Belgium Fields a Strong Mix of Youth and Experience

Thibeau Spits, Emilie Conter, Jos Verlooy, and Gregory Wathelet will represent Belgium. For Spits, this marks his third appearance wearing the iconic red jacket.

“A testament to the consistency of this young talent,” says the Royal Belgian Equestrian Federation. “Emilie Conter is also relatively new at this level, but with the seasoned support of Jos Verlooy and Gregory Wathelet, we’re confident in our chances.”
Belgium currently sits fifth in the standings.

Host Nation the Netherlands Relies on Experience

Dutch team manager Wout-Jan van der Schans has also revealed his lineup. He defends his selection, saying, “These riders have shown in recent weeks that they and their horses are in top form. Harrie, Maikel, and Kim performed brilliantly in Cannes, with Harrie and Monaco’s Grand Prix win being a standout moment. Grandorado has also proven with Willem that he’s returned to great form after his break.”

The Dutch team will consist of Kim Emmen, Willem Greve, Harrie Smolders, and Maikel van der Vleuten. The Netherlands is currently ranked eighth.

Ireland Sticks with a Winning Formula

Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance Manager, Michael Blake, has confirmed that Ireland will field the same team that triumphed at the CSIO5* Nations Cup in La Baule.

Bertram Allen, Seamus Hughes Kennedy, Cian O'Connor, and Tom Wachman will compete for Ireland. The team currently holds second place in the rankings.
“We have no intention of giving up that position,” the federation stated confidently.