As is tradition, the leaderboard at the World Championships for Young Eventing Horses in Le Lion d’Angers, France, was thoroughly reshuffled during the final phase of this multi-day event, the show jumping. Noa W delivered a fantastic performance in the very competitive seven-year-old class and even secured a place on the podium.

Noa W (Baltic VDL out of Gucretia by Indoctro, bred by G. Wierts from Emmen), ridden by Irishman Ian Cassells, stood in 32nd place after dressage but climbed impressively to seventh following a brilliant cross-country round. In the demanding final show jumping phase, Noa W left all the poles up and, with only a minor time penalty, Ian was able to step onto the podium and receive the bronze medal at the end of the competition.

Clear Round
The damline of Noa W has produced several successful sport horses, including Bucretia (s.Sidney), a 4* eventing horse out of the performance mare Tucretia (s.Osmium). Fifth place today went to MBF Party Time (Emir R out of Jaloma by Zapatero VDL, bred by A.H. Müller from Odoorn). Born as Nature E, this grey performed exceptionally well with Cosby Green from the United States, completing the show jumping phase clear and inside the time.

Less Fortunate
Less successful today was Nice King, now competing under the name Ayrton Senna (Comme Prévu out of Heaven Angel reg. A by Callahan VDL, bred by S.A.M. Egbergen from Valthermond). After the first two phases, the pair stood in an excellent sixth place with British rider Jack Pinkney, but three downed rails and sometime penalties dropped them to 21st. In the six-year-old class, Orlando (Haynes GH out of Eline ster pref by Arezzo VDL, bred by R.J.M. Schoenaker from Rutten) and Italian rider Andrea Cincinnati made a good attempt at improving their standing, but the course proved just a bit too challenging this time.

GJ for KWPN
Photo Noa W: Hippofoto.be