Stal Hendrix competition crowns its champions

17 July 2026

The 2026 Stal Hendrix Competition came to an exciting conclusion at Peelbergen Equestrian Centre, where the season’s most promising young show jumping horses returned to contest the finals after five qualifying rounds held across Limburg and Brabant. Developed as a platform to nurture the sport’s future stars, the competition has become one of the Netherlands’ leading young horse series, with the 30 highest-ranked horses in each age category earning a place in the final. Bringing together the best four, five and six-year-old horses, the competition once again demonstrated the exceptional quality of the next generation of Dutch sport horses.

Designed to provide valuable arena experience in a competitive yet educational environment, the series also offers breeders, owners and scouts the opportunity to identify young horses with the potential to progress to the highest levels of the sport.

The four-year-old section was judged by respected horsemen Ruben Romp and Jens Baackmann, assessing horses on their natural jumping ability and technique. Meanwhile, the five and six-year-old classes were contested in a two-phase special format, rewarding carefulness and consistency.

Across all three age categories, points accumulated throughout the qualifying rounds determined the overall series standings. For the four-year-olds, each horse’s best three results counted towards the final league table, while the five and six-year-olds accumulated points from their best four performances. The qualifying competitions were held on both sand and grass arenas and were hosted at Koningsbosch, Asten, Sevenum, Kessel and Meerlo before the season concluded at Peelbergen.

Following a superb season, the overall series winners were:

4-Year-Olds

  • 1st: Con Berlin TU (Conthargos) ridden by Anika Kuhn
  • 2nd: Alex’s Triple Trouble Z (Aganix du Seigneur) ridden by Emmely Van Pol
  • 3rd: Sidam (Ipsthar) ridden by Mandy Deurloo

5-Year-Olds

  • 1st: Rising Aranix (Aganix du Seigneur ) ridden by Kristian Houwen
  • 2nd: Dreamer vh Bergerhof Z (Diamant de Semilly) ridden by Jeroen Blomen
  • 3rd: Dorien de Rock 1 (Dominator 2000 Z) ridden by Jeroen Scheepers

6-Year-Olds

  • 1st: Duel Mood Z (Duel de HSP) ridden by Britt Driessen
  • 2nd: Uricana Grace Z (Uricas vd Kattevennen) ridden by Britt Driessen
  • 3rd: Premier VM (Emerald van’t Ruytershof) ridden by Kristian Houwen

Con Berlin TU, by Conthargosand ridden by Anika Kuhn, secured the overall four-year-old title following a consistently impressive campaign. Bred by Terhoeven Urselmans, the talented youngster produced strong performances throughout the qualifying rounds before impressing the judges with his athleticism, scope and technique. Alex’s Triple Trouble Z, ridden by Emmely van Pol, finished second overall after also claiming victory in the Meerlo qualifier, while the careful Sidam, ridden by Mandy Deurloo, completed the podium after a strong series and a third-place finish in Kessel.

Having won the four-year-old championship last season, Kristian Houwen and the KWPN-approved stallion Rising Aranix, bred and owned by Rising Stud, returned to claim this year’s five-year-old title. After winning the Meerlo qualifier earlier in the season, the Aganix du Seigneur son once again demonstrated the consistency, scope and quality that have made him one of the competition’s standout young stallions. Dreamer vh Bergerhof Z, ridden by Jeroen Blomen, finished second overall after producing consistent results through the series, while Dorien de Rock 1, winner of the Asten qualifier under Jeroen Scheepers, completed the podium third.

The six-year-old championship showcased a memorable finish for Britt Driessen, who claimed both first and second place overall. Her homebred Duel Mood Z secured the title following three podium finishes across the series, while Uricana Grace Z, last year’s five-year-old champion, continued her impressive progression by finishing runner-up after also producing three podium finishes and winning the first competition in Koningsbosch. Kristian Houwen rounded off the podium with Premier VM after a consistently impressive campaign, highlighted by an impressive double-clear in the final.

Year after year, the Stal Hendrix Competition continues to underline the importance of investing in young horses and providing them with the right opportunities to develop. Many graduates of the series have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of the sport, reinforcing the competition’s reputation as one of the Netherlands’ most respected pathways for emerging show jumping talent.