Press release from Zangersheide, edited by World of Showjumping

The FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses 2025 in Lanaken, Belgium, concluded with a thrilling final for the seven-year-old horses. After a spectacular jump-off, in which the excitement remained until the very last moment, the coveted World-title once again went to Ireland, while a young Belgian made history with a unique performance that caused much enthusiasm in the stands.

As in the final for the six-year-olds, the best 40 horse-and-rider combinations from the qualifiers earlier this week appeared at the start of the final for the seven-year-olds. The expert team led by course designer Bernard Mathy had drawn up a masterful course of 1.45m, resulting in a perfect number for the jump-off: Out of 40 pairs, ten combinations managed to stay clear and thus secure a place in the decisive jump-off.

In the blistering jump-off, it was young Irish rider Eoin Brennan who claimed the lead with the Zangersheide-gelding Augustus Z, a son of Zangersheide figurehead Aganix du Seigneur Z and Vigo d'Arsouilles, bred by Eoin's father Tim Brennan. Brennan and Augustus Z were the only combination to clear the first line in six strides instead of seven, after which they managed to keep a tight pace until the finish. With a lightning-fast time of 35.20 seconds, they secured victory and were crowned World Champions.

"Me and my team could not be prouder of August Z,” Eoin Brennan said. "There is actually quite a story behind August. We bred him ourselves at home. But when he was a three-year-old, he had an accident on the walker and suffered neurological problems. Thankfully he recovered and it never stopped him. His jump was always amazing and so we started to compete with him and he has always been an incredible horse for me! August Z has so much scope and I could follow my plan in the jump-off and we are so glad with the result!"

Young Belgian Niels van Rossem, 16, and the BWP-gelding Speedy van Klapscheut (Chaiton F Z x Peppermill, bred by the van Rossem-family) claimed silver and were received with loud cheers by the Belgian audience. The bronze medal went to Thibault Thevenon (FRA) and the Selle Français-stallion ICI et la Courcelle (Cocktail de Talma x Kashmir van Schuttershof, bred by Yves Chauvin), who also finished third in the second qualifier on Friday. As the very last combination at start, they made an ultimate attempt to threaten the top two, but their time of 36.61 seconds proved just not sharp enough, leaving them on the third step of the podium.

The fourth place went to Irish rider Leah Stack, who was the first in the jump-off with the Zangersheide-gelding Aggie van de Start Z (Aganix du Seigneur Z x Cooperfield von der Held, bred by Jan Vanalken). Her compatriot Niamh McEvoy followed in fifth place with the Irish-bred stallion Boleybawn Alvaro (Dominator 2000 Z x Crown Z, bred by Mr Ronan Rothwell). In 36.41 seconds they managed to put the third fastest time on the scoreboard, but a mistake on the way kept McEvoy from a second podium place.