Jeroen Devroe wins Grand Prix Special, Wim Verwimp retains overall lead

With just one competition left to go, the Belgian Dressage Championships remain wide open. Fridays evening’s Grand Prix Special was won by Jeroen Devroe and Lestor, who were the very first combination down the centre line and saw their score of 69.872% remain unbeaten throughout the class. Championship leader Wim Verwimp and Jedai de Massa finished second in a test where the wind played a significant role.

For four consecutive days, the Belgian Dressage Championships had been blessed with glorious summer weather, but the conditions changed ahead of Fridays evening’s Grand Prix Special. Strong winds picked up around Azelhof, creating an extra challenge for the combinations and ensuring that the championship remains undecided heading into the final day.

“The wind was in my favour”
How did Jeroen Devroe feel afterwards? “Relieved, I think the rider with the fewest mistakes won today,” he laughed. “The wind was in my favour,” added the eight-time Belgian champion with a smile. “I’m happy with both horses and also with the way I rode. With Jackpot, I come out of the arena feeling better every time. And Lestor is a bit of a special horse. It’s great to see things coming together so well in the ring now.” Looking ahead to Sunday’s Freestyle, the experienced Belgian remains remarkably relaxed. “I just hope to ride well, and whatever happens, happens. For me, this championship is already a success. As for who will win, I think that’s already clear. Today he was a little unlucky with the wind, but that certainly won’t happen again tomorrow,” he said, referring to Wim Verwimp.

An exciting championship battle
According to Belgian national coach Jeroen van Lent, the impact of the weather conditions was clearly reflected in the scores. “I’ve had a very positive impression of the first two days. We saw a few more mistakes than in the Grand Prix, but that was certainly influenced by the weather. The trot work was generally good to very good, but in the canter work we saw some mistakes creeping in. Afterwards, the judges even mentioned that there wasn’t a single completely faultless test. It’s a great championship and it’s still very exciting, which is exactly what makes it so interesting. The scores were very close today.” Van Lent also believes Belgian dressage is becoming stronger across the board. “The same applies to para dressage, where I also serve as national coach. That’s a positive development because it shows that the foundation of our sport is becoming broader.”

Verwimp still leads the standings
Despite finishing second in the Grand Prix Special with a score of 69.553%, Wim Verwimp remains at the top of the provisional championship standings. Devroe currently occupies second place, while his other horse, Jackpot van de Kempenhoeve, sits third. As only one horse per rider can count towards the final championship classification, the battle for the medals remains completely open. Suraya Hendrikx currently holds fourth place, followed by Tommie Visser in fifth. Everything will be decided on Sunday in the Freestyle to Music, where the new Belgian Champion will be crowned.

Results