BELGIUM’S Justin Verboomen experienced a week of ‘nearly’ at Aachen, after a fourth place in the team competition and the same in Saturday evening’s Grand Prix Freestyle at the FEI Dressage World Championships. His final test with Zonik Plus was the best one they performed over the course of the week, but even a score of 88.439% could not prevent the final three competitors overtaking him to claim podium positions and medal glory.

Lottie Fry and Glamourdale entered the arena immediately after the Belgian duo, and they had captivated the crowd before they even turned down the centre line when their music began with Fry’s own voiceover imposed on the Vengaboys’ ‘We’re going to Ibiza’.