Rik Hemeryck Turns on the Nitro aboard Navarro van het Eelshof to Win the CWD Prize CSI 5*

By Jumper News on 2026-04-24

Fontainebleau, France – April 23, 2026 – Quicker and higher. The pace is getting faster and faster in the CSI5* competition at Le Printemps des Sports Équestres. After this morning’s first class, which allowed riders to get their bearings on the grass of the Main Arena (Terrain d’Honneur), the action continued with the €28,200 CWD Prize CSI 5* , a Table-A class at 1.50m, against the clock.

With 41 riders from 13 countries, this second CSI 5* class marked another step up in the competition. The world’s best riders continue to fine-tune their set-ups and adjust their strategies, on increasingly demanding courses, as we get closer to the weekend’s main events.

For this class at midday, the course designer Grégory Bodo (FRA) had devised a fairly simple course, but with a few clearly identified difficulties. Among these was the vertical number 8 over a water trough, located in the turn in front of the boxes – which regularly fell – and the double oxer-vertical in front of the ground jury’s box, which also saw several mistakes.

**Roger-Yves Bost** (FRA) & **Equine America** **Ballerine du Vilpion**

Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) was one of the 17 riders who managed to complete the course without a penalty and, for a long time, he probably imagined he was going to win the class. Starting fifteenth, the Frenchman, riding Equine America Ballerine du Vilpion, set a fine time of 60.11 seconds, taking the lead in the provisional rankings.

**Rik Hemeryck** (BEL) & **Navarro van het Eelshof**

However, Belgium’s Rik Hemeryck (BEL) was not to be outdone. Riding Navarro van Het Eelshof, he set a very fast pace, gaining ground on each line to finish nearly two seconds ahead of Bosty. This excellent performance enabled him to win the class.

The last French rider to take to the arena was Kevin Staut (FRA), who did his utmost to challenge for the lead with Kannonqulan. But to no avail. Despite a clear round in 60.17 seconds, he finally had to settle for third place. The same position in which he finished in this morning’s event.

What they said:
Rik Hemeryck (BEL), winner of the CWD Prize CSI 5* with Navarro van Het Eelshof:
“It’s a good start to the competition. We really tried to go flat out in this class and it worked. My horse has already won at this level in Stuttgart. He expressed himself really well and remained concentrated throughout the leg. He hadn’t jumped on grass for over a year, but the ground here is really amazing and the horses feel very comfortable on it. Navarro will be having a rest tomorrow and be back in the arena on Saturday.
The atmosphere here is just great. It’s a CSI5*, of course, but you also feel the excitement of the French Championships. All the French riders are here, supported by the spectators, and that adds to the atmosphere. Of course, I’m Belgian, but I’m married to a French woman, so that counts for me too (laughs).”

Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), second in the CWD Prize CSI 5* with Equine America Ballerine du Vilpion:
“Ballerine jumped really well. She’s in great shape and showed it today, which is really pleasing. But she’s not the only one, Delph is also in fine form. So, I don’t yet know which horse I’ll be riding for tomorrow’s classes; I’ll have to think some more about it. I’m really happy that we’re riding in the Main Arena this year, with all the people here today and the great atmosphere. I started riding in this arena when I was 12, so it’s great to be back here again.“