For the second time in a row, the Belgian Dressage Championships were organized by the Duke of Newcastle Dressage Club at Het Azelhof in Lier, Belgium, October 19 - 21, 2001. The championships included battles for the national title between pony, junior, young riders, Prix St Georges riders (Flanders Open) and Grand Prix riders. Furthermore, the Finals of the Classic Circuit for Young Dressage Horses and a special competition between the best LRV and KBRSF young horses were held in Lier in conjunction with the traditional championships.

The facility, which received many complaints last year, was renovated for the 2001 edition of the Belgian Dressage Weekend. The new, soft footing in the large indoor arena was a relief to many riders and horses and with a large audience packed in the stands, the 2001 Belgian Dressage Championships had all the ingredients to become a successful event.

In the end, all title hopefuls rose to their expectations and there were no real surprises in the distribution of the medals at the end of this three-day event. The judging was quite consistent (with a few burps excluded by the Italian Vincenzo Truppa in the pony classes and by the Belgian judges) and one can say that all winners deserved their title. The clinic with Ulla Salzgeber and her students Peschel and Fischer were the absolute highlight of the weekend. Salzgeber competed in Dusseldorf that same day but still made herself available for this unique clinic in Belgium. Afterwards, she donated clinic fee to the Prince Laurent foundation which offers money for the research of special equine diseases at the University of Ghent.

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