The Belgian Junior Riders' Team consisted of the 18 year old Diana Smolders with Clark, 18 year old Tom Franckx with Hopje van Duinoord, 15 year old Simon Missiaen with Goldstern G and 14 year old Valerie Verellen with Wiseguy van de Zuuthoeve.
Diana Smolders was the only rider who carried previous Euro-experience in her, while the other three combinations made their debut at a competition of such stature. The expectations were not set high, and only Diana Smolders was expected to qualify for the individual finals. The other combinations could have scored between 60 and 64%
Assisted by Belgian chef d'Equipe Leo Joosten the team arrived properly at Castle Achleiten on the estate of the Max Theurer family in Kematen, Austria. All horses easily passed the jog. 64 riders of 15 countries were represented at the 1999 European Junior Riders' Championships.
The preliminary test was split up in two days and Diana Smolders was the best Belgian combination riding the first day. Her clear test lacked accuracy and the transitions could have been more proper. With 64.20% she ended 26th. Valerie Verellen couldn't get Wise Guy through the neck and her test showed resistance and hardly any schwung. She ended 58th with 58.07%. Tom Franckx rode a lovely test which earned a 64.27% (25th place) and the same goes for Simon Missiaen (63.60% - 31st place). With these results the team hoped for a nice performance in the team championship test.
Valerie Verellen was the first rider to go in the Team test. Her chestnut Wise Guy was still tensed and they set a 59.94% which was a slight improvement. Simon Missiaen entered the ring as 18th combination but his test showed small mistakes, slight resistance and lack of consistent rein-contact. Simon and Goldstern G can do better. Tom Franckx retained the excellent shape he showed in the preliminary test and scored 64.63% which placed him 23rd. Even though Diana Smolders and Clark failed in their second simple change and made a halt in two phases, the pair danced through the arena with much schwung and in good balance. Result: 66.71% and a 19th place. With a 3.320 total, Belgium ended tenth in the team competition and did not qualify for the individual finals, yet two combinations were qualified for the consolation final.
During the consolation finals all sounds hushed when Diana entered the ring. As she already excelled on previous championships (reserve champ in consolation finals last year), everyone paid clear attention to this pair. Clark didn't stand square in his halt, broke into canter in his extended trot, the second pirouette in walk was too hasty and some transitions were not very clear. 64.33% was too low for an honorary place. They ended 11th. Tom Franckx started off excellently but when he guided Hopje to the right instead of to the left after a walk pirouette all concentration was lost and many mistakes slipped into his performance. 58.93% and an 11th position.
Even though the results were pretty poor, the chef d'equipe and team members underwent a great experience which would be valuable for the future. The Belgian delegation knows that for decent results, more efforts need to be made.
Complete scores of the 1999 European Junior Riders' Championships
Report by Leo Joosten