Belgian Under 25 rider Soraya Brison just missed out on winning the 2017 Student Sport Flanders Award. A member of the VLP Talent Team that gets to train with Anky van Grunsven and a High Potential listed squad member with Giorgio Armani, Brison was amongst three athletes nominated for this award
(alongside Nele de Vos (karate) and Lindsay de Vylder (cycling)). The winner was announced at a special ceremony during the Flemmish Student Championships which took place in Ghent on 22 March 2017. The award is given to athletes who combine their university or college studies with a top sport career. Soraya is going for a Bachelor in Business Management with a specialisation in accountancy while competing internationally at Under 25 Grand Prix level.
Former Belgian young rider team member Eline Borrey de Coninck is going through an annus horibilis. After the unexpected and sudden death of her father Numa Borrey and soon afterwards the passing of her grandmother, the rider now also lost her developing Prix St Georges horse Espresso W. The Dutch warmblood (by Johnson x Ferro) broke his leg in a freak accident in the stall and had to be euthanized. The 8-year old Espresso W was owned by Dominique and ridden by Eline since 2016.
Dutch rider Annemieke Vincourt-Krom has sold her small tour horse Diede Dieni to Australian Terrina Fairbrother. The 9-year old Dutch warmblood mare by Spielberg x Parcival x Hendo has been in training with Vincourt for 1,5 years and was owned by Stephanie and Rom Vermunt.
Russian children's rider Maya Shemakova has acquired Mercedes Verweij's junior rider's horse Wiolita (by San Remo). On the tall bay mare, Verweij won bronze at the 2016 Dutch Junior Riders Championships. The horse was advertised for sale in the Eurodressage equimarket.
Romee van Paassen has to say goodbye to her recently retired schoolmaster Wup (by Welt Hit II x Wolfgang). The 16-year old Dutch warmblood stallion suffered a severe colick attack on 26 March 2017 and the owner was forced to have him euthanized. Under Joyce Heuitink Wup was competed up to Grand Prix level. In 2014 he sold at the Excellent Dressage Sales to Van Paassen for an auction price of 230,000 euro. Romee competed him at three internationals, but then the horse got injured. He was retired from sport in February 2017.
After six years at the helm of the British Dressage Sports department, Paul Graham is moving on to an exciting opportunity with British Triathlon. British Dressage is now recruiting for a Sport Operations Manager to fill his position.
Hoefslag reported that besides playing music world famous Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren also has an interest in horses, through his wife. The mega DJ acquired the 7-year old KWPN bred Freedom (by San Remo) for Erika.