Everars, Dieltjens, Collard, De Jong, Luyten, Pauluis Win 2023 Belgian Dressage Championships

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2023 Belgian Dressage Championships

Pony rider Liezel Everars, children rider Evelyne Dieltjens, junior rider Clara Collard, young rider Jette de Jong, Under 25 rider Laura Luyten, and senior Grand Prix rider Larissa Pauluis became the winners of the 2023 Belgian Dressage Championships on 25 - 28 May 2023.

During a sun filled weekend, the Belgian Nationals were hosted at equestrian center Azelhof and the attendance was big.

Pony Riders: Liezel Everars

In the pony division, Liezel Everars captured her third, consecutive pony title in her career. Aboard the 12-year old Rhinelander gelding FS Capelli de Niro (by Champion de Luxe x Don't Worry) she was untouchable and won all three rounds: the team test with 75.457%, the individual with 75.297%, and the freestyle on Saturday with 78.875%. Everars trains with Belgian Under 25 rider Suraya Hendrickx.

"Belgian champion for the third time in a row," said a beaming Everars. "A hattrick with a score of 78,8 % in the freestyle to music. He is just so incredible. I'm again super proud of my boy."

The pony podium took a clear shape after the second day of competition with the winner and silver medalist far ahead. Anna Peeters and the 13-year old Hanoverian bred stallion Balotelli (by Bentton S x Sweet Dream SF) were consistent in all three rounds and finished second each time. She posted 70.200%, 72.000ù, and 76.125% for silver. Peeters is coached by Wim Verwimp.

Only the bronze medal was highly contested and turned out to be a battle between Sophia Lea on the 7-year old home-bred Westfalian Biebosschen Dolino (by Dating x Gandalf) and Emilie Herweyers who made her long-awaited return on her team pony Steendieks La Perla (by Dalai x Chambertin). In the end it was Leo and Dolino who moved on the third step of the podium with 68.543%, 70.919%, and 72.905%. Leo is trained by her mom Els Cooremans and Sophie Baetens-Van Lent.

Children: Evelyne Dieltjens

Evelyne Dieltjens and Bonaire van de Mottelhoeve

This year the children division in Belgium was very thinly spread with only two pairs completing all three tests.

Evelyne Dieltjens was the clear winner of the gold medal and title after leading in all three rounds. She rode her mother Yoni de Souter's former international small tour horse Bonaire van de Mottelhoeve, a 22-year old Belgian warmblood by Landadel x Camus. The new pair posted 70.179% in the preliminary test, 75.600% in the team test, and 67.454% in the individual test.

"I was a bit nervous to ride here because it is my first Belgian Championship, but it went very well and I am very happy with the tests I was able to rid", said Evelyne. "I also find it very special that Bonaire used to be my mom’s horse and that he is now back with us. He was sold to Italy (Alice Redaelli), but he came back six months ago and then I started riding him."

The silver went to Leontine Lemmens aboard Saskia de Smet's 19-year old Belgian warmblood gelding Erpedo Vd Performing Stables (by Obelisk x Wendekreis). They scored 70.125%, 65.975% and 66.940%.

Junior Riders: Clara Collard

Junior podium: Peeters, Collard, de Rover

At junior level, long-time team rider Clara Collard hit a winning streak and claimed her first Belgian title in her career. The Luxembourg based rider who trains with Carmen de Bondt, piloted the 14-year old KWPN gelding Escape (by Tuschinski x Kaiserstern) to 73.242 in the team test, 74.206 in the individual, and 76.785 in the Kur.

"I can't put into words how happy I am, what a great week this has been," said Collard. "It's the first time I managed to set a personal best in every test and I'm so happy that I managed to get a gold medal during my last Belgian Junior Championship. Escape is a really great horse, he does everything for me and I am so grateful to be able to do this together with him. He is my first horse after the ponies and he makes all my dreams come true."

Anna Peeters picked up her second medal of the weekend, another silver, in the junior division. With the 11-year old KWPN bred Harlekin (by Chinook x Don Gregory), she rode three very solid tests that earned her 72.515%, 73.059%, and 74.630% and comfortably put her in second place.

Xyliana De Rover has made a successful transition from children to horses with the 10-year old SBS registered Hamlet (by Quadroneur x Monteverdi) . First coached by judge and announcer Dominique Rimanque and now working with Jeanine Fiechter, Xyliana landed the bronze with 69.455%, 70.765% and 72.845% and kept former Belgian children champion Amber Hennes at bay.

Young Riders: Jette de Jong

After having already booked four international victories this 2023 show season in the spring months, young rider Jette de Jong had free reign at the Belgian Nationals to climb the highest step of the podium and claim her first YR title in her career with already four to her name as a pony and junior rider. Aboard the 11-year old KWPN gelding Heavenly Charming (by Charmeur x United) she won all three rounds and had her biggest competitor in herself on her second horse, Indini (by Chippendale x Romeo) who finished second in the overall ranking (but no second medal in the same division is allowed). With Heavenly she posted 72.294 in the team test, 73.853% in the individual, and 75.230% in the Kur. Jette trains with her mother Marielle Hoefsmit and Anky van Grunsven.

"Heavenly and Indini were both bred by my parents so I’ve known them since they were born, which means I know them inside out," said Jette. "Heavenly was trained by my mother, she competed him in the Small Tour when he was 7. With Indini I did most of the training myself, he is also a bit younger and still needs some time to develop. With Indini I therefore want to start Young Riders for the time being and with Heavenly I hope to be able to ride U25 by next year.”

Zoe Niessen became a worthy runner-up aboard the 13-year old KWPN mare Felitia (by Delatio x Kelvin) and earned silver. This pair, who trains with Dutch horsz dealer Rob Zandvoort, scored 70.000%, 68.323% and 72.615%.

Louise Brauwers and the 9-year old KWPN bred Jerveaux de Baian (by Ferdeaux x Jazz) finished on the bronze step of the podium after scoring 68.000%, 70.294% and 71.620%.

Under 25: Laura Luyten

Seven combinations contested the Under 25 division and it became a neck-to-neck race between Laura Luyten and Lauranne Lammens.

Luyten and the home bred 12-year old Belgian warmblood gelding J2L Lamborghini (by Bon Bravour x San Remo) ended up with gold after scoring 69.029% in the Inter II, 70.436% in the Short Grand Prix, and 74.310% in the freestyle.

"We bred Lamborghini ourselves and I have been riding him since he was 3 years old," said Laura. "He is a super nice horse, especially because he likes to compete and always wants to work really hard for you.”

Lammens and her 16-year old Belgian warmblood mare Hilcara van het Vijverbos (by Don Renoir x Feinschnitt van de Richter) were last year's bronze medal winners and now got silver. They scored 69.647%, 69.308%, and 74.160%. They train with Philippe Jorissen.

Last year's silver medal winner Suraya Hendrikx this time ended up with bronze aboard her former young rider's horse, the 12-year old Westfalian Dear Friend (by Danone x Dollman). She increased her score round after round and got 67.382%, 68.410%, and 73.180%.

Seniors Small Tour: Eline Borrey de Coninck

Eline Borrey de Coninck wins the small tour

With no less than 36 combinations entered in the small tour, the battle was fierce and decided in favour of former international young rider Eline Borrey de Coninck, who has been thriving internationally this season aboard Haressel, a 11-year old Dutch warmblood by Uphill x Hemmingway. The pair kicked off with a second place in the Prix St Georges (70.588%) followed by a double victory in the Inter I and Kur (72.118% and 74.865%) for the small tour title.

“It went really well this week. We have been able to improve enormously in the recent months," Eline explained. "Since I started training with Wim Verwimp things are really going much better. You hope to be able to confirm that this week during such a great competition and we succeeded. I’m really happy!"

Cyriel De Coker and his 9-year old KWPN mare Jillz Urona (by Charmeur x Negro) went from a 6th place in the PSG (69.618%) to a 7th spot in the Intermediaire I (68.853%) to finish second in the freestyle (74.155%) and take the silver medal. Professional Sophie Van Lent-Baetens and the 12-year old Dutch mare Nea's Jacky O (by Johnson x Donnerhall) won the Prix St Georges with 71.000%, was third in the Inter I with 70.118 and 7th in the freestyle with 71.430% but her overall total put her on the bronze step of the podium.

Seniors: Larissa Pauluis

In the senior big tour Belgian Olympian Larissa Pauluis dominated a field of 14 combinations and captured her third consecutive title. Aboard the 13-year old KWPN bred Flambeau (by Ampere x Zeoliet) she won the first two rounds and placed second in the kur to grab the gold medal and title. The pair scored 73.956% in the Grand Prix, 73.362% in the Special, and 77.855% in the freestyle.

"I feel like we rode one of the best Grand Prix tests I’ve done with Flambeau so far. In the Special Flambeau was a bit sharper and that made it more difficult to get through the test without mistakes. It’s a shame about the (big) mistakes that crept in, but I’m still happy with him," Larissa explained before the freestyle. "The scores are going up and he is developing better and better, especially in the last few months he has made a lot of progress. I think I need another year with him and then I will have him 100% ready the way I want it to be, and then he will really be a top Grand Prix horse.”

After the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Larissa's partnership with Flambeau came to a critical point. Flambeau was owned by the late Thierry Lepage and his wife. The couple tragically died in a car accident on their way to watch Larissa and Flambeau compete at the CDI Le Mans in October 2021. The heirs, Emmanuel and Caroline Lepage, decided to retain Flambeau and continue the horse's journey with Larissa as their parents had intended.

It was an all female podium with Charlotte Defalque overtaking Laurence Roos for silver thanks to her victory in the freestyle. Defalque and her 17-year old KWPN gelding Botticelli (by Vivaldi x Koss) were third in the Grand Prix (70.696%), fifth in the Special (70.787%) but then they rose to the top of the board in the freestyle and won that class with 78.060% to finish second overall.

Laurence Roos and her 18-year old Belgian warmblood gelding Fil Rouge (by Stedinger x Argentinus) scores the bronze medal with scores that improved each day. They began with a second place in the Grand Prix (70.957%), were fourth in the Special (70.958%), and then moved to a third spot in the freestyle with 76.205%. Roos' biggest rival for that bronze medal was Amandine Prevost on the 13-year old DSP stallion Quaterdance (by Quaterback x Expose). In the final ranking, she was just one percent behind Roos. Photos © Dirk Caremans - Digishots

Results - 2023 Belgian Dressage Championships - Lier

Pony Riders

1. Liezel Everars - Fs Capelli De Niro - 75.457 75.297 78.875 = 229.629
2. Anna Peeters - Balotelli - 70.200 72.000 76.125 = 218.325
3. Sophia Leo - Dolino EC - 68.543 70.919 72.905 = 212.367
4 Emilie Herweyers - La Perla - 69.114 68.730 73.800 = 211.644
5 Alexine Herweyers. - Terbofens Charico - 67.029 70.811 72.850 = 210.690
6 Helena Theeuwes - Caspar W - 67.543 69.784 71.575 = 208.902
7 Maline Van Tulder - Lex - 66.886 69.000 70.675 = 206.561
8 Féline Verreet - De Booij - PAV Nikkei - 65.443 69.027 71.810 = 206.280
9 Camille Ossieur - Gluckspilz WF - 67.372 69.622 68.875 = 205.869
10 Elisabeth Leduc - Schierensees Midnight Blue - 65.714 68.459 69.450 = 203.623
11 Giethe Leliaert - Bacardi Breezer - 66.629 65.865 66.665 = 199.159
12 Amber Hennes - Koncorde van Equi Center - 65.057 65.108 67.070 = 197.235
13 Boris Van Lancker - Amyra - 64.286 66.324 65.645 = 196.255
14 Sofia Coenegrachts - Champion's Double - 64.371 67.135 63.300 = 194.806
15 Leonie Vermeiren - Douglas Du Bois - 62.343 64.405 65.705 = 192.453
Pieterjan Sarens - Veenstra's Benton - 59.657 61.378 55.575 = 176.610
17 Emilie Herweyers - Vercingetorix VB - 66.800 68.892 = 135.692
18 Cosette De Fauw - Cissi - 55.829 63.351 = 119.180
19 Monisha Roelandt - Kimbel Charmeur - 55.743 61.703 = 117.446
20 Juliette Deblanc - Annabell - 58.971 = 58.971

Children

1. Evelyne Dieltjens - Bonaire van de Mottelhoeve - 70.179 75.600 67.454 = 213.233
2. Leontine Lemmens - Erpedo Vd Performing Stables - 70.125 65.975 66.940 = 203.040
not placed - Annaëlle Bulteau - Rumba Dance de Tilia - 58.572 57.350 = 115.922

Junior Riders

1. Clara Collard - Escape - 73.242 74.206 76.785 = 224.233
2. Anna Peeters - Harlekin - 72.515 73.059 74.630 = 220.204
3. Xyliana De Rover - Hamlet - 69.455 70.765 72.845 = 213.065
4 Amber Hennes - Allegro v/h Trichelhof - 68.546 67.588 71.020 = 207.154
5 Charlotte Macken - Bentley - 67.758 68.382 70.530 = 206.670
6 Noémie Fostier. - Eldorado Pb - 68.121 66.941 70.570 = 205.632
7 Brittany Clabots. - Fluegel - 68.364 67.000 68.600 = 203.964
8 Ine Blommaert - Joy Forever - 68.000 68.118 67.690 = 203.808
9 Britt Van Hoof - Kanjer - 65.697 67.323 69.885 = 202.905
10 Angelina Hermans - Darco Von Nympenburg - 66.879 67.235 68.715 = 202.829
11 Liezel Everars - Vigo Gold NA - 64.273 65.677 70.515 = 200.465
12 Léa Pirlot - Daila Vh Lindehof Z - 66.606 65.647 67.515 = 199.768
13 Lavinia Cox - Luis Gustavo - 67.182 66.265 66.245 = 199.692
14 Eline Van Praet - Diamina La Crus - 66.667 65.206 65.780 = 197.653
15 Margot Robberechts - Cacharelle. - 63.879 66.353 66.835 = 197.067
16 Nicolas Josse - Wait and See - 61.606 66.147 67.345 = 195.098
17 Liam Darras - Nothing Hill - 66.121 61.029 65.660 = 192.810
18 Max Van Durme - Imke Niki V.S - 60.606 59.677 65.300 = 185.583
19 Elise Verwimp - Jewel - 59.788 = 59.788

Young Riders

1. Jette De Jong - Heavenly Charming - 72.294 73.853 75.230 = 221.377
Jette De Jong - Indini - 72.147 72.500 74.475 = 219.1
2. Zoe Niessen - Felitia - 70.000 68.323 72.615 = 210.938
3. Louise Brauwers - Jerveaux de Baian - 68.000 70.294 71.620 = 209.914
4 Athaline Van Roey - Fugranda C - 66.000 68.647 71.425 = 206.072
Zoe Niessen - Paco Rabanne - 67.941 68.500 69.470 = 205.911
5 Britt Van De Weyer - Arrivederci - 67.471 67.559 69.665 = 204.695
6 Julie Sutherland. - Bailamos Biolley - 64.823 67.941 71.035 = 203.799
7 Robin Robert - Divin Weltino - 67.588 65.794 69.365 = 202.747
8 Emma Sauser - Glorious - 67.824 64.677 69.370 = 201.871
9 Thieu Scheys - WWW. Texel. - 65.647 65.353 67.155 = 198.155
10 Britt Gellens - Karnival Zee T - 61.382 67.382 68.440 = 197.204
11 Maïté Mouchard - Dare 2 Wear - 64.853 63.559 57.775 = 186.187
12 Clara Mourlon Beernaert - Furst Dior - 66.706 64.912 = 131.618
13 Lisa Arcq - Quantum of Solace - 64.441 64.029 = 128.470
14 Michiel Nevelsteen - Lars Van Het Kristoffelhof - 68.412 = 68.412

Under 25

1. Laura Luyten - J2l Lamborghini - 69.029 70.436 74.310 = 213.775
2. Lauranne Lammens - Hilcara Van Het Vijverbos - 69.647 69.308 74.160 = 213.115
3. Suraya Hendrikx - Dear Friend - 67.382 68.410 73.180 = 208.972
4 Britt Baranyai - Buffon - 67.677 64.308 69.645 = 201.630
5 Numa Verberne - Gatano - 65.647 65.769 70.075 = 201.491
6 Emilie Thornby Finch - Blacktime - 65.647 67.743 66.945 = 200.335
7 Hanna Faymonville - Prinzessin - 63.324 58.513 = 121.837

Senior Small Tour (top 17 only)

1. Eline Borrey De Coninck - Haressel 70.588 72.118 74.865 = 217.571
2. Cyriel De Coker J - illz Urona 69.618 68.853 74.155 = 212.626
3. Sophie Van Lent-Baetens - Nea's Jacky O 71.000 70.118 71.430 = 212.548
4 Laura Luyten - J2L Impressive Star 68.647 70.294 73.110 = 212.051
5 Suraya Hendrikx - Benicia 68.970 68.882 71.685 = 209.537
6 Tom Heylen - Obi Wan H 69.500 67.823 72.135 = 209.458
7 Laurence Roos - Kingston 70.059 69.265 69.915 = 209.239
8 Aure Spleeters - Furby de la Ferme Rose 69.971 68.735 70.485 = 209.191
9 Francoise Hologne - Knock-out 69.088 68.647 71.065 = 208.800
10 Laura De Graeve. - Feuertanz 67.559 67.677 72.260 = 207.496
11 Kizzy Halkett - Flambo 68.618 68.559 69.775 = 206.952
12 Rob Van Puijenbroek - Karma Begijnhoeve 68.853 67.559 69.800 = 206.212
13 Isabel Cool - Soulmate 68.618 66.677 70.615 = 205.910
14 Flore De Winne - Dovizioso 68.853 69.088 67.560 = 205.501
15 Brecht D'Hoore - Kings-Dream WH 69.294 66.706 69.375 = 205.375
16 Viv Heylen-Van Bulck - Cordillio Van De Kempenhoeve 68.323 67.500 69.345 = 205.168
17 Liselot Dupont - Iago la Perle 69.853 65.412 66.025 = 201.290

Senior Grand Prix

1. Larissa Pauluis - Flambeau - 73.956 73.362 77.855 = 225.173
2. Charlotte Defalque - Botticelli - 70.696 70.787 78.060 = 219.543
3. Laurence Roos - Fil Rouge - 70.957 70.958 76.205 = 218.120
4 Amandine Prevost - Quaterdance - 70.500 71.915 74.595 = 217.010
5 Flore De Winne - Flynn - 67.435 70.468 75.165 = 213.068
6 Jeroen Devroe - Fiderprincess - 68.935 69.553 74.360 = 212.848
7 Lore Vandeborne - Ikke-pia V/d Bergerhoeve - 69.065 68.447 74.040 = 211.552
8 Domien Michiels - Intermezzo Van Het Meerdaalhof - 68.370 68.511 73.715 = 210.596
9 Jorinde Verwimp - Charmer - 68.196 69.426 71.285 = 208.907
10 Laurens Vanderbeeken - Gamin van het Waterhof - 67.239 67.298 73.415 = 207.952
11 Sam Verheyden - Kryptonite Van De Performing Stables - 66.326 67.511 71.050 = 204.887
12 Laureen Poncelet - Sir Rubinus - 65.869 65.787 69.880 = 201.536
13 Larissa Pauluis - First- Step Valentin - 69.913 71.192 = 141.105
14 Frederik Van De Keere - Intrepid - 59.065 = 59.065