17 September 2017
Elsegem: Belgian Champions crowned – Dutch drivers dominate international competitions
This weekend the Belgian Championships were held on the grounds of Willy Naessens estate in Elsegem, Belgium. The Belgian drivers competed for the championship medals while the Dutch drivers dominated the international divisions.
Marathon winner at the World Championships in Minden, Gilles Pirotte (archive photo) brought home the gold medal in the single pony division with silver going to Sven Tinlot and bronze to Rudi Van den Bergh.
Photo: Krisztina Horváth
World Pair Pony bronze medal winner Pieter van den Broeck (archive photo) closed his successful season with his first national title. Nico van Praet won zilver, and Johan Verhaege went home with bronze.
Photo: Krisztina Horváth
Tinne Bax (archive photo) won the bronze medal in Minden but went home this weekend with the gold. Bert van den Bosch won silver, and bronze went to Nathan Nijs.
Photo: Krisztina Horváth
Pieter-Jan Brynaert began with the second place in the dressage, won the cones and marathon solidifying his place on the top of the podium. Alongside him were Frederik Jans with silver and Jonathan Meuwis with bronze.
Photo: Louis Vannueten
Jan vanden Berghe drove Chester Webers beautiful pair of horses, winning the dressage and holding onto that lead throughout the rest of the competition. After winning the bronze medal in 2016 he finally took home the gold, with Karin Verhoeff taking home silver and Sven Stuyck bronze.
Photo: Louis Vannueten
European reserve Champion Edouard Simonet (archive photo) closed his first Belgian Championship with the gold medal. Dries Degrieck won silver, and thanks to Glenn Geerts fast marathon driving he moved up to take bronze.
Photo: Krisztina Horváth
Division Champions
In the single Heavy Horst division, Sofie Clerinx was victorious. In the para equestrian division the gold medal went to Freddy Soete and in the junior division it went to Justin Dessoy.
2* Champions
Alongside the Belgian Championships a two star international show was also organized. The single horse division was dominated by dutch drivers with Frank van der Vegt winning the division followed by Sabrina Melotti and Tonnie Cazemier.
Dirk Neerincx managed to stay in front of his only challenger Wolter van der Veen in the pair ponies and René Limpens won the four-in-hand pony division.
