25 February '26
Belgian riders make their mark on opening day of 'The Zangersheide International'
© Sportfot
The fourth edition of 'The Zangersheide International' officially kicked off at Opglabbeek's Sentower Park this afternoon. Until Sunday, the Limburg accommodation will once again be the setting for this unique event, where absolute top sport and breeding reinforce each other. Immediately on the opening day, three international classes were on the programme and in these, it was the Belgian riders who took the lead by leaving their mark on the sporting event with two resounding victories.
The opening day of this 2026 edition ended tonight with the 1.35m class of the CSI3* competition, in which a total of eighty-four combinations made their appearance in the ring. It was the Belgian combinations who managed to win this main class of the day with Liesje Vanderwegen as the overall winner. She counted on the 9-year-old grey mare Razzia-K Van 't Kattenheye (Arezzo VDL x Dakar VDL) for this class and managed to stay neatly clear in both the1st and2nd phases. The duo finished in 28.14 seconds in the2nd phase, outclassing other competitors.
But the other podium places in this class were also Belgian, with Steven Vermeir and the 8-year-old grey mare Crazy Music Royal Z (Clarimo ASK x Vigo d'Arsouilles - breeder: Kristof Wellekens) in2nd place. They too made a fine effort to take the title in this opening class, but their time of 28.55 seconds proved ultimately not sharp enough to knock Vanderwegen off the throne.
Limburger Michaël Vreys provided an integral Belgian podium by claiming 3rd place in the standings. He safely piloted the 10-year-old gelding Kornadsky d'Harduemont (Cornado II x Gangster de Longchamps) to the finish in 28.74 seconds.
Belgian podium
Before the start of this CSI3* competition, the riders of the CSI1* competition had already started their competition earlier in the day and there was some Belgian girlpower to be noted in it as well. In the 1.25m qualifier for the CSI1* Grand Prix, it was Lenthe Willems who jumped to victory with the 9-year-old mare Roza M (Dieu Merci Van T&L Z x Elvis Ter Putte). In a class against the clock, Willems finished in 58.82 seconds, thus ensuring another Belgian victory.
Willems also headed an integral Belgian podium with2nd place rider Robin Vermeir. The daughter of Wilm Vermeir and Karolien Bongaerts counted on the 8-year-old mare Sisley van de Hazenhoek (Malito de Reve x Echo Van 't Spievel), whom she piloted safe and sound to the finish in 58.96 seconds. The 3rd Belgian name on the podium this time was that of Wim Aegten. He was in the saddle of the 11-year-old mare Tofino A Z (Tsar Hero x President) and managed to reach the finish line in 59.02 seconds.
Cunningham first winner
The sporting programme of 'The Zangersheide International' traditionally started this afternoon with a 1.15m class of the CSI1* competition and in it, too, there was fierce competition right away. The top prize went to British rider Louie Cunningham and the 7-year-old gelding Orkney (Jumanji). After a clear2nd phase, they managed to stop the clock in 24.85 seconds, making them the first winners of the weekend.
Silver went to the Netherlands thanks to rider Dylara Peters and the also 7-year-old mare Off The Road (Comme Il Faut x Kannan). She finished in the2nd phase in 25.17 seconds, also making an excellent start to her competition. Belgian rider Charlotte Degeest closed the podium here in 3rd place. She crossed the finish line in 25.64 seconds in the2nd phase and could count on the 6-year-old mare Oralie van de Molen Z (Orak d'Hamwyck x Quabri de l'Isle - breeder: Kristof Engelen) to do so.