It started in the mid 90s that the now 18-year-old Hannelore Volders became an active competitor on the Belgian Dressage Scene. She began at FEI Pony level with her chubby white gelding Prins Farid but quickly got a new, better pony from her grand parents in order to fulfil the dreams of every pony dressage rider in Europe: The European Championships. Aboard Arastou "S", Volders claimed several national victories and did well at CDI-P competitions throughout Europe, but never was she able to claim a European medal or national gold. Although Arastou "S" certainly did not lack quality and brilliance, it simply never shone gold. In 1998, she got Belgian silver and in 1999 she ended up fourth at the Belgian Pony Championships.

In 2000, Volders made the transition to the junior riders' division and acquired the Hanoverian gelding Giovanni 48 (by Graphit) as her partner-in-crime. Although trained by Giovanni's former owner, the Germany Sabine Rueben, Volders and the liver chestnut did not click and he was sold to the United States at the end of the season.

However, 2001 has definitely been Volders' turning point in equestrian success. Her new trainer Wim Verwimp found the KWPN gelding Jakko in the Netherlands and Volders immediaitely scored with this elegant bay Chronos descendant. All junior riders' selection trials were a piece of cake for her and the pair even won a series of classes at CDI-JR competitions all over Europe. At the European Junior Riders' Championships in Iserlohn, Volders and Jakko ended 9th individually and were the best Belgian combination at the event.

Jakko continued to make dreams come true and at the 2001 Belgian Championships, Volders scored 67,37% and 68,38%, creating a total of 135,75% which easily gave her her very first, important, gold medal.

The silver medal went to Valerie Verellen, last year's gold medallist. Aboard the Hanoverian Wise Guy van de Zuuthoeve (by Weltmeyer) she scored 65,54% and 65,73% and got a 131,27 points total. Verellen, who is located with her own training stable in Wiekevorst, Belgium, is also trained by Wim Verwimp.

The bronze medal went to new comer Arnaud Reper who appeared first on the Belgian show scene in May. Reper is a typical product of the pushed junior rider on the schoolmaster. Reper only started riding three years ago, got into an exceptional junior rider horse this year and is being launched into the circuit under the professional guidance of former Belgian Grand Prix champion Arlette Holsters. Reper's Fortissimo was acquired by Holsters at the CHIO Sales in Aachen in the late 90s and she showed him through the Belgian Young Horse Circuit to Prix St Georges level. Now, Reper is taking over the reins and with success. Fortissimo is a real star that can establish a great appearance in the ring, but the communication disturbances between Reper and the horse are too often visible. Nevertheless, Reper is an upcoming talent and with Fortissimo he will definitely become a leading member in the Belgian Junior Riders team next year.

Next page of the 2001 Belgian Dressage Championships' Report