Hemmer and Denoix in Control of 4* Field at 2026 CDI Lier

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2026 CDI Lier

In her first CDI start since almost missing out on Grand Prix Special bronze at the 2025 European Championships, German Katharina Hemmer and the American owned Denoix returned to the show ring to claim victory in the 4* Grand Prix at the CDI Lier on 28 February 2026.

A total of 27 combinations competed in the 4* Grand Prix, which ultimately went to Hemmer and her 14-year-old Oldeburg gelding Denoix (by Destano x Pik Noir), scoring an impressive 75,587%.

Katharina is very happy with her result, she says. After winning the Grand Prix Special twice here in Lier, she today put the Grand Prix to her name. “Denoix gave me a super feeling today in the test. He was so focused and felt very safe. It was our first show since Crozet in August last year, so I’m really happy”. Looking ahead, the combination has clear ambitions. “Our main goal is to make the team for Aachen,” Hemmer explained. “Before that, we have several international competitions planned ahead of the selection shows. But above all, the most important thing is to keep Denoix fit, healthy, and happy.”

For Hemmer's Crozet German team mate Ingrid Klimke it was also the first CDI since the Europeans on her tall and mighty Vayron (by Vitalis x Gloster). Klimke stayed almost three percentage points behind Hemmer with 72,848% aboard Spielmann's 15-year old.

Belgium’s Larissa Pauluis has been relentlessly competing her seasoned Olympian equine partner, Flambeau (by Ampere x Zeoliet). In four months time - between the end of October and the end of February - she has shown the 16-year old in no less than 7 CDI's, of which five were World Cup qualifiers and the sixth the Frankfurt top 12 show. In Lier they posted 72,435% on home soil for third place. There is little time for Flambeau to catch his breath as he's also entered for the CDI-W 's Hertogenbosch in two weeks on 12 - 15 March, where he will compete in his sixth CDI-W. The FEI allows a maximum of 6 CDI-W starts in one season.

**Wagner Takes Two in 3* GP Special**

German Thomas Wagner won his second trophy at the CDI Lier this weekend as he and Escolar’s Emil FRH won the 3* Grand Prix with a 69,681%, while Tobias Nabben made it a German top three on Belgian soil as he steered his Forster to 69,660% for third place.

Escolar’s Emil FRH made his debut in the Grand Prix Special today – and what a successful start! “He felt super relaxed, and I had a great feeling throughout the test,” a proud Thomas Wagner told us. “I can see that Emil really enjoys the arena here in Lier, judging by his behavior, and considering we also had a very good test yesterday with a win in the Grand Prix. He generally just feels really good.” Looking ahead, Wagner added, “We don’t have any other international shows planned at the moment, but we hope to compete at the German Championships later this year.”