Text © World of Showjumping

Gilles Thomas (BEL) and the 9-year-old mare Lavanoche T&L Z (Lavallino Ter Klomp x Bentley van de Heffinck) won Sunday morning’s CSI5* 1.50m Borek Prize at the 2025-edition of The Dutch Masters in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.

The top twelve from the 31 horse-and-rider combinations at start advanced to the winning round, where Thomas and Lavanoche T&L Z posted the winning time, clearing the fences in 35.09 and taking the top honours ahead of Annelies Vorsselmans (BEL) and Trezeguet (Turmalin 1202 x Chairman LS La Silla) in second in 35.36. Lillie Keenan (USA) and Opium JW van de Moerhoeve TN (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) placed third in 35.52, followed by Mel Thijssen (NED) on Juice (Tyson x Carambole) in fourth in 35.85 and Pieter Devos (BEL) aboard Lente (Grandorado TN x Iroko) in fifth in 37.25.

“I had her at the Sunshine Tour and jumped three weeks there,” Thomas told World of Showjumping about his 9-year-old Lavanoche. “She actually jumped her first 1.50m there and won it. In total, she jumped three 1.50m classes there and won all of them, and this was her first 1.50m indoors – and she won again. That is quite a good record. She has always been a very competitive horse and I think she can start to step up this year. My late draw in the list today was for sure an advantage, and for the winning round, I knew that she is so quick that I just need to ride my own round.”