In Lanaken werd zonet de laatste finale van het wereldkampioenschap gesprongen: die voor 7-jarige paarden. De combinaties kregen een pittig basisparcours voorgeschoteld waarin voor de toegestane tijd een issue bleek te zijn. Verschillende ruiters moesten risico's nemen om binnen de tijd te finishen. Dit resulteerde in een barrage met slechts vier combinaties.
Italian rider Antonio Campanelli was the first to start. He rode the Baloubet du Rouet daughter Divina very fast through the jump-off (41.12 seconds) but also got two jumping faults behind his name. Dominque Hendrickx was the next to start. The former Belgian champion in the saddle of Etundel de Marocy (by Diamant de Semilly) could not keep the zero either. He finished in 41.28 seconds and only with one jumping fault. At that moment, Gilles Thomas and Harm Lahde knew what they had to do: if they could jump clear, they were on the podium anyway.
Harm Lahde, however, decided not to play it safe with Just A Dream (by VDL Zirocco Blue). He immediately went all out to set a good time and succeeded in doing so! He clocked in 39.30 seconds and did it without any faults. Gilles Thomas was the only rider who stood between Lahde and the world title. He rode Comghorla van Beek (by Comme Il Faut) clear, but did not manage to improve on Lahde's time. However, he still managed to secure a great second place.
Olivier Philippaerts finished fifth. Riding Odiena van Berimar (by Kannan), he was able to clear all the fences in the basic round, but got one point for time. This resulted in a fifth place after all.
Italian rider Antonio Campanelli was the first to start. He rode the Baloubet du Rouet daughter Divina very fast through the jump-off (41.12 seconds) but also got two jumping faults behind his name. Dominque Hendrickx was the next to start. The former Belgian champion in the saddle of Etundel de Marocy (by Diamant de Semilly) could not keep the zero either. He finished in 41.28 seconds and only with one jumping fault. At that moment, Gilles Thomas and Harm Lahde knew what they had to do: if they could jump clear, they were on the podium anyway.
Harm Lahde, however, decided not to play it safe with Just A Dream (by VDL Zirocco Blue). He immediately went all out to set a good time and succeeded in doing so! He clocked in 39.30 seconds and did it without any faults. Gilles Thomas was the only rider who stood between Lahde and the world title. He rode Comghorla van Beek (by Comme Il Faut) clear, but did not manage to improve on Lahde's time. However, he still managed to secure a great second place.
Olivier Philippaerts finished fifth. Riding Odiena van Berimar (by Kannan), he was able to clear all the fences in the basic round, but got one point for time. This resulted in a fifth place after all.