28 September '25
Eoin Brennan and Augustus Z capture gold in seven-year-olds
© Sportfot
After honouring the World Champions of the five- and six-year-old horses, Sunday afternoon it was time for the ultimate finale of the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses 2025. In a thrilling final for the seven-year-olds, there was once again a great atmosphere around the Ratina Z Arena, where the audience was on the edge of their seats. After a spectacular jump-off, in which it remained exciting until the very last moment, the coveted World title once again went to Ireland, while a young Belgian rider made history with a unique performance that caused much enthusiasm in the stands.
As in the final for the six-year-olds, the best 40 combinations from the qualifiers earlier this week also appeared at the start of the seven-year-olds for this all-decisive final. The team led by course designer Bernard Mathy had again drawn up a masterful course of 1.45m high, resulting in a perfect number of jump-ff candidates. Indeed, out of 40 candidate winners, 10 combinations managed to stay clear and thus secure a place in the decisive jump-off.
Brennan shows guts and speed
In the jump-off, it was young Irish rider Eoin Brennan who claimed the lead with Zangersheide gelding Augustus Z, a son of Zangersheide figurehead Aganix du Seigneur Z and Vigo d'Arsouilles, bred by Eoin's father Tim Brennan. Brennan and Augustus Z turned out to be the only combination to clear the first line in six canter jumps instead of seven, after which they managed to keep that tight pace until the finish. With a lightning-fast time of 35.20 seconds, they secured victory and were crowned the new World Champions in the seven-year-olds.
"Me and my team could not be prouder of August Z", tells the winning rider Eoin Brennan. "There is actually quite a story behind August Z. We bred him ourselves at home. But when he was a three-year-old, he had an accident on the walker and suffered neurological problems. But thankfully he recovered and it never stopped him. His jump was always amazing and so we started to compete with him and he has always been an incredible horse for me! August Z has so much scope and I could follow my plan in the jump off and we are so glad with the result!"
Historic silver for 16-year-old Belgian
Another epic performance came in the name of young Belgian rider Niels van Rossem, who is barely 16 years old. Accompanied by the BWP gelding Speedy van Klapscheut (Chaiton F Z x Peppermill) from the van Rossem family's breeding, this up-and-coming talent showed nerves of steel. With an exceptionally well-ridden jump-off, he kept all the poles up and clocked off in 35.76 seconds, good for the silver that was received with loud cheers by the Belgian audience.
Bronze for France
The bronze medal went to French rider Thibault Thevenon and the Selle Français stallion ICI et la Courcelle (Cocktail de Talma x Kashmir van Schuttershof - Breeder: Yves Chauvin), who also finished 3rd in the second qualifier on Friday. As the very last combination at the start, they made an ultimate attempt to beat the top two, but their time of 36.61 seconds proved just not sharp enough, leaving them on the third step of the podium.
Strong performance in the top five
4th place was reserved for Irish rider Leah Stack, who was the first in the jump-off with the Zangersheide gelding Aggie van de Start Z(Aganix du Seigneur Z x Cooperfield von der Held - Breeder: Jan Vanalken). She finished clear in 37.89 seconds, setting the tone for an exciting jump-off. Her compatriot Niamh McEvoy followed in 5th place with the Irish-bred stallion Boleybawn Alvaro(Dominator 2000 Z x Crown Z - Breeder: Mr Ronan Rothwell). In 36.41 seconds they managed to put the third fastest time on the scoreboard, but four faults kept McEvoy from a second podium place.
Click here for the results.