-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage
-- Photos © Eurodressage NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS for social media
Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale became the winners of the last Western European League (WEL) World Cup qualifier at the 2025 CDI-W 's Hertogenbosch on Saturday afternoon 15 March 2025.
The tension was palpable at the Brabanthallen in 's-Hertogenbosch, where probably the strongest field of the season gathered to battle it out for the last World Cup ranking points. The 9 highest ranked riders on the WEL standing earn a ticket to 2025 World Cup Finals in Basel (SUI), although only three riders per nation are eligible to go.
Three Out of Three
Charlotte Fry (GBR) and Glamourdale emerged victorious once again, securing their ticket to the Final in three weeks with a perfect record of three wins out of three appearances (London, Amsterdam, Den Bosch). This put her in 4th place with 60 points on the ranking.
However, her compatriot Becky Moody (GBR) and Jagerbomb came within touching distance. Belgium’s rising star Justin Verboomen (BEL) wowed the crowd and finished in third place.
Fry and Moody dominated in a sold-out arena in 's-Hertogenbosch, going head-to-head in a battle of British excellence. The reigning World Champion Fry edged out her fellow Brit in both tests, delivering a Freestyle performance that scored 89.705%.
Dutch Home Athletes Take a Back Seat
With many top combinations travelling to 's-Hertogenbosch for the final opportunity to secure points, the start list featured an exceptionally strong field. This left the Dutch home athletes playing only a supporting role, particularly after Hermes, the horse of home favourite Dinja van Liere (NED), did not pass the horse inspection and was withdrawn from re-inspection.
Long gone seem the days that the Dutch dominated Den Bosch with Anky van Grunsven, Adelinde Cornelissen and Edward Gal clinching victories and World Cup titles in succession. Only Hans Peter Minderhoud continues to play a winning part as he topped the 3* tour on Toto Jr.
The best Dutch result in the World Cup freestyle came from Marlies van Baalen (NED), who with her 13-year old home-bred Habibi DVB (by Don Schufro x Johnson) rode a Freestyle to harp music, scoring 77.525%. While their test impressed in terms of harmony, they lost points in the walk section.
Belgium On the Rise
Larissa Pauluis (BEL) followed with a dynamic and energetic performance aboard 15-year old KWPN gelding Flambeau (by Ampere x Zeoliet), with deep bass tones resonating through the arena. Scoring 79.895%, Pauluis secured a fifth-place finish and earned enough points to book her place in the Final.
However, it was Justin Verboomen and the 9-year old Hanoverian licensed stallion Zonik Plus (by Zonik x Hohenstein) who led the Belgian charge and has become the biggest shooting star of 2025. Following a runner-up finish in Mechelen, the pair impressed again in 's-Hertogenbosch, claiming third place with another personal best score and Belgian Kur record score, 84.160%.
“Already when Zonik Plus was young, I knew he had so much potential. He is a fighter, a winner,” said a slightly shy Verboomen. Despite his strong performances, he may fall short on points for a Final spot, having only contested two qualifiers. For Verboomen the World Cup final was never the goal of the season with his young Grand Prix horse, which he wants to compete strategically in preparation of Belgian team selection for the 2025 European Championships in Crozet.
French Heading to Basel
French Olympian Pauline Basquin (FRA) and the 15-year old Zangerheide registered Sertorius de Rima Z (by Sandro Hit x Voltaire) added valuable points to their tally following their victory in Madrid, securing their ticket to Basel after placing 8th in Den Bosch with 78.555%. They totalled 59 points on the WEL ranking to place 6th.
Three Germans to Basel
Three Germans are heading to the World Cup Finals in Basel: Isabell Werth as the WEL ranking leader with 75 points, Bianca Nowag Aulenbrock standing third on the ranking with 61 points and Carina Scholz in fourth place with 60 points.
In 's Hertogenbosch German Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock (GER) and the ever-cheerful 13-year old Oldenburg mare Florine OLD (by Foundation x Lauries Crusador xx) confidently pranced through the Kur with ears forward, although marks were lost in the piaffe. Their 78.965% score and sixth-place finish sealed their qualification.
Carina Scholz did not ride in Den Bosch but scored her WEL ranking points by competing three different horses at CDI-W competitions this year: Quinto (Mariakalnok), Soiree d'Amour (Wroclaw, Neumunster), and Tarantino (Stuttgart, Madrid, Basel). She is expected to compete the latter at the Finals.
British Stars Take Centre Stage in Den Bosch
The leading roles in 's-Hertogenbosch, however, belonged to Charlotte Fry and Becky Moody. Fry brought the crowd to its feet. The 14-year old KWPN stallion Glamourdale (by Lord Leatherdal x Negro) was in outstanding form, showcasing a breathtaking combination of beauty, uphill balance and power.
“I don’t get emotional very often, but today when the crowd started clapping and cheering, it just got me,” said Fry, who shed a few tears after her performance. "Today was going to be our day. Glamourdale rose to the occasion. He is such a showman. Lucky for me, he is perfect in every way: he has the conformation, the character, the determination, the showmanship. I just have to make sure to sit there and make everything look pretty."
Becky Moody and her 11-year old Jagerbomb (by Dante Weltino x Jazz) delivered a personal best, scoring 87.545% for their Beatles freestyle, much to Moody's delight.
“I’m so proud of him! He is a truly exceptional horse. His heart is his most talented part: he always gives absolutely everything. I’m so lucky to have him,” she beamed.
All eyes on Basel
A maximum of three Athlete/Horse combinations per NF (including the title defender) will be allowed to participate in the World Cup Final. It will be the responsibility of the relevant NF to determine which three (3) Athletes to send to the Final in the event of more than three (3) Athletes qualifying from any one (1) NF
As only three per national can go to the Finals and Nanna Skodborg Merrald has taken a pause from competition due to all the animal welfare turmoil in Denmark, it seems that Norwegian Isabel Freese might make it to Basel. Also Dinja van Liere (NED) announced that she will be resting her qualified horse Hartsuijker, which means not a single Dutch rider qualified for Basel. Dinja's withdrawal opens up a spot for Spaniard Borja Carrascosa to go.
All will be confirmed by the FEI in the following days.
The top 15 ranked riders in the Western European League are:
- 1. Werth, Isabell - Ger - 75
- 2. Pottier, Corentin - Fra - 63
- 3. Nowag-aulenbrock, Bianca - Ger - 61
- 4. Fry, Charlotte - Gbr - 60
- 4. Scholz, Carina - Ger - 60
- 6. Basquin, Pauline - Fra - 59
- 6. Van Liere, Dinja - Ned - 59
- 8. Pauluis, Larissa - Bel - 57
- 8 Skodborg Merrald, Nanna - Den - 57
- 10. Netz, Raphael - Ger - 54
- 11. Schneider, Dorothee - Ger - 53
- 12. Carrascosa, Borja - Esp - 51
- 12. Freese, Isabel - Nor - 51
- 14. Klimke, Ingrid - Ger - 47
- 14. Moody, Becky - Gbr - 47
Complete ranking here
Photos © Eurodressage - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS for social media
Related Links
Scores: 2025 CDI-W 's Hertogenbosch
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025 World Cup Qualifiers and Final