IRELAND has cemented its standing as a world-leading horse breeding and producing nation, after dominating the 2026 FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at Lanaken in Belgium by winning two of the three age categories.
Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy rode Easy Peasy Indebus Z to win the six-year-old title, while Waterford 16-year-old Sam Widger on Vintage van de Heyveldhoeve led an Irish one-two in the five-year-old race, followed by runner-up Clare's Coen Williams on the Irish Sport Horse gelding GLC Mr President. Numerous other Irish combinations were in the ribbons over the course of the weekend.
Niamh McEvoy and Easy Peasy Indebus Z won the six-year-old section of the 2026 FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at Lanaken in Belgium \ FEI/Hippo Foto Media - Dirk Caremans
Optimum accuracy
After qualifying classes on Thursday and Friday, Sunday was finals day and saw the five-year-old final being held first, with the 38 starters (including nine Irish combinations) jumping two rounds over a 1.25m track, being judged against an optimum time for the first time – which was set at 54 seconds. There was some excellent jumping displayed by these talented young horses and 15 combinations kept all the poles in place; these included six Irish pairs, four of whom finished in the top seven.
It was an Irish one-two, with the youngest rider at the competition winning the class - Widger may only be 16 years old, but he rode Vintage van de Heyveldhoeve, bred by Bert Stoop and owned by Gary Ryan and Ballypatrick Stables, with the skill and accuracy of someone much older, to stop the clock a mere 0.14 seconds from the optimum time to take the win and a World Championship title.
Early to go, Williams had held the lead with GLC Mr President (ISH) (Conthargos x Mullentine Good Friday by Untouchable 27), owned and bred by Gareth Cassidy, finishing just 0.18 from the optimum time only to be edged into the runner-up position by Widger. Belgian rider Rik Nauta rode Vazan Van Strijtem into third place, while McEvoy finished just off the podium in fourth with BP Bob Rock (ISH) (Rock ‘N Roll Ter Putte x Arraghbeg Clover by Captain Clover), bred by GBBS International Ltd and owned by Keith Ennis, (0.49) and Conan Wright on Ranfinity placed seventh (0.70).
Following his superb win, Widger said of his mount: “She is a very careful, scopey, blood type of mare, she is very good and fights for you when she gets into the ring.”
Easy peasy
The six-year-old final was up next, over a 1.35m course with a jump-off, and saw 20 of the 42 starters jumping clear in the first round to proceed to jump again, including seven Irish combinations. Eight of the 20 completed double clear rounds, including three Irish. McEvoy’s horse (Easy Peasy Indebus Z) certainly lived up to its name, making it look ‘easy peasy’, as their excellent clear jump-off round in 40.85 seconds could not be beaten and they took the six-year-old title. Angelique Bockmann (GER) rode the stallion Django Z to take the silver medal, while Emeric George (FRA) and Kelstar Derick took bronze.
Not resting on his laurels, Widger was back in contention again and finished a little over a second behind with BP Wishes (ISH) (Aganix du Seigneur x BP Masterpiece by Cruising) to place fourth in 41.86, followed by Jenny Rankin on Kassie Devine Z in fifth (43.54). Kian Dore on Olga d’Ecaussinnes also claimed a top-10 finish when clocking the fastest jump-off time of 40.22, but picking up an unlucky four faults in the process to place ninth.
There were 41 starters (including six Irish pairs) in the seven-year-old final, a 1.45m jump-off class, with 13 jumping clear in the first round for a chance to jump again. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for the Irish contingent in this class and none of them got through to the jump-off.
It was a Dutch one-two, with Roosje Brouwer on Elotte Z winning the class, ahead of Max van de Poll on Ortane in second, while Christian Ahlmann on Toemme de Regor Z completed the podium for Germany. There was success for Irish breeding, when Jude Burgess (GBR) rode the Irish Sport Horse mare Galwaybay Esmerelda (Emerald x Galwaybay Winebreaker M by Mermus R), bred by Justin Burke, into fourth place - just missing a podium position.
Sam Widger with Vintage van de Heyveldhoeve at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship For Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium \ Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
Qualifiers
The first qualifiers in each of the age categories took place on Thursday. The seven-year-olds took on a 1.40m two-phase track and the top eight included three Irish combinations - Conan Wright placed fifth and sixth with I’m Special Bella GB and Oliva P respectively, followed by McEvoy on Rosconnell Tango in eighth.
In the first qualifier for six-year-olds, a two-phase over a 1.30m track, there were four Irish combinations in the top seven. Lauren Adams took two podium positions, when winning the class on board Playboy ASJ and placing third on BP Le Tara. Emily Moloney rode Ukina into fifth place, while Jack Ryan on Isla Flight came seventh.
The five-year-olds jumped a 1.20m course and did not jump against the clock; there were a fantastic 12 Irish combinations among the 72 who jumped clear rounds.
Friday saw the second qualifiers being held and the seven-year-olds jumped a 1.40m speed class. Derry’s David Simpson took the win with Ocean and Max Foley rode HHS Lexington into sixth place.
The six-year-olds took on a 1.35m speed class and five Irish pairs finished in the top 10. McEvoy was best of these in second place with Doris VZ, also placing 10th with Easy Peasy Indebus Z, while Ethen Ahearne on BP Quarterback van T Veer was sixth, Ryan on Isla Flight was seventh and Stephen Gibbons rode Umbrillio van het Kapelhof into eighth place.
The five-year-olds saw another 1.20m course being set and, this time, 76 of these talented youngsters jumped without fault – once again including 12 Irish combinations.
Consolation classes
Saturday hosted consolation classes for each of the age groups. The 1.40m speed class for seven-year-olds saw Jessica Burke finish as best of the Irish in eighth place with Rial’s Varinjo. The class was won by Portugal’s Duarte Romao on Jalisca du Lirot.
Taylor Peare was best of the Irish contingent in the 1.30m speed class for the six-year-olds, when riding BP Indiana (ISH) (Mylord Carthago x Babel by Diamant De Semilly), bred by GBBS Int Ltd and owned by Liam Nichols and Catherine Burke, into fifth place.
Once again, the five-year-olds were faced with a 1.20m course, but were not timed. This time, 56 combinations jumped clear, including three Irish pairs – namely Tara Glynn and Pablo TG (ISH), Eddie Moloney and Alpha SRC (ISH) and Chloe Fagan and Derona HS Z.
At the end of an incredible weekend for Ireland, Irish Horse Board Director General Alison Corbally said: “Once again, Irish riders and Irish breeders have shown that Ireland really is at the forefront of sport horse breeding and production, with these outstanding performances at the world championships in Lanaken. Congratulations to Sam Widger, Coen Williams and Niamh McEvoy on their podium finishes and to all the Irish riders and breeders on their outstanding results throughout the week.”
Strong performances
Young horse show jumping team manager Taylor Vard said of Ireland’s performance over the weekend: “It is a massive achievement to come to these championships and to have horses in top form to compete consistently over the course of the week. Securing qualifying places is extremely difficult, with over 200 competitors in each of the five and seven-year-old sections and over 250 in the six-year-old qualifiers. Both the six- and seven-year-old qualifiers required strong performances each day, with the combined scores over the two days deciding the top 40 horses to qualify for the finals, while the five-year-olds had to jump a clear round both days to secure their place.
“Congratulations to all our medal-winning riders, to Sam and Coen for their gold and silver in the five-year-olds, and to Niamh for her gold in the six-year-olds. We had strong performances that didn’t make the medals - we hope to see them back next year. I’m looking forward to seeing all the five and six-year-olds develop over the winter, as we put plans together for 2027.
“Thank you to everyone who attended the show and offered supports where they could. We had a great team on the ground and there was great team spirit throughout the week.
“Thank you to Aisling McGreal and all the staff in Horse Sport Ireland that have given me full support throughout the year.”
Participation at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under National Breeding Services.