2026 European Young Riders and Under 25 Championships
Lara van Nek and Rose Oatley became the winners of the individual test gold medal at the 2026 European Young Riders and Under 25 Championships held at Stable Unikornis in Pilisjaszfalu, Hungary.
The individual medals were decided with the Young Riders Individual test and Under 25 Short Grand Prix. The classes were again split over two days as all riders (who did not withdrew or got eliminated) were eligible to compete in the second test.
Young Riders: Lara van Nek Goes for Gold
Dutch Lara van Nek and the home-bred 12-year old KWPN mare Jatilinda became the winners of the individual gold medal after achieving a personal best and high score of the day in the Young Riders individual test. Judges Eva-Maria Vint-Warmington, Sven Rothenberger, Nicole Nockemann, Carlos Lopes, and Sandy Phillips rewarded her ride with a 74.264% although the individual differences were fairly big with a 72.941% low score from two judges Nockemann and Philips (which looks JSP corrected) and a high score of 76.176% from Carlos Lopes.
Van Nek on JatilindaVan Nek has been riding Jatilinda since the autumn of 2020 after the mare was professionally produced and shown by Vai Bruntink. The black mare (by All at Once out of Atilinda (by Negro x Krack C) is bred and owned by Lara's mom Willeke Bos of Stal 104. The pair, however, only competed on a very light international schedule with two CDI's in 2021, a two-year break with return in 2023 for one more CDI and then a three-year break to come back at the CDI Lier Indoor in February 2026. They also showed at the CDI Exloo and then the national show in Rotterdam, where they clinched their Dutch team nomination.
"It's such a great feeling, almost perfect," said a thrilled Van Nek, who has been training with Adelinde Cornelissen. “I am really very content. The individual test is a bit tougher than the team test and we ride it less often. In the canter today, there were perhaps still some details that could have been better. But I was able to focus very well and received the points today that I might have already expected yesterday after the team test.”
Schmitz-Heinen on AttractiveBy the time Van Nek entered the arena, the favourites for the gold had already competed. “Because of that, I knew that if I rode the highest score, there was a very good chance I would stay at the top. After the test, they first read out your scores, but without a ranking yet. The moment the '1' appeared on the board, I was so happy. Jatilinda is truly my friend and we’ve had a somewhat bumpy road leading up to this, so it’s extra special that everything is falling into place this weekend.”
The silver medal went to the winner of the team championship test and last year's European Junior Rider Champion: Julie Schmitz-Heinen on the 9-year old Rhinelander registered Attractive (by AC-DC x Ehrentusch). They also got a personal best of 73.177% with the judges' scores more in unison. After Junior Rider gold last year, she now collected a silver at Young Riders level. Her family acquired her gelding as a 3-year old stallion at the 2020 Hof Borgmann auction for 75,000 euro. His name was spelled "Attraktiv" at the time. He was produced up the level by Julie with the help of her parents, riders Wolfgang and Elke, at their home stable Hof am Eifgen in Wermelskirchen near Cologne.
Michella Skovsager on Zimillione PT2Denmark's Michella Skovsager slotted in third with her 9-year old Swedish mare Zimillione Pt2 (by Gammelenggards Zappa x Furst Nymphenburg). They scored 72.941% to edge out 2024 European Junior Champion Maria Sohler on Askehavens Beau Sancy. Skovsager has been riding the bay since the autumn of 2024 after buying her from Cathrine Dufour.
"Zimi gave me the most incredible feeling today," said Michella, who trains with Maik Kohlschmidt. "I couldn’t have asked for more from her – she was absolutely amazing."
Under 25: Rose Oatley Rides to Gold
The U25 podium: Luiten, Oatley, HelgstrandIn the Under 25 division German-Australian Rose Oatley is proving that she masters the buttons well on her ride of four-months: Charlotte Dujardin's internationally Grand Prix horse Alive and Kicking (by All at Once x Furst Piccolo). After topping the board in the team championship Intermediaire II, the duo won the short Grand Prix with a personal best of 74.897% She placed first with four out of five judges. Only the judge at C, Elisabeth Max-Theurer, had the pair second but the spread between the judges was not so great. The panel included Katrina Wüst, Raphaël Saleh, Elisabeth Max-Theurer, Hans-Christian Matthiesen, and Patricia Wolters. For Rose this is already her fourth individual European Champion's title. She won the pony title with Daddy Moon in 2021, the Junior title with Sommernacht in 2023 and 2024. Oatley's gold medal on Alive and Kicking also marks incredible breeder's success for Willeke Bos, who also bred All at Once, the sire of Alive and Kicking, as well as European Young Rider's champion Jatilinda.
Marten Luiten on JohnnieSilver went to the overnight leader in the short Grand Prix, Dutch Marten Luiten aboard the 13-year old KWPN bred Johnny (by Johnson x World Magic). The experienced Dutch youth team rider and former European Junior and Young Rider champion (on Fynona, a mare owned and bred by Willeke Bos !!) was the Dutch team anchor in the Inter II to bring his nation the team bronze, assisted by a considerably higher score from Dutch judge Patricia Wolters. In the short Grand Prix the judges were much more in tune with one another, scoring him between 72 - 73%. His final result of 72.769% was good for silver.
Also in the Under 25 division the bronze medal was for a Danish rider. Alexander Yde Helgstrand and the 13-year old KWPN bred Inspiration PF (by Everdale x Calido) scored a personal best of 72.744% which was just a fraction more than Lucie-Anouk Baumgurtel and the 10-year old Hanoverian mare First Vienna (by Vitalis x First Dance).
