The curtain has risen on the CSIO Nations Cup Youth Final 2025, and the very first day already delivered thrilling sport and international flair. From the very first classes it was clear that Team USA had come to Lier with determination, as they secured top rankings in both the Junior and Young Rider categories, while France impressed in the Pony division.
Juniors 1m40: flawless American kick-off
The Junior team of the United States opened their campaign in style. With a faultless performance and a combined time of 221.74 seconds, they secured first place in the CSIOJ-NC-Y 1m40. Sweden followed closely behind with another clean sheet (0/228.96), while Germany claimed third place (0/229.72).
Young Riders 1m45: a nail-biter to the finish
The CSIOY-NC-Y 1m45 provided one of the most exciting contests of the day. Once again, Team USA topped the leaderboard, clocking 201.40 seconds to take the lead. The battle for second place came down to the hundredths: Italy finished second (0/210.82), while Belgium thrilled the home crowd by clinching third place with just two hundredths of a second more (0/210.84).
Anne Kursinski, chef d’equipe of the USA, expressed her delight after a stellar opening day: “Team USA had a great first day. I am very proud of our horses and riders performances! It is always exciting to bring our Jr and YR teams over here to compete with the top athletes in the sport! We are thankful to the organizers for holding such a special Championship! We look forward to more great Final this week!”
Ponies 1m25: French finesse
The Pony division had a different storyline, with France rising to the occasion. Delivering a smooth and stylish round in 216.84 seconds, they captured a top ranking in the CSIOP-NC-Y 1m25. Great Britain took second place with another clear effort (0/218.64), while Sweden secured third place despite a single jumping fault (4/213.85).
Children 1m25: Denmark leads the way
In the Children’s division, Denmark delivered a superb performance to claim first place with a faultless total of 0/223.10. The Netherlands followed in second (0/227.41), while the Czech Republic secured third (0/230.40). Germany finished just outside the podium in fourth (0/230.60), underlining the close competition in this category.
Looking ahead
With decisive results in the Junior and Young Rider divisions, Team USA has set the pace early in the championship. However, strong performances from France, Italy, Sweden, Germany and Denmark underline that the battle for the Nations Cup Youth Final is far from decided. The coming days at the Azelhof promise top-level competition as teams fight for the coveted title. Tomorrow marks the decisive second qualifying round, where every performance counts. Scores will be combined with day one, and the top six will compete in Sunday’s final. The other teams will compete in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.
