Lara van Nek and Marten Luiten Win Kur Gold at 2026 European Young Riders / Under 25 Championships

It became a Dutch day on the final day of competition at the European Young Riders and Under 25 Championships held at Stable Unikornis in Pilisjaszfalu, Hungary, on Sunday 12 July 2026. Young Rider Lara van Nek and Under 25 rider Marten Luiten claimed the gold medal in the Kur to music finals in their respective divisions.

Young Riders: Van Nek Makes it a Double

After surprising friend and foe with her gold medal in the individual test on Saturday, Dutch Lara van Nek made it a clean sweep and conquered the overall 2026 European Young Riders Champion's title by also winning the Kur to Music finals on Sunday.

Aboard the home bred 12-year old KWPN mare Jatilinda (by All at Once x Negro), Lara was last to go in the freestyle, the possible position for the highest score. The experienced youth rider, who is competing at her seventh (!) European youth riders championships, made her mileage count in the freestyle final.  Judges Sven Rothenberger, Nicole Nockemann, Carlos Lopes, Sandy Phillips, and Eva-Maria Vint-Warmington rewarded her with a personal best of 80.255%. All five of them were unanimous about Lara's first place. For black mare Jatilinda the Europeans were only her third international competition of 2026 and her seventh international in her entire show career. 

“It still hasn't really sunk in yet. So much has happened in the past two days. I'm incredibly happy,” Van Nek said. "In the Freestyle, Jatilinda was really on fire, but everything came together so well. This European Championship has exceeded all my expectations. Of course, I hoped for a medal, but I never expected this. Team silver and two individual gold medals is something I never dared to dream of.”

Danish Michella Skovsager and her her 9-year old Swedish mare Zimillione Pt2 (by Gammelenggards Zappa x Furst Nymphenburg) upped the ante in the freestyle and went from an individual test bronze medal to Kur silver after receiving a personal best of 77.845% from the judges.  The pair's marks ranged from 75.125% (Philips) to 79.125 (Lopes).

The silver medalist in the individual test, German Julie Sofie Schmitz-Heinen and the 9-year old Rhinelander bred Attractive (by AC-DC x Ehrentusch) scored 74.790% to finish fourth in the Kur, leaving room for British Mette Dahl to frog leap into third place and the bronze medal aboard her mother British Olympian Fiona Bigwood's 15-year old Oldenburg Daytona Platinum (by Dante Weltino x Charon). The huge dark bay gelding, who was ridden in a snaffle the entire week, scored 75.930% for bronze for Britain. Mette was assisted by her father, Danish Olympian Anders Dahl, at the show in Pilisjaszfalu.

"I am in utter disbelief about what just happened," Mette rejoiced. "This was Dinos first ever freestyle and once again he exceeded all expectations. A massive thank you to my incredible trainer (Anders Dahl), my super groom Sally, my mom for giving me the ride and Hollie for keeping me sane this week. However the biggest thank you has to go to my incredible pony who continues to trust me more and more."

Under 25: Marten Luiten Wins Fourth Gold Medal

Dutch Under 25 rider Marten Luiten rose to the occasion in the Kur to Music finals early Sunday afternoon and won the class for yet another European gold medal, his fourth individual one in his career. After winning gold as a young rider at the 2020 and 2021 Europeans, he collected silver and bronze at the U25 Europeans in 2023. Yesterday Luiten added an individual silver to his tally aboard the 13-year old Westfalian bred Johnny (by Johnson x World Magic). Today he struck gold again.

Judges Patricia Wolters, Hans-Christian Matthiesen, Raphaël Saleh, Katrina Wüst, and Elisabeth Max-Theurer all placed Luiten first and rewarded him with a personal best of 81.565%. In his last year as an U25 ride, Marten peaked aboard Johnnie, Aat and Lida Both's Westfalian gelding (originally named Janus GIH), which he has been competing internationally on a very light schedule since 2024. He showed the bay in only one CDI in 2026 in Exloo.

“I'm so happy," said Marten. "This was our best test so far and I'm incredibly proud of Johnny. He improved every single day throughout the championship. Johnny gives such an amazing feeling, and today everything just came together."d.

Danish Alexander Yde Helgstrand stepped it up and went from individual bronze on Saturday to kur silver on Sunday. Aboard the 13-year old KWPN bred Inspiration PF (by Everdale x Calido) he also achieved a personal best score of 79.640% and referred individual gold test medal winner Rose Oatley to bronze.

"Inspiration you are simply one of a kind, I could not be more happy, you really make dreams come through," Alexander stated on social media. "What a special feeling it was today riding down the centerline to our favorite music. This show has been an incredible journey and I’m so grateful for all the memories we have made. Now a well deserved summer holiday for Inspi when we get home."

German Rose Oatley and  the 12-year old Westfalian mare Alive and Kicking (by All at Once x Furst Piccolo) landed third place with a personal best of 79.255%. There was quite a spread in her scores with 76.575% from Wust as low score and 80.075% from Wolters as high score.

“I couldn't have expected any more," Oatley commented. "I've had Audrey for only two and a half months now and I'm so proud of her. I'm absolutely over the moon with how this weekend has gone, and I'm still trying to process everything. Audrey and I have only known each other for such a short time, but we're learning more about each other every day. Even this week alone I learned so much. Every day we found a few more pieces of the puzzle to build that special connection. This success means so much to me.”

Just missing out on a medal was Britain's Annabella Pidgley. Aboard the 15-year old KWPN bred Gio (by Apache x Tango) she won kur gold at the 2024 Europeans two years ago, after which the chestnut had a long break from competition sport. They returned in December 2025 and today were fourth in the freestyle with 77.460%. Gio was also produced to Grand Prix level by Charlotte Dujardin, just like Alive and Kicking.

Hungary's Jazmin Yom-Tov achieved a career highlight by finishing fifth twice at these Europeans hosted at her home barn. Aboard the 12-year old KWPN bred Jack Black WW (by Hofrat x Vivaldi) she posted a personal best of 76.515% in the freestyle.

Text © Eurodressage - Photos © Lukasz Kowalski

Related Links
Scores: 2026 European Young Riders / Under 25 Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the European Young Rider & Under 25 Championships