the years has gained massive popularity amongst show jumping professionals for its high standard competition conditions. A new, second date was approved by the FEI for 9 - 11 April.

"Just half an hour after we published the new date on social media, the FEI announced that the EHV-1 lockdown was going to be extended until 11 April," said Oosterlinck. "We are really passionate about bringing a high class CDI to Belgium, so we immediately went back to the drawing board and found new dates on 21 - 25 April 2021."

The CDI 3* Opglabbeek has now officially transformed from an indoor show to a festive outdoor event, although spectators will not be allowed.

All FEI protocols for Covid-19 and EHV-1 will be followed to ensure the competition takes place in a safe environment.

The Sentower Dressage Festival will be one of the first opportunities for dressage athletes to compete this spring season after the corona pandemic bedevilled the 2020 competition year and with the EHV-1 lockdown lifted.

World Elite Expected in Opglabbeek

With classes for pony riders, children, juniors, young riders, Under 25s and a senior small and big tour, this four-day CDI will provide the perfect opportunity to get the green season started and the first selection scores in for the summer European Championships and Olympic Games.

Conveniently located in Opglabbeek (BEL), close to the Dutch and German border, Sentower Park is an equestrian facility like no other. With four massive outdoors arenas - all with Geopad, all-weather footing - four indoor arenas, 120 large boxes in permanent stable buildings including washing bays, tack rooms and sanitary facilities for the grooms, this facility is unique in the Benelux.

Sentower Dressage Festival brings top sport dressage to Belgium
President of the ground jury Jacques van Daele, show organizers
Wim Oosterlinck and Kristel & Josy Everars, Chief
Steward Didier Deschauwer

"We have plenty of experience in the horse and dressage world and we are setting the bar high to have an outstanding international dressage competition with a professional show management," said organizer Josy Everars. "We want to give a good first impression as we hope to organize a CDI 4* in 2022. This year we made sure that it will be a smooth running show with experienced judges and stewards and a professional scoring and show office. Sentower Park has been hosting international jumping competitions non stop for the past seven years and we also rely on their expertise for a memorable competition."

The ground jury will include 5* judges Isabelle Judet, Eddy de Wolff van Westerrode and Lars Andersson, amongst others. Jacques van Daele (4*) is President of the Ground Jury and Didier Deschauwer will serve as Chief Steward.

Belgian Dressage Team Manager Jeroen van Lent and youth chef d'equipe Alain Rauw have marked this CDI as an observation event for Belgian Olympic and European Youth Championship selection. Expressions of interest from other team trainers have already been made to mark the Sentower Dressage Festival as an Olympic warm-up event for their riders.

Follow the Sentower Dressage Festival on Facebook. Discover Sentower Park at www.sentowerpark.com