Nam Dong Heon Wins the 2024 Korean Dressage Championships

Tue, 10/29/2024 - 09:47
2024 Korean Dressage Championships
The podium at the 2024 Korean Dressage Championships: Choi, Nam, Kim get the medals

Dong Heon Nam became the winner of the 2024 (South) Korean Dressage Championships which were held on 11 October 2024. 

The National Championships at the highest level - small tour - were held for the 105th time and a large group of 33 competitors participated in the class.

The Championships were supposed to be judged by three international judges but one didn't make it, so the ground jury consisted of Peter Holler (GER) and Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED). 

Victory for Nam

The winner of the class was Nam Dong Heon, who was the sole rider to crack the 70% barrier. Aboard the 8-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Leonidas (by Trafalger x Alexandro P) he scored a winning 72.279% in the Prix St Georges. Nam has been riding Leonidas for little over a year, after having acquired him in The Netherlands in June 2023. The bay gelding was competed by Dinja van Liere  at the 2021 World Young Horse Championships

 Nam is the individual gold medal winner at the 2019 FEI Asian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. At the 2022 Korean Dressage Championships he finished fourth with the Westfalian gelding First Edition (by Fiano x Dynast). Nam has trained in Germany with Yvonne Fiestelmann.

Choi and Kim On the Podium

Dong Heon Nam on Leonidas
The silver medal went to Choi Sam-Jung aboard his own DSK Bordolino, a 12-year old Oldenburg gelding by Bordeaux x Dormello. The pair scored 69.632% for second place in the Nationals. Bordolino was previously owned by retired Korean Olympian Dong Seon Kim who him bought five years ago and put for sale with Helgstrand in 2020. The chestnut did not sell and moved to Korea, where Choi bought him. Sam-Jung trains with Eon Jin Chin and Belgian Wim Verwimp.

The bronze medal was for the 2022 Korean champion Kim Hyeok aboard his long-time partner Degas K, a 17-year old Hanoverian by De Niro x Walt Disney. Kim, who won team silver and individual bronze at the 2018 Asian Games and trained with Benjamin Werndl in 2017, scored 69.558% for third place in the Championships.

He edged out Yu Chang Hyun aboard Dong Seon Kim's Grand Prix horse Galleria's Vincent Maranello (by Zack x Future Cup). They were fourth with 69.191%. Yu works for Kim at his private stable outside Seoul.

Results - 2024 Korean Dressage Championships

Prix St Georges

  • 1. Nam Dongheon  - Leonidas  - 72.279 
  • 2. Choi Samjung  - DSK Bordolino - 69.632
  • 3. Kim Hyeok - Degas K - 69.558
  • 4. Yu Chang  Hyun - Galleria's Vincent Maranello  - 69.191
  • 5. Lee Myeong - Rubin Princess - 68.676
  • 5.  Do Hyun Woo  - Flotrak - 68.676
  • 5.  Han Young Bin - Rausing - 68.676
  • 8. Lee Soo Jin - Houdini - 67.720 
  • 9. Lee Seok - Hazzatango   - 67.500 
  • 10. Mki Chsiu  - Bonifaz von Insel  - 67.426  
  • 11. Lee Kyueon  - Hennessy Tika  -  66.7649  
  • 12. Kwak Minji  - Zizi Top  - 66.911  
  • 13. Lee Kang Jin  - Fall Nit  -  66.691  
  • 14. Kim Ohseok  - Gericault  -  66.470 
  • 15. Kim Taegeon  - Sandloh -  66.176
  • 16. Choi Niho - Fairplays  - 65.955
  • 17. Kim Ujhe - Civaldi  -  65.808
  • 18. Oh Jaehoon - Floris - 65.588
  • 19. Park Kyunghe - Ikeeta - 65.220
  • 20. Choi So  - Furstfenor  - 64.632
  • 21. Oh Woojun  - Alfarubin  - 64.558
  • 22. Park Chaewon  - Accent bw  - 64.191
  • 23. Kim Su Yeon - Bella Colori - 63.588
  • 24. Jean Jaisik - Robesbisous - 62.573
  • 25. Lee Sung  - Edward Louis B - 62.426
  • 26. Kim  Chunpil - Sired Son H  -  61.911
  • 27. Choi Jiyong - Langro  - 61.617
  • 28. Chung Yaeji - Sir Scolari - 59.852
  • 29.  Lee Yubin - Raffinio  -  58.455
  • 30. Cho Hanho  - Brancis - 55.882
  • Yang Jiwon - Carstenwaard - ELI
  • Kim Kyunsub - Crespo B - ELI
  • Ryu Eun Shik - Callecomme - DNS

Related Links
Kim Hyeok Wins 2022 Korean Dressage Championship
Dongheon Nam and Team Thailand Win Gold at Inaugural 2019 FEI Asian Championships
Vincent Maranello Moves to Korea