A BELGIAN BREAKTHROUGH: VERBOOMEN & ZONIK PLUS WIN DRESSAGE FREESTYLE GOLD
At the FEI Dressage European Championship, the Grand Prix Freestyle competition on the final day delivered a captivating finale. The leader board saw frequent changes as top competitors delivered impressive performances, each one raising the bar.
The event featured a tense battle between several of the world's best riders.
Isabell Werth delivered a strong performance with her horse, Wendy de Fontaine, that put her in contention for the top spot. However, Denmark's Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and her horse, Mount St John Freestyle, followed with a challenging routine and a high score that moved them into the lead.
The new world favourite, Belgium's Justin Verboomen and his horse, Zonik Plus, entered the arena with immense pressure. Their dramatic performance, which included a dynamic final passage, had the crowd on their feet. Despite a small error during a half-pass, their exceptional connection and musicality were recognised by the judges.
The duo was awarded a score of 89.964%, just enough to surpass Laudrup-Dufour's score of 89.821% and secure the gold medal. This victory followed their earlier win in the Grand Prix Special and marked Belgium's second-ever medal at a European Championship. The close scores and high-level competition made for a thrilling conclusion to the event.
An emotional Verboomen commented, “I can’t believe it,” said Verboomen of his double golds. “The second victory is really a surprise for me.”
“I’m very proud of my horse again,” he said, overcome with emotion. “He’s so young.”
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Full results here
Photo by FEI/Leanjo de Koster