Julien Epaillard dominates in a thrilling CSI3* Grand Prix

What a fantastic denouement of 'The Zangersheide International' 2026! After five days in which sport and breeding flowed seamlessly together, the event reached its sporting apotheosis today with a thrilling CSI3* Grand Prix Studbook Zangersheide. The audience, who turned up in large numbers, was treated one last time to spectacle and absolute top-class sport, where the tension remained palpable until the very last moment.

Just under sixty combinations appeared in the Sentower Park this afternoon for this 1.50m Grand Prix, in which the level was truly sky-high! Of the fifty-seven contenders, no fewer than nineteen were successful in the nevertheless spirited basic run by Raphaël Suarez and his team, thus qualifying for the ultimate jump-off. And it turned out to be a jump-off to lick your fingers and thumbs off, competing at the cutting edge. After a sensational denouement, it was Frenchman Julien Epaillard who, like Friday's qualifier, finally unleashed his devils and took the top prize. Accompanied by his top 13-year-old Donatello d'Auge (Jarnac x Hello Pierville), he put in a masterful round and with a finishing time of 33.49 seconds he managed to outclass the competition once again.

However, things got particularly exciting towards the end of the jump-off, as the penultimate starter was Swedish rider Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli. Together with her 12-year-old chestnut gelding Tipperary (Arko III x Diamant de Semilly), she made an ultimate attempt to snatch victory, but her finishing time of 33.71 seconds was ultimately just not sharp enough to knock the French speed demon off the throne.

The bronze in this CSI3* Grand Prix remained in Belgian hands thanks to former Belgian Champion Gilles Thomas and the 11-year-old grey gelding Chuck Marienshof Z (Colestus x Emerald van 't Ruytershof - breeder: Stal Mariernshof), with whom he has been in blood form on several occasions in recent weeks and months. Thomas and Chuck Marienshof Z entered the ring just ahead of Epaillard and Donatello d'Auge and managed to put a time of 34.68 seconds on the scoreboard after a clear round.

Besides the CSI3* Grand Prix, there was of course a second Grand Prix on the programme on this final day of 'The Zangersheide International'. Indeed, a little after the clock of 11.00h we could enjoy the CSI1* Grand Prix, in which a total of fifty-three combinations took their chances. Of these, fourteen managed to keep their cool in the 1.35m long basic round to secure a place in the decisive jump-off. In that 14-strong jump-off, it was the Belgian riders who dominated with the winner being Christophe Boden. As one of the last combinations at the start, Boden sent the 12-year-old mare Omanka-A (Cardento VDL x Corland VDL) safe and sound to the finish line in 37.78 seconds, claiming the top prize.

For the riders and amazons of the three-star competition, this afternoon's concluding Grand Prix was of course the focal point, but by morning glory they were also expected in the ring this morning for a 1.45m class. In it, they again jumped a 2-phase special with Polish rider Przemyslaw Konopacki as the overall winner. Saddled by the 9-year-old chestnut gelding Modesto (Zirocco Blue VDL x Bubalu VDL), Konopacki kept all the bars neatly in the reels in both the^1st and^2nd phases, and with a finishing time of 28.15 seconds he ensured a convincing morning victory.