Dinja van Liere from Uden became Dutch champion in the Light Tour on Sunday. The dressage amazon started the second part as a favorite, the Kür to music, because she already won the Grand Prix Special on Saturday. Later in the day she also finished with Hermès first in the so -called Heavy Tour. With the para dressage, Rixt van der Horst from Someren took the gold medal.
The Dutch championships were held this weekend in Ermelo. Van Liere also took gold last year and in 2022.
The 34-year-old Udense was the last to come in the ring for her kür to music on Sunday. In the saddle of Mauro Turfhorst, she achieved a score of 81.35 percent and was more than ahead of the competition.
In the last part, Van Liere had saddled her top horse Hermès for the first time since the Paris Olympic Games (last year). During the summer games she achieved a solid performance in the country competition.
‘Very proud’
“Super cool!” Is her response afterwards in a press release from the Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation (KNHS). “Mauro was really fantastic in the Light Tour. And Hermès is of course Hermès. He really ran very relaxed here, he did not have been with it for a while, but of course I know what he can. I am incredibly proud, on both horses.”
Earlier this season Van Liere won a World Cup competition in Mechelen, Belgium.
Also with the para dressage it was upstairs during the NK Brabant. Rixt van der Horst won both the first and second part. The Amazon from Someren was a strong combination with Eisma’s Royal Fonq Nop, a 10-year stallion. Last September Van der Horst was good for three silver medals at the Paralympic Games.
‘Fantastic Weekend’
Rixt van der Horst was also overjoyed with her title: “It was a fantastic weekend, I drove the way I always do. The first day we already started very strong and we were able to finish it in the Kür.”
The performance at the Dutch Championships are also used for the composition of the national teams that will participate in the European Championship in September.