Lara de Liedekerke-Meier (BEL) and Tara Van Het Leliehof. Photo: FEI / Libby Law Photography.
Lara de Liedekerke-Meier (BEL) and Tara van het Leliehof claimed back-to-back titles at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Le Lion d’Angers (FRA), adding the seven-year-old crown to their six-year-old triumph of 2025.
The Belgian combination completed the CCI3*-L on their dressage score of 28.6, producing clear rounds in cross-country and jumping to secure a second successive championship victory.
In the six-year-old CCI2*-L, Ann-Catrin Bierlein (GER) celebrated a special victory with ACSI Daisy Dynamite, a mare bred by her grandfather, Dr Rolf Wilcken, whom she has known since birth. The pair finished on their dressage score of 29.4.
Tara van het Leliehof, a BWP mare by Pegase van’t Ruytershof out of Bonita van het Leliehof (by Major de la Cour), is owned and bred by Stal het Leliehof. Although De Liedekerke-Meier has bred and owned her own horses, she recognises that the relationship can be different with a horse owned by someone else.
“I have a super close relationship with Tara even though she is not a horse I bred or own,” said De Liedekerke-Meier. “She is one of the horses I respect the most because she’s so talented in the three disciplines. She has no weaknesses. That’s what is special with this horse; she is so clever that if you ride well to the fence, she will jump it clear. I was super proud. She’s quite special, and I do hope I can keep the ride.”
Lara de Liedekerke-Meier (BEL) and Tara Van Het Leliehof on cross country Saturday. Photo: FEI / Libby Law Photography.
De Liedekerke-Meier was under pressure to perform, with a clear jumping round needed to secure victory.
“Winning once is quite something and then coming here again, everyone is watching you and waiting for you to do well,” acknowledged De Liedekerke-Meier, who was making her 14th appearance at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships. “Obviously it was more pressure. I have been better at handling pressure, and I know how good the mare is. I wanted to do her justice. She is double world champion, which is quite nice.”
Hector Payne (GBR) and Bueno. Photo: FEI / Libby Law Photography.
Hector Payne (GBR) and Bueno, an AES gelding by Dante’s Junior out of Florina (by Alicante), owned by Caroline Primrose, finished second. They moved up from third place after a clear cross-country round and remained clear in jumping to finish on 29.0 penalties.
Third place went to Alexis Goury (FRA) and Jeroboam Wal, a Selle Français stallion by Vleut*GFE out of Urea (by Flyer). They shared first place after dressage on 28.6 penalties, but picked up 0.8 time penalties on cross-country before a clear jumping round left them on a final score of 29.4.
For the USA in the 7-year-old Championship, Holekamp/Turner Grant and Dutta Corp. Prize recipients Phillip Dutton and Darwinn (owned by Caroline Moran) jumped their way up into 11th to wrap up the weekend on a score of 34.2, finishing on their dressage score along with fellow Americans Hallie Coon and Tykillen Tango, who finished up 19th on a 37.7. Canada’s Mike Winter and Billy Debussy added a few seconds of time in Sunday’s show jumping but jumped clear to finish on a 50.9.
Ann-Catrin Bierlein (GER) and ACSI Daisy Dynamite. Photo: FEI / Libby Law Photography.
Ann-Catrin Bierlein and ACSI Daisy Dynamite, owned and bred by Dr Rolf Wilcken, won the six-year-old championship at CCI2*-L level on 29.4 penalties after staying clear through cross-country and jumping.
“It feels a bit surreal,” said Bierlein, who describes herself as a “semi-professional” rider who will soon work for the North Rhine-Westphalia high-performance equestrian sport teams. “I also had a bit of luck, which you always need to win. It’s a dream come true.”
Bierlein has known ACSI Daisy Dynamite since the mare’s birth on her grandparents’ farm. She even helped choose the horse’s name.
“She has this name for a reason,” said Bierlein of the Westphalian mare by Diacontinus out of Camilla (by Casall). “She’s super careful, and she has been jumping really, really well. At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t sure this would be her way, but you always have to see how they learn and what they will give you. We will all try and work hard to be here next year and for the next 20 years.”
Ann-Catrin Bierlein (GER) and ACSI Daisy Dynamite on cross country Saturday. Photo: FEI / Libby Law Photography.
Bierlein, a top U25 rider who earned a Team silver medal at the 2026 FEI U25 Eventing World Championships, was competing at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for the third time. She previously rode one of Daisy Dynamite’s half-sisters, also by Diacontinus, and has another five-year-old half-sister at home that she hopes to return with next year.
“No matter the results, the horses learn a lot here,” said Bierlein, who rode out of third-place finisher Kevin McNab’s stable this year. “It’s a really good test to see how they cope with the crowds and excitement. I hope we can come back next year.”
Second place went to Robin Godel (SUI) and Kosmic d’Elbe, a Selle Français gelding by Contendro out of Skalia de Lojou (by Caletto III), owned by Nicolas Caron. They accumulated just 0.4 time penalties in jumping after a clear cross-country round to finish on 31.3 penalties.
Kevin McNab (AUS) and Monbeg Kobe, an Irish Sport Horse gelding by HHS Cornet out of HHS Black Beauty (by Clintord), owned by Valentine Tourres, finished third. They also picked up 0.4 time penalties in jumping, adding to their dressage score of 31.0 to finish on 31.4 penalties.
FEI WBFSH Eventing World Championships for Young Horses (Le Lion d’Angers, France): [Website] [FEI Info Hub] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays – ClipMyHorse.TV] [Live Stream Replays – FEI YouTube]
