Wim Verwimp crowned Belgian Champion once again after 32 years

What a finale to the 10th edition of the Belgian Dressage Championships in Lier, organised by Belgium Dressage Events. After five days of top-level sport, it was ultimately Wim Verwimp and Jedai de Massa who claimed the Belgian title. The experienced rider held on during a thrilling Freestyle to Music and added a remarkable chapter to his career: 32 years after winning his first Belgian championship, he can once again call himself national champion.

The final Freestyle provided plenty of excitement. Jeroen Devroe and Lestor delivered the highest Freestyle score of the day with 75.145%, putting maximum pressure on the leader. Verwimp encountered a small tension-related mistake during his test, but thanks to a lead of more than three percent from the previous rounds, he remained out of reach. With a Freestyle score of 74.190% and a total score of 216.178%, Verwimp and Jedai de Massa secured the gold medal. Devroe and Lestor finished second in the championship with a total of 214.647%.

“He really is my mate”
“A fantastic day with a fantastic result,” said a delighted Verwimp afterwards. “The feeling just keeps getting better, he really is my mate,” Wim said about the 12-year-old Don Juan de Hus son, Jedai de Massa. “To become Belgian Champion again after 32 years, following a ten-year break from competition, who would have thought that? I am definitely going to enjoy this. The victory is even more special because I am also one of the organisers of the Belgian Championships.” The newly crowned champion also had words of praise for his fellow podium finishers. “It is also wonderful for Jeroen. He has done this eight times already and really kept the pressure on over the past few days. And having Suraya join us on the podium is fantastic as well. I think she has been the most successful rider of the entire championship, so it is thoroughly deserved.”

Most successful rider of the championships
Those words were certainly justified. Suraya Hendrikx and Dear Friend 2 collected their fourth medal of the weekend. Earlier, she had already claimed gold medals in the Small Tour, Briljant Cup and Diamant Cup, before adding a bronze medal in the senior championship. With a Freestyle score of 73.375% and a total score of 209.894%, she secured her place on the podium. “I’m certainly not going to complain today,” Hendrikx laughed. “The feeling was really good. When I saluted at the end, I felt like I had just ridden one of my best Freestyles ever. Everything felt quite easy, even though it is difficult. His pirouettes are really good these days, which is why I included four of them in my Freestyle. He used to find them much more difficult, but now they are one of his strengths. He may not be the most spectacular horse, but he performs all the movements so well.”

“I went for it”
Hendrikx knew the battle for bronze was far from over. “After two consistent tests, and knowing that Jeroen’s second horse would be removed from the final standings due to the rules, I was sitting in the bronze medal position. But we were all very close together and one percent in a Freestyle is nothing, so anything could happen. I really went for it to hold on to that bronze position, but they were right behind me. They are all good combinations with good horses, so nothing was decided until the very end.” Even if Jeroen Devroe had been allowed to keep two horses in the final championship standings, Hendrikx would still have secured the bronze medal.

Twelve Belgian champions
The final Freestyle also brought five days of Belgian Championship action in Lier to a close. More than 300 horses and over 200 riders competed across four arenas, once again making the event one of the largest dressage competitions in the world. Including last week’s CDIO Lier, it became the largest dressage event of all. Alongside the senior Belgian title, national champions were crowned in the youth and para divisions. Championships were also decided in the Diamant Cup, Briljant Cup, Platina Cup and Small Tour.

Farewell to Intermezzo van het Meerdaalhof
The final day also featured a special moment away from the championship battle. Intermezzo van het Meerdaalhof entered the arena together with Domien Michiels for the final time. The pair were honoured afterwards in recognition of their many years of contribution to Belgian dressage, including their historic Nations Cup victory in Lier last year. The championship therefore concluded not only with the crowning of new Belgian champions, but also as a celebration of the depth and strength of Belgian dressage. With champions across all age categories, strong performances throughout the various cups and an impressive turnout of riders and horses, the organisers can look back on a successful anniversary edition.

Results