THE Gareth Cassidy-bred GLC Mr President became the latest in a now-lengthy line of medal-winning Irish Sport Horses at the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) championships.

By the well-represented sire Conthargos, GLC Mr President and the Banner County’s Coen Williams claimed the reserve champion title in Sunday morning’s five-year-old final.

This latest win now brings the tally of silver medals won by Irish Sport Horses at Lanaken to 11, and the pair join BP Othello (2025), Laurina and Boleybawn Alvaro (both in 2023), the most recent pair of silver medallists.

In a similar result to 2025, Benelux studbooks once again dominated the podium at these young horse show jumping championships, winning six individual medals in Sunday’s finals.

This tally included all three gold medal winners across the five, six and seven-year-old finals: Vintage van de Heyveldhoeve (BWP), Easy Peasy Indebus Z (ZANG) and Elotte Z (ZANG).

The IRL riders’ suffix also made headline news, with Sam Widger and Niamh McEvoy winning a gold apiece on Vintage van de Heyveldhoeve (BWP) and Easy Peasy Indebus Z (ZANG), underscoring the huge wealth and depth of talent in our young rider ranks.

Take the five-year-old final, where Irish riders 16-year-old Sam, Coen, Niamh (fourth with BP Bob Rock) and Conan Wright (seventh with the KWPN mare Ranfinity) accounted for 40% of the top-10 places.

The six-year-old final matched that number of next-generation riders, as Niamh and Sam swapped first and fourth places. Jennie Rankin finished fifth with Kassie Devine Z (ZANG) and Kian Dore placed ninth with Olga d’Ecaussines (sBs).

On the podium in the five-year-old section of the 2026 FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at Lanaken in Belgium were Coen Williams (second), Sam Widger (first) and Belgium’s Rik Nauta (third) \ FEI/Hippo Foto Media - Dirk Caremans

There were some hard luck stories too, as three Irish Sport Horses finished fourth in all age finals, one place away from joining the half-dozen ISH bronze medallists of previous years.

The in-form pair of Niamh McEvoy and Sam Widger finished fourth on the Ballypatrick home-bred stable companions BP Bob Rock (Rock n’Roll Ter Putte - Arraghbeg Clover, by Captain Clover) and BP Wishes (Aganix du Seigneur Z - BP Masterpiece, by Cruising) in their respective five and six-year-old championships.

Meanwhile, in the seven-year-old final, British rider Jude Burgess was also just outside the medals with the Justin Burke-bred Galwaybay Esmeralda (Emerald van’t Ruytershof - Galwaybay Winebreaker, by Mermus R).

Top 10

This trio, along with GLC Mr President, were the four top-10 placed Irish Sport Horses this year at Lanaken, where the number of ISH entries (31) matched that of the Oldenburg Springpferd (OS) studbook.

Diamant de Semilly bloodlines, including the stallion himself (22 offspring), were prominent amongst the entries. His son Emerald van’t Ruytershof had the most progeny competing at this year’s championships (24), including the six-year-old victor Easy Peasy Indebus Z.

The Converter I-sired Conthargos (21) also produced a medallist in GLC Mr President.

Another Diamant de Semilly son - Dominator 2000 Z - had 15 progeny, closely followed by the sire and son pair of Comme Il Faut and Cornet Obolensky (14 apiece).

Aganix du Seigneur Z, Eldorado van de Zeshoek and Nixon van’t Meulenhof were also popular covering choices (13), and Pegase van’t Ruytershof (12), by Comme Il Faut, completed this top 10.

Chacco Blue (11), Cornet Obolensky and Diamant de Semilly are near-retro sires now in many young horse pedigrees, often appearing in the third and fourth generations. Still, they made their presence felt yet again at Lanaken, although the challenge for global breeders is in finding the next successful outcross sires to these perennially-popular stallions.

The home-ground Zangersheide studbook had by far the most entries this year (165 horses), followed by the KWPN (95). The BWP is the second Belgian studbook to appear in the top three (81), followed by the Selle Français (46) and the ISH and OS studbooks in joint fifth place.

Rounding off the top-10 most-represented studbooks at these championships are the Anglo European Studbook (AES) with 26, Italy’s MASAF (23), then a pair of German studbooks: Westphalian (22) and Holsteiner (21).

So, with just under 5% of the WBFSH championship entries being Irish Sport Horses, another Lanaken medal upholds their strike rate and Gareth Cassidy (see Breeders’ 10 page 76) became the latest breeder recognised during the presentation ceremony.

The other Lanaken standout was the success and professionalism of young Irish riders, whether based here or on the continent, in producing results at these WBFSH championships. As mentioned last year, if there was a studbook award for the leading riders by participating countries’ head of population, even more gold medals would have come Ireland’s way.

Niamh McEvoy with Easy Peasy Indebus Z (IRL) during the finals at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship For Young Horses at Lanaken, Belgium \ Irish Eventing Times

ISH Lanaken roll of honour (2000 – 2026)

Gold

2010 – NLS Coole Al Clover (Aladatus Z – Laurel Lodge, by Clover Hill. Breeder: Brian Kenny).

2013 – Arraghbeg Clover (Captain Clover – Blidsworth Lion Queen, by Bonnie Prince. Breeder: Agata Leonard).

2016 – Killossery Kaiden (Lux Z – Killossery Kruisette, by Cruising. Breeder: Frank & Laura Glynn).

2017 – Columbcille Gipsy (Toulon – Gipsy III, by Grundyman. Breeder: Eamonn Murphy).

2018 – Uppercourt Cappuccino (Pacino – Uppercourt Posh, by OBOS Quality. Breeder: Paul O’Byrne).

2019 – Rockwell RC (Kannan – Urban Sea, by Guidam. Breeder: Ronan Byrne).

2019 – Cuffesgrange Cavadora (Wellie 72 – Cuffesgrange Cavalidam, by Luidam. Breeder: Eamonn Sheehan).

2022 – ABC Saving Grace (Kannan – Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser, by Cruising. Breeder: Pat Kehoe).

2022 – BP Goodfellas (Stakkato Gold – Goodwins Loyalty, by OBOS Quality. Breeder: Kevin Babington & GBBS Int. Ltd)

2023 – HHS Ocala (Urano de Cartigny – Hera van’t Roosakker, by Wandor van de Mispelaere. Breeder: Bravo Hughes Ltd.

2024 – HHS Mercedes. (Can Ya Makan – Chester Lass, by Couletto. Breeder: Bravo Hughes Ltd).

Silver

2001 – Master Ballinteskin (Master Imp – Cushinstown Glory, by Hail Titan. Breeder: Simon McCarthy).

2009 – Drumiller Lough (Heartbreaker – Pearl Diver, by Mountain Pearl. Breeder: Paul Dillon).

2014 – Ard Ginger Pop (Luidam Derrylea Grey Lady, by Cruising. Breeder: Heather Dean-Wright).

2015 – MHS Washington (OBOS Quality 004 – Mill Royale, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Ita Brennan).

2016 – Z Seven Caretina (Coltaire Z – Caretina, by Caretino. Breeder: Marion Hughes).

2018 – CSF Sir George (Sir Shutterfly – Norrira, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Shane Connolly).

2019 – MHS Cardenta (Cardento – Willow Point, by Diamond Serpent. Breeder: Tom Brennan).

2023 – Boleybawn Alvaro (Dominator 2000 Z – Arina, by Crown Z. Breeder: Ronan Rothwell).

2023 – Laurina (Stakkato Gold – Rincarina, by Cruising. Breeder: Noel Cawley).

2025 – BP Othello (H5 Ganesh Hero Z (ZANG) – Adelheid (KWPN), by Tygo (KWPN). Breeder: Ennisnag Stud).

2026 – GLC Mr President.

Bronze

2010 – Ballypatrick Mystique (Heritage Fortunus – Lady Ligustra, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Ita Brennan).

2016 – Z Seven Canya Dance (Can Ya Makan – HHS Chantilly Lace, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Anne Hughes).

2018 – HHS Vancouver (Indoctro – La Juanita, by Don Juan de la Bouverie. Breeder: Marion Hughes).

2023 – Ballyshan B F Super Hero (Celtic Hero B Z – Ballyshan Lux Important, by Lux Z. Breeder: Gary Doherty).

2024 – BP Royalty (Comme Il Faut – Goodwins Loyalty, by O.B.O.S Quality 004. Breeder: GBBS Int. Ltd).

2025 – Tysons Lady Lux (Tyson (KWPN) – Lux Brigade (ISH), by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: Shay Henson. Rider: Jason Foley (IRL).

Lanaken 2026 champions

Five-year-olds

Gold – Vintage van de Heyveldhoeve (BWP). Kasanova de la Pomme (BWP) – Nikita van de Heyveldhoeve (BWP), by Zazu (BWP). Breeder: Bert Stoop. Rider: Sam Widger (IRL).

Silver – GLC Mr President (ISH). Conthargos (OS) – Mullentine Good Friday (ISH) by Untouchable 27 (KWPN). Breeder: Gareth Cassidy. Rider: Coen Williams (IRL).

Bronze – Vazan van Strijdem (BWP). Cazan Z (ZANG) – Havanna van Strytem (BWP) – Saros van’t Gestelhof (BWP). Breeder: Marc & Kristof de Pauw. Rider: Rik Nauta (BEL).

Six-year-olds

Gold – Easy Peasy Indebus Z (ZANG). Emerald van’t Ruytershof (BWP) – Bumblebee Indebus Z (ZANG) by Baloubet du Rouet (SF). Breeder: Dennis van Tilburg BVBA & Jasmien Thiery. Rider: Niamh McEvoy (IRL).

Silver – Django Z (WESTF). Dourkhan Hero Z (ZANG) – Allianz (HOLST) by Captain Fire (HOLST). Breeder: George Sievert. Rider: Angelique Böckmann (GER).

Bronze – Kelstar Derick (SF). Mylord Carthago (SF) – Chelsea de Kreisker (SF), by Jarnac (SF). Breeder: Elevage de Rick. Rider: Emeric George (FRA).

Seven-year-olds

Gold – Elotte Z (ZANG). Eldorado van de Zeshoek (BWP) – Blackberry (KWPN) by Larino (KWPN). Breeder: Stal Everse. Rider: Roosje Brouwer (NED).

Silver – Ortane (KWPN). Balou du Rouet (OLD) – Polly (HOLST), by Quinar (HOLST). Breeder: D. Van der Linden & C. Van der Heijden. Rider: Max van de Poll (NED).

Bronze – Toémme de Regor Z (ZANG). Chacco Blue (MECKL) – Centa de Muze (BWP) by Cento (HOLST). Breeder: Familie Veldeman & Stal de Regor. Rider: Christian Ahlmann (GER).

By the numbers

€25,000 – gold medal prize money for Elotte Z in the seven-year-old final.

€12,500 – take-home pay for the six-year-old champion: Easy Peasy Indebus Z.

€3,750 – for the five-year-old winner Vintage van de Heyveldhoeve’s bank account.

621 – total number of entries in this year’s five, six and seven-year-old championships at Lanaken.

46 – countries represented by riders at this year’s championships.

38 – Irish riders among the Lanaken entries.

25 – years since the first Irish Sport Horse, Master Ballinteskin, won the first medal at these championships with Eddie Moloney.

11 – Lanaken gold medals won by Irish Sport Horses to date: NLS Coole Al Clover (2010), Arraghbeg Clover (2013), Killossery Kaiden (2016), Columbcille Gipsy (2017), Uppercourt Cappuccino (2018), Rockwell RC and Cuffesgrange Cavadora (2019), ABC Saving Grace and BP Goodfellas (2022), HHS Ocala (2023) and HHS Mercedes (2024).

4.99 – Just under 5% of the 2026 Lanaken entries represented the Irish Sport Horse studbook.

Three – Irish Sport Horses finished fourth this year, just outside the medals.

Two – Irish riders – Mikey Pender (second) and Niamh McEvoy (fourth) rank amongst the top-five Lanaken earners. The Irish pair are in premier division company, with Christian Ahlmann topping the leaderboard and two more top internationals, Katrin Eckermann (third) and Willem Greve (fifth), round out the top five.

One – of this summer’s World Championships individual medallist horses competed at Lanaken as a youngster – United Touch S. His best place was 101st with Willem Greve (NED) in the seven-year-old qualifier at the 2019 WBFSH championships.

Did you know?

  • The Williams brothers - Coen and Rhys - had seven horses to compete in Lanaken, including Coen’s silver medal horse. According to their mum, Paula, the friendship between the family and GLC Mr President’s owner-breeder, Gareth Cassidy, began when the boys and Gareth’s daughter Ellie-Rose were competing on the pony circuit. “They [Adrian and Gareth] met a decade ago at a show, got chatting and they’ve literally been best friends since.” The pair have often partnered over a horse, and Rhys, a breeding encyclopaedia like his father, has been another great support. “What a fantastic person to take a chance, give the boys the opportunity to ride the horses and then for Coen to win a medal. There are only nine medals given out, so it was great to get one. I’m proud of Adrian too. He’s always believed in doing it yourself, putting the hard work in and he made his own way. He searches morning, noon and night about horse breeding and Rhys eats, sleeps and drinks all that too! Not all horses are going to be superstars, but there’s great satisfaction in seeing all that time and effort start to come through.”
  • There’s a Williams link to the gold medallist Easy Peasy Indebus Z, as the Ennis family had bought him as a three-year-old before selling him on to Ballypatrick Stables. “Easy Peasy was here for about two and a half years. Both our boys, Rhys and Coen, went to Belgium - Rhys was at Jos Lansink’s and Coen was over with Ivan Dalton. They weren’t here to bring him any further, so he was sold to Greg Broderick.”
  • One of Rhys’s two Lanaken horses - Codex Girl van Twelve Oaks Z (Codex One Z) - is a half-sister to the family’s Playboy JT Z (Presley Boy - Prada JT Z, by Plot Blue). He was sold to Charlotte Jacobs (USA). Coincidentally, the pair placed fifth in the American Gold Cup at Traverse City last Sunday, one place ahead of Greya (Kent Farrington) and with James Kann Cruz (Shane Sweetnam) as runner-up.
  • More Lanaken connections, as stateside action last Sunday saw De La Pop AF Z (Diamant de Semilly - Ard Ginger Pop) and Ailish Cunniffe place fifth in the 1.45m Grand Prix at Salem, won by Darragh Kenny and Pearl Gem VDM. Ard Ginger Pop (Luidam) won a silver medal in the Lanaken five-year-old final 12 years ago with Sweden’s Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli and was bred by Heather Dean-Wright. She was another proud mum after Lanaken, as Dutch-based son Conan had five horses competing there. He scored seven top-10 places throughout the qualifying competitions, including seventh place in the five-year-old final with Ranfinity (Heartbreaker x L’Arc de Triomphe).
  • Arraghbeg Clover (Captain Clover), won the five-year-old final with Greg Broderick in 2013 and is the dam of two Lanaken horses: BP Lucky Clover (Mylord Carthago) and BP Lucky Bob, both ridden by Lanaken specialist, Niamh McEvoy.
  • Bertram Allen’s Qonquest de Rigo (BWP. Fantomas de Muze - Daymika, by Indoctro. Breeder: Ulrik Goossens), recently sold to Swiss under-25s rider Géraldine Straumann, finished 10th in the Lanaken seven-year-old consolation class with Belgian rider Tom Verduyn in 2023.
  • From 57 starters, the 11-year-old KWPN stallion Kaiser DMH (VDL Cardento - Preciosa, by Concerto. Breeder: E. Berkhof Paarden BV) won this year’s Sires of the World final. The Carmel Ryan-bred Creme de la Creme Z (ZANG. Cornet Obolensky - Cara Mia Z, by Carthago Z) placed 12th for Italy’s Filippo Tabarini. Best of the Irish riders was Denis Lynch aboard 15th-placed Mr Newman (BWP. RMG Cadeau de Muze - Fragance de Chalus, by Jalisco B).
  • One eye-catching name on the Sires of the World start list was Liscalgot (Coltaire Z - Liberace, by Libertino. Breeder: Coudelaria Sobreiro Velho LDA). No relation to Dermott Lennon’s 2001 World Championship gold medal partner, as it turns out; instead, the Portuguese Sport Horse stallion’s only Irish connection is his rider Ciaran Dreeling. Liscalgot’s fourth dam Aroma produced Shane Breen’s 1.60m horse Can Ya Makan, the sire of Lanaken gold and bronze medallists, HHS Mercedes (2024) and Z Seven Canya Dance (2016).
  • Cocoshynsky (WESTF. Cornet Obolensky - Penelope, by Popcorn. Breeder: Dieter Meier) is another familiar name amongst this year’s Lanaken start lists. Dublin Horse Show-goers may remember her winning the 1.60m CityJet Serpentine Speed Stakes at Dublin 11 years ago with Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano. The dam of two Lanaken offspring this year, her Crack Balou daughter Candy Crack G won last week’s opening seven-year-old qualifier.