Sysojeva Wins World Cup Qualifier 2026 CDI-W Gosciszow, Ubels Dominates Big Small Tour

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2026 CDI-W Gosciszow

-- by Agata Grosicka for Eurodressage - Photos © Lukasz Kowalski

The town of Gościszów located in the south-western part of Poland near the German-Polish border hosted a CDI – W for the first time on 5 - 7 June 2026. The fifth leg of World Cup qualifiers for the Central European league was won by home favourite Sandra Sysojeva.

Competing in the World Cup qualifier of Gościszów was an opportunity for many riders to test their horses and themselves in front of the panel of exquisite judges including Cesar Torrente (5* COL), Alban Tissot (4* FRA), Magnus Ringmark (4* SWE), Kurt Christensen (5*DEN), Agne Uzdavinite (3* LTU), Marlena Gruca – Rucińska (4* POL), Karen Pavicic (4* CRO) and Fabien Desloire (3* FRA) led by Małgorzata Pawłowska 4* POL.

World Cup Action

The Lithuanian born, Belgian based, Polish Olympian Sandra Sysojeva and her 10-year old Oldenburg mare Maxima Bella (by Millennium x Christ) scored 82,910% in the Sunday GP Freestyle to rake in the maximum amount of World Cup points.

The second place went to the World Cup debutant, German Cosima Von Fircks and her 12-year old Hanoverian stallion Finest Ampere (by Ampere x De Niro). They scored 76,050% and the last place on the podium went to Hungarian combination – Diana Porsche and the 13-year old KWPN geldiong Imhotep (by Everdale x Vivaldi). The pair scored 75,800%.

Kurt Christensen, 5* FEI judge who is going to judge at the upcoming World Championships in Aachen, said, "in the Big Tour I saw many good rides. Of course Sandra and Maxima are a wonderful combination. They have many highlights. Today my highest score for them was half pass right. Overall the horses were well presented, we did not see any short necks, that’s positive."

Ubbels Dominates Big Small Tour

The Small Tour was the most occupied class of CDI-W with over 30 combinations, many of whom came to Poland to achieve MER scores towards qualification for the 2026 Asian Games. The combination that stayed on the top for three consecutive days and won the whole class was the Dutch rider Rianne Ashley Ubels and her 10-year old KWPN mare Living Legend AMR (by Grand Galaxy Win x Vivaldi).

Rianne was thrilled with her performance and horse. “I have come to this show because I heard that the atmosphere was good and the arena is great," said Rianne. "My mare is bred by my parents, so I have known her for her whole life. I rode her when she was 4 years old and I educated her myself. She is an amazing horse, always willing to work with the great attitude."

Ubels believes that Living Legend has a bright future ahead. "My goal for the season is to get more experience, grow in this level and improve our training for Grand Prix," she explained. "She already knows all the movements we are just trying to be better. My next show will be Crozet in three weeks and in we’ll be working on improving small elements with my mother who’s been coaching us.”

Australian Aces Young Horse Classes

The Young Horses classed featured a couple of interesting dressage prospects with the highlight being the 6-year old Oldenburg stallion Rivoli de Fontaine (by Revolution x Don Tango B) presented by Australian rider Rianna Percy. The combination dominated the division with cracking scores of 90,600% and 90,000%.

Percy also won the 5-year old finals test on Helgstrand's KWPN bred Roitaine O (by Fontaine x Bordeaux).After a fourth place in the Preliminary Test, they won the finals test with 80%.

Kurt Christensen, who will also be judging at this year WBFSH World Championships for Young Horses in Verden, commented on the young horse class he officiated in:

“The young horses presented here were very high level with the one over 90% which is the super quality many of them well ridden, showing good frame. The transfer from 6 year old to 7-year old class is very important as horses have to show lots more collected work, pirouettes and some of them might struggle, which we saw, especially on the first day. In general I saw a few horses here that I might see in Verden."

Christensen added, "It’s my third time here (in Gosciszow) and the place is amazing, it has been built out over last years and in my opinion they can host big championships in the future.”

Polish Team Selection for European Youth Championships

As the European Championships for Youth Riders are fast approaching, the show was the opportunity for Polish youth team trainer coach Andrzej Sałacki to grant some Polish team nominations. One of them went to a Germany based pony rider Stella – Sofie Mankowski.

Stella Mankowski on Assenmachers Gentleman

The German born turned Polish Stella-Sofie Mankowski and her pony Assenmachers Gentleman NRW are currently becoming leaders of the Polish Pony Team.

“It was our seventh international win – we had two wins in Hungary, two wins in Czech and here in Poland also two wins," said Stella. “My main goal is to compete at Europeans – it would be my childhood dream come true. I got my pony last year and he is the great one. I can always trust him in the arena during the test. Always in good mood with lots of energy. His half pass is amazing – it feels like a dream, the changes are smooth. It was a lot of fun riding here, everything is well organized, the arena is amazing, I am also very happy with the scores. Our next start will be Polish Championships in Radzionków in three weeks”.

Polish Championships are Next

Gościszów is scheduled to host Polish Senior Championships together with CDI 3* in the mid- September 2026.

Gosciszow director and show organizer Dawid Szelechowicz

Dawid Szelechowicz, the owner of the venue and show organizer, discussed his future plans.

“The feedback from the riders has been very positive which motivates us for further work. Now we have five outdoor arenas and planning to build another stable for 60 horses so next season we’ll be able to accommodate 176 horses. We are also building another indoor arena so we can host indoor competitions in the future. Next year we’ll host two CDI’s and we are bidding to organize the 2028 European Junior Riders Championships."