Drammen, Norway – June 07, 2025 – Belgium proved the team to beat in the Longines EEF Series Region North Qualifier CSIO 3* in Drammen, coming out on top in a thrilling jump-off against hosts Norway. Netherlands closed out the podium in third.
The young Belgian team of Bart Jay Junior Vandecasteele (BEL) riding Vamos de La Pomme D’Or Z, Mathieu Guery (BEL) on Time-Breaker SZ, Evelyne Putters (BEL) with Oberon VDH and Leon Brutsaert (BEL) aboard Corleone Tour Vidal kept cool heads which belied their tender ages and their inexperience to triumph in the 13-strong team competition which is designed to be a launchpad for the next generation of championship riders.
“It’s the first time Belgium comes to a three-star Nations Cup with young riders. They are the best of Belgium and for sure they apply for the European Championships, so it was a good training for them,” said Belgium’s chef d’equipe Filip Lacus.
The Belgian team held the top spot at the halfway point on a score of zero and when their first two riders in the second round also jumped clear it looked as if they were going to ease to a comfortable win.
However, eight faults for Evelyne and Cleran Horses’ 11-year-old bay gelding and four penalties for Leon and the 13-year-old Selle Francais stallion turned the final qualifier for the Northern region on its head. Myriad twists and turns ensued as the competition headed towards its climax with no one quite sure how it was going to turn out.
Three clear rounds for Norway in the second round – including double clears for Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR) riding Equine America Harwich VDL and Therese Soehol Henriksen (NOR) on Santos Z – not only gave the home fans something to cheer about but also brought them right back up into contention. When a pole fell for Belgium’s fourth rider it meant the hosts – who had been in fourth position after round one – were required for a jump-off.
Representing the home side, Oda Charlotte Lyngvaer (N)R and Carabella VD Neyen Z, an 11-year-old bay mare, were first to go in the jump-off, setting a target of four faults in 38.49 seconds.
Mathieu Guery (BEL) and Time-Breaker SZ, a bay gelding who is owned by his parents’ stables Ecurie Guery, knew what they had to do and remained calm under pressure to secure a steady clear for Belgium – their third of the afternoon – and secure victory.
“It was my first senior Nations Cup and to come back with the win was something special,” said 20-year-old Mathieu, who is the son of Olympic showjumper Jérôme Guéry (BEL).
“My horse was just amazing today in all the three rounds. To be able to give the victory to my team was something really cool. I’d like to thank my teammates, chef d’equipe and everybody around me.”
Sweden, who were second on a score of two at the end of round one, had a disappointing second round performance. Twelve faults for Wilma Hellstrom on Mr Vain GJ and elimination for final rider Hannah Akerblom and Chodec after they parted ways at an oxer meant they tumbled down the leaderboard to finish eventual fifth.
Netherlands, whose only double clear came from Siebe Leemans riding Gem VD Riloo Z, were left ruing Finn Boerekamp and Kensington W’s one time penalty – they stopped the clock 0.06 seconds over the optimum time. Without that the Dutch would have completed on a score of four and also been part of the jump off, as it was they had to settle for third.
Ireland climbed from sixth after round one to finish fourth thanks in part to a double clear from Anthony Condon and Oviedo S. A fault free performance from Finland’s Annina Nordstrom riding Fuzhou helped them to sixth, just behind Sweden.
France had a disappointing day and wound up seventh while Denmark, who’s leading horse and rider were Christian Jansen with Stenvangs Daiquiri – another pair to secure a double clear – were eighth.
While the course caused plenty of problems – particularly at the water – there were also several pairs who made light work of Bart Vonck’s track including Maksymilian Wechta aboard Mystique, their double clear helped Poland to ninth.
Final Results – €65,000 Longines EEF Series – Nations Cup of Drammen CSIO 3*
1) Belgium – 0 / 4 = 4 / 0 – 44.02
2) Norway – 4 / 0 = 4 / 4 – 38.49
3) Netherlands – 4 / 1 = 5
Source: Press Release by Emily Bevan for the EEF – European Equestrian Federation
Photos: © EEF/ Kristian Strøm
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Categories: CSIO 3*, English, Jumper News Belgie
