-- CDI Lier press release
From youth classes to the seniors – the 2026 CDI Lier kicked off on Tuesday 24 February with a packed field of competitors across the levels. As the youth classes wrapped up on Thursday, the senior divisions started on Friday 27 February 2026 with a Prix St Georges with a 37-strong field. The afternoon 3* Grand Prix counted no less than 41 pairs representing 15 different countries.
Kris de Vries Tops Prix St Georges
Anky van Grunsven's student and assistant rider Kris de Vries claimed victory in the Prix St Georges aboard the 10-year old KWPN bred Lexington (by Dark Pleasure x Patijn). She scored 71.029%.
“I’m super happy, he really tried his best,” said De Vries immediately after her test. “I was very pleased with the trot part. In the canter I sometimes lost a bit of control, but we didn’t make any mistakes.”
De Vries has been partnered with Lexington for seven years. “I’ve had him since he was three, and it’s really special to go through the entire journey together. The first time I sat on him, I immediately fell in love. People around me said, ‘What kind of pony is that?’”, she laughed. “But I had a very good feeling straight away. Lexington is just such a lovely horse, he always has his ears forward and so much energy.”
Looking ahead, De Vries remains focused. “We’ll continue training steadily towards the Zwarte Tour. I’ll also be riding him at The Dutch Masters, which I’m really looking forward to. So we’ll just keep building step by step.”
Second place went to fellow Dutch rider Amber Hage with the 9-year old KWPN bred Mercurius ACM (by Dream Boy x Gribaldi), scoring 69.353%. Third place was secured by Belgium’s Tommie Visser with his homebred Quinten Begijnhoeve (by Heros Begijnhoeve x Ferro), who earned 69.323%.
Wagner Bests 3* Grand Prix
Aboard the 11-year old Hanoverian bred Escolar's Emil (by Escolar x Contender) he posted the winning score of 70,500% and edged out country mate Lisa Müller on Mondrian (by Millennium x Benetton Dream) with 70,217%. Müller also placed third on Dantiamo (by Dante Weltino x Londonderry) with 70,022%
The 3* Grand Prix was the CDI debut for brand new Belgian duo Charlotte Defalque and Larissa Pauluis' 14-year old Westfalian stallion First Step Valentin (by Vitalis x Fidermark). After retiring her Belgian team horse Botticelli, Defalque is in pursuit of a team spot for the WEG in Aachen with Valentin. They scored 69.891%.
Photos © Digishots
Related Links
Scores: 2026 CDI Lier