Herweyers, Vanerom, Verreet, Hennes, Everars, Verwimp Win 2026 Belgian Dressage Championships

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2026 Belgian Dressage Championships

Pony rider Alexine Herweyers, children rider Shirley Vanerom, junior rider Feline Verreet, young rider Amber Hennes, Under 25 rider Liezel Everars, and senior Grand Prix rider Wim Verwimp became the grand winners of the 2026 Belgian Dressage Championships.

For the 10th time the Belgian Nationals were held at equestrian center Azelhof in Lier, this year on on 28 - 31 May 2026. They followed the CDIO Lier which was held a week earlier. Many riders used the CDIO as a dress rehearsal show for the nationals, competing their horses back-to-back. For some the routine paid off, others ended up with tired horses after two weeks of the first summer heat.

After 32 Years Wim Verwimp is Champion Again

The big story of the weekend is in the senior division, as Lier show organizer captured the national title again after claiming his first no less than 32 years ago, in 1994 on Clyde.

The fight for the gold medal and title became a neck-to-neck race between Wim Verwimp on the Korean owned Jedai de Massa (by Don Juan de Hus) and Jeroen Devroe on Lestor (by Ghandi x Painted Black). Coached by Jan Nivelle, Verwimp built up a significant advantage by winning the Grand Prix with 72.435%, but was second in the Special (69.553%) and freestyle (74.19%) behind Devroe. His overall total of 216.178% put Verwimp on the highest step of the podium.

Devroe and his 10-year old Dutch warmblood Lestor made their international show debut in April 2025 and competed at three CDI's last year, but have not yet stepped out internationally in 2026 to throw themselves in the race for a team spot for the 2026 World Championships. His second place and silver medal at the Belgian Nationals with scores of 69.63%, 69,872%, and 75.145% sparks hope for the future. Their total was 214.647%. Devroe also landed fourth place with his second GP horse Jackpot (by Everdale x Jazz) with solid scores of 69.087%, 69.234% and 71.005%

Suraya Hendrikx claimed bronze in the senior Grand Prix division on her long-term partner Dear Friend, a 15-year old Westfalian by Danone x Dollmann, which has taken her from youth level into U25 to senior Grand Prix. The pair got the bronze with 68.413%, 68.106% and 73.375% which totalled 209.894%.

Belgium's Nations cup team riders Justin Verboomen (Zonik Plus), Larissa Pauluis (Flambeau), and Charlotte Defalque (First Step Valentin) skipped the nationals to spare their horses.

It Keeps Getting Better

“A fantastic day with a fantastic result,” said a delighted Verwimp afterwards. “The feeling just keeps getting better, he really is my mate. To become Belgian Champion again after 32 years, following a ten-year break from competition, who would have thought that? I am definitely going to enjoy this."

Verwimp was also thrilled for his fellow medalists. " “It is also wonderful for Jeroen. He has done this eight times already and really kept the pressure on over the past few days," said Wim. "And having Suraya join us on the podium is fantastic as well. I think she has been the most successful rider of the entire championship, so it is thoroughly deserved.”

Verwimp's celebration of his title was not straight after the class as the standard athlete doping test of all podium place-getters by Paardensport Vlaanderen took place first. Verwimp's excitement of the day had led to a insufficient hydration and the testing team had to wait a long time for Wim to fill the full cup. Afterwards the rider smiled from ear to ear, but regularly had to run to the bathroom to funnel out the two liters of water he drank at the doping test.

Four Times Gold

Suraya Hendrikx collected the most titles of the weekend as she also won the small tour championship on Benicia (by Benicio), as well as two M-level divisions on Batshuayi (by Bonds x Top Gear) and Sacremento van het Bloemenhof (by Secret x Quaterback).

“I’m certainly not going to complain today,” Hendrikx laughed. “The feeling was really good (on Dear Friend). When I saluted at the end, I felt like I had just ridden one of my best Freestyles ever. Everything felt quite easy, even though it is difficult. His pirouettes are really good these days, which is why I included four of them in my Freestyle. He used to find them much more difficult, but now they are one of his strengths. He may not be the most spectacular horse, but he performs all the movements so well.”

Twelve Belgian Champions

The Grand Prix Freestyle on Sunday late afternoon 31 May also brought five days of Belgian Championship action in Lier to a close. More than 300 horses and over 200 riders competed across four arenas, once again making the event one of the largest dressage competitions in the world. Including last week's CDIO Lier, it became the largest dressage event of all.

Alongside the senior Belgian title, national champions were crowned in the youth and para divisions.

Results - 2026 Belgian Dressage Championships - Lier

Children

1. Shirley Vanerom - Ogami van het beukenhof - 80.125 (1.) 77 (1.) 78.468 (1.) = 235.593
2. Emilija Rucinskaite - Nice Guy STW - 76.125 (2.) 76.611 (2.) = 232.326
3. Lune de Sloovere - Energy - 74.572 (4.) 74.375 (3.) 72.635 (3.) = 221.582
4 Céryl Vanden Berghe - Nadal Geuzenhof - 73.536 (5.) 73.7 (4.) 70.176 (5.) = 217.412
5 Noélie Van den Bosch - Icarus HJB - 72.679 (7.) 73.1 (5.) 71.037 (4.) = 216.816
6 Gitte De Lat Jebe van het Keysersbos - 73.268 (6.) 70.475 (7.) 69.639 (7.) = 213.382
7 Elise Pluym - Impetto - 68.947 (9.) 70.225 (8.) 69.5 (8.) = 208.672
8 Aymeric Belvaux - Ibiza Fashion - k 60.268 (11.) 64.85 (10.) 63.153 (9.) = 188.271
9 Emma Verwimp - Mystique Dream v/h Aegroschot - 67.09 (10.) 68.9 (9.) = 135.99

Pony Riders

1. Alexine Herweyers - La Perla - 72.029 (1.) 69.297 (3.) 72.91 (2.) = 214.236 176.10
2. Margaux Nelis f - Balotelli - 69.114 (5.) 70.486 (2.) 73.82 (1.) = 213.42 105.66
3. Ella-June Briers - Der kleine Prinz - 69.229 (4.) 68.054 (4.) 71.945 (5.) = 209.228
4 Emilie Marrannes - Matteo - 69.714 (3.) 67.135 (7.) 72.045 (4.) = 208.894
5 Charlotte Heuts - Global Cash - 68.886 (6.) 67.649 (6.) 70.5 (6.) = 207.035
6 Paulien Heylen - Gluckskind - 67.4 (7.) 67.946 (5.) 68.92 (8.) = 204.266
7 Gitte De Lat - Edition Limitee - 65.972 (8.) 66.108 (8.) 67.93 (9.) = 200.01
8 Leontine Lemmens - Drops - 65.971 (9.) 64.108 (12.) 69.34 (7.) = 199.419
9 Yana Janssen - Gia Jane vh Bloemenhof - 65.686 (10.) 64.189 (11.) 67.62 (10.) = 197.495
10 Evelyne Dieltjens - Annabel vh Bloemenhof - 65.571 (11.) 64.459 (10.) 67.03 (11.) = 197.06
11 Mei Qi Ryckalts - Sulaatik's Valuta - 62.443 (13.) 63.324 (13.) 66.435 (12.) = 192.202
12 Monisha Roelandt - Kimbel Charmeur - 65.485 (12.) 65.054 (9.) = 130.539

Junior Riders

1. Féline Verreet - Liviah Diar - 68.576 (1.) 71.324 (1.) 74.49 (1.) = 214.39
2. Charlott Blevi - Junior Hit - 68.455 (2.) 67.559 (3.) 73.295 (2.) = 209.309
3. Amélie Willem - Glendale vd Kempenhoeve - 68.303 (3.) 65.882 (4.) 71.67 (3.) = 205.855
4 Evelyne Dieltjens - Lord Lucardi vd D - 66.667 (5.) 67.706 (2.) 69.73 (5.) = 204.103
5 Amber Hennes - Qazarenka van het Wauwerhof - 66.727 (4.) 65.206 (5.) 69.665 (6.) = 201.598
6 Elise Van Os - Escamilla - 64.909 (10.) 63.706 (8.) 70.275 (4.) = 198.89
7 Ella-June Briers - Jimmie - 66.455 (7.) 64.529 (6.) 66.65 (8.) = 197.634
8 Louise Wouters - Kingston Vienna D - 65.273 (9.) 62.853 (11.) 68.075 (7.) = 196.201
9 Benthe Flamee - Karaat - 65.333 (8.) 64.206 (7.) 66.035 (10.) = 195.574
10 Lola Louyet - Most Wanted - 66.606 (6.) 63.265 (10.) 65.525 (11.) = 195.396
11 Lins Van Driessche - Pinot Noir vd Kwaplas - 64.182 (11.) 62.588 (12.) 66.33 (9.) = 193.1
12 Clara Debry - Stitch des Corais - 62.152 (13.) 63.382 (9.) 61.84 (14.) = 187.374
13 Louise Van Aerde - Giovanni de La Fazenda - 60.576 (14.) 61.206 (13.) 62.17 (13.) = 183.952
14 Maximiliaan Ryckalts - Norelfee - 63 (12.) 57.294 (16.) 62.5 (12.) = 182.794

Young Riders

1. Amber Hennes - Allegro v/h Trichelhof - 67.529 (4.) 68.559 (2.) 72.5 (2.) = 208.588 176.10
2. Emilie Herweyers - Belle Vista - 63.029 (10.) 68.941 (1.) 75.045 (1.) = 207.015
3. Aude Verheecke - Koen - 69.529 (1.) 67.971 (4.) 68.5 (4.) = 206
4 Juliette Meyers - Silent Bonheur - 66.177 (7.) 68.176 (3.) 68.255 (6.) = 202.608
5 Anna Peeters - Harlekin - 67.088 (5.) 66.441 (6.) 68.475 (5.) = 202.004
6 Victoria Evrard - Jordy HBC - 68.059 (2.) 66.824 (5.) 66.865 (9.) = 201.748
7 Eline Van Praet - Diamina La Crus - 66.471 (6.) 65.559 (7.) 68.94 (3.) = 200.97
8 Manou Holden - Izaak - 65.735 (8.) 65.441 (8.) 67.35 (7.) = 198.526
9 Sterre Kielenstijn - Limited Edition from Second Life - 63.559 (9.) 65.294 (10.) 67.045 (8.) = 195.898
10 Zita Vanhoyweghen - Ingo Torres - 57.147 (13.) 60.147 (12.) 64.92 (11.) = 182.214
11 Liam Darras - Ocarina De Massa - 61.559 (11.) 58.265 (13.) 61.415 (10.) = 181.239
12 Victoria Evrard Botticelli - 67.677 (3.) 65.441 (8.) DNS = 133.118
13 Sofia Coenegrachts - Victor - 60.265 (12.) 62.941 (11.) DNS = 123.206

Under 25

1. Liezel Everars - Venere - 69.794 (1.) 67.385 (1.) 73.13 (1.) = 210.309
2. Jette De Jong - Heavenly Charming - 69 (2.) 65.718 (2.) 69.675 (3.) = 204.393
3. Zoë Niessen - Paco Rabanne - 68.235 (3.) 65.179 (3.) 70.17 (2.) = 203.584
4. Robin Robert - Divin Weltino - 65.206 (5.) 63.385 (4.) 67.95 (4.) = 196.541
5. Louise Brauwers - Jerveaux - 64.993 (6.) 62.179 (6.) = 127.172
6. Athaline Van Roey - Fugranda C - 60.882 (8.) 63.282 (5.) = 124.164
7. Theo Leheureux - Calibra - 66.059 (4.) DNS DNS = 66.059
8. Louise Brauwers - Janeiro - 63.5 (7.) DNS DNS = 63.5

Seniors - Small Tour (top 17 only)

1. Suraya Hendrikx - Benicia - 71.941 (2.) 71.824 (1.) 75.61 (1.) = 219.375 264.15
2. Amber Heidbuchel - Rianta van de Kempenhoeve - 72.265 (1.) 71.412 (2.) 74.415 (2.) = 218.092
3. Jorinde Verwimp - Karnival Zee T - 70.529 (3.) 69.618 (3.) 73.165 (3.) = 213.312 105.66 EUR
4 Sally Jacobs - Monamie - 69.059 (6.) 68.765 (5.) 72.88 (4.) = 210.704
5 Tom Franckx - Moet Chandon N2 / Majoor - 69.177 (5.) 66.47 (13.) 71 (5.) = 206.647
6 Anke Moordtgat - Benefit - 68.529 (7.) 67.323 (10.) 69.94 (9.) = 205.792
7 Celine Swinnen - Hope - 68.353 (8.) 67.382 (9.) 69.32 (11.) = 205.055
8 Isabel Cool - Ferrari - 66.617 (12.) 68.088 (7.) 70.27 (7.) = 204.975
9 Estelle Borremans - Sparkling HL - 66.706 (11.) 68.147 (6.) 69.735 (10.) = 204.588
10 Domien Michiels - Sunnyboy van de Kempenhoeve - 68.147 (9.) 66.412 (14.) 69.985 (8.) = 204.544
11 Ayko Mommaerts - Lance Capone - 66.529 (13.) 66.5 (12.) 70.875 (6.) = 203.904
12 Louise Mourlon Beernaert - Lucky - 66.118 (17.) 67.471 (8.) 68.565 (13.) = 202.154
13 Lien Wauters - Goldstream- 66.265 (16.) 65.882 (15.) 68.63 (12.) = 200.777
14 Nyme Vermaelen - Dancio v/h Bloemenhof - 66.324 (14.) 65.882 (15.) 67.975 (16.) = 200.181
15 Laure Van Deursen - Blueberry Beluga - 66.294 (15.) 65.147 (20.) 68.05 (15.) = 199.491
16 Veronique Philippaerts-Engelen - Golddream vd Kempenhoeve- 64.941 (19.) 65.235 (19.) 68.15 (14.) = 198.326
17 Séverine Philippin - Aaron - 64.941 (19.) 64.97 (22.) 67.83 (17.) = 197.741

Seniors - Big Tour

1. Wim Verwimp - Jedai de Massa - 72.435 (1.) 69.553 (2.) 74.19 (2.) = 216.178
2. Jeroen Devroe - Lestor - 69.63 (2.) 69.872 (1.) 75.145 (1.) = 214.647
3. Suraya Hendrikx - Dear Friend - 68.413 (4.) 68.106 (4.) 73.375 (3.) = 209.894
4 Jeroen Devroe - Jackpot G - 69.087 (3.) 69.234 (3.) 71.005 (5.) = 209.326
5 Tommie Visser - Karma Begijnhoeve - 67.5 (7.) 67.894 (5.) 72.225 (4.) = 207.619
6 Sam Verheyden - Kryptonite van de Performing Stables - 67.826 (6.) 67.277 (7.) 70.85 (6.) = 205.953
7 Domien Michiels - Panthero van de Vogelzang - 67.196 (8.) 66.787 (8.) 70.825 (7.) = 204.808
8 Jennifer Reimer - Zapzarap - 66.326 (10.) 66.489 (9.) 70.605 (8.) = 203.42
9 Laura Luyten - J2l Lamborghini - 66.304 (11.) 65.574 (12.) 69.9 (9.) = 201.778
10 Cyriel De Coker - Jillz Urona - 66.304 (11.) 66.319 (10.) 68.145 (10.) = 200.768
11 Sarah Nuyts - Idefix Van Bria - 65.13 (14.) 65.298 (13.) 68.13 (11.) = 198.558
12 Florence Kerckhove - Exodo - 62.978 (17.) 65.766 (11.) 67.8 (12.) = 196.544
13 Wouter D'Hoore - Jessica - 68.391 (5.) 58.766 (17.) 64.205 (14.) = 191.362
14 Bruno Coppin - Nouveau Donovan - 62.326 (18.) 58.511 (18.) 65.9 (13.) = 186.737
15 Nico Nyssen - Kylian - 67.044 (9.) 67.894 (5.) DNS = 134.938
16 Kevin Laevens - Kozinsky vd Dries - 64.544 (16.) 62.085 (14.) DNS = 126.629
17 Jan Van Geet - Kardieno - 65.174 (13.) 61.021 (16.) DNS = 126.195
18 Jan Van Geet - Noitibo Dos Cedros - 64.565 (15.) 61.085 (15.) DNS = 125.65

Para Dressage

1. Emma Vercammen - Odin - 70.889 (1.) 70.666 (2.) 72.767 (2.) = 214.322
2. Barbara Minneci - Stuart - 69.555 (3.) 71.167 (1.) 72.722 (3.) = 213.444
3. Charlotte Couckuyt - Picador Van Het Leiedal - 70.463 (1.) 70.901 (1.) 71.1 (1.) = 212.464
4. Aliki Melistas - Palomo - 66.889 (4.) DNS DNS = 66.889

Complete scores here.