The first stage of the CAVALIADA Tour 2024–2025 has come to an end. More than 150 riders and 300 horses from 19 countries competed over four days at the Central Sports Center Torwar in Warsaw. A total of 25 competitions were held. The best Polish and international riders from around the world competed in four different disciplines. In the most important competition of CAVALIADA Warsaw – the PKO Bank Polski Grand Prix, the Dutch rider Dennis van den Brink was unbeatable.

The PKO Bank Polski Grand Prix gathered 50 riders from 19 countries at start. As the competition counted not only for the world rankings but also for the Central European League of the World Cup, the course was very challenging. Obstacles up to 160 cm, a very difficult route, unconventional lines, and a rather demanding time limit meant that only five pairs managed a faultless round. The riders competed in a very exciting jump-off. It was won by Dennis van den Brink on AONIA DOMAIN, representing the Netherlands, who already demonstrated excellent form on Friday in the world-ranking competition. Thus, the Dutchman became the first leader of the CAVALIADA Tour this season.

– “It was a tough competition; there were a few big oxers from tight approaches. At the end of the course, there was also a double combination, which caused many errors,” Dennis said after the competition.

– “Unfortunately, I won’t be in Poznań, but maybe I’ll visit Kraków. Warsaw is very beautiful. Every evening, the audience gathers in large numbers, and their cheering is wonderful. It’s a great pleasure to be a rider and feel the support of the spectators,” added the Dutchman.

A big surprise for the Polish audience was brought by Wojciech Wojcianiec on ALIEAN ZIN’GALERIANI, who took second place on the podium in the Grand Prix. Wojcianiec is a rider who has won such competitions before, but he recently changed stables, has new horses, and today brought a Polish-bred horse to such a level as to achieve a double clear round in a three-star international competition.

– “ALIEAN ZIN’GALERIANI tackled such a difficult competition for the first time, and he really performed incredibly well. He has tremendous potential; I hope his career will be very promising. I trust this horse; he jumped phenomenally today. There were some nerves; with young horses, anything can happen. We will also appear in Poznań,” Wojciech Wojcianiec declared.

Taking risks with the fast pace set by the Dutchman, the remaining riders in the jump-off – Michael Kölz, Harm Lahde, and Erika Lickhammer-Van Helmond – made errors and thus had to settle for third, fourth, and fifth places, respectively. Among the Poles, Mściwój Kiecoń on CICERO performed very well, taking seventh place after one rail down in the main round. Krzysztof Ludwiczak, on the very young eight-year-old CHACNEZZA PS, also had one fault and finished in 15th place.

In Sunday’s Last Chance (135 cm) competition for the award of the Warsaw-Mazovia Equestrian Association, the winner was Poland’s Marek Lewicki on QUADIS II. Second place went to Hannes Ahlmann with CIMAROSA 4, while third place was taken by Kristaps Neretnieks with CINDERELLA CECE.

In the CAVALIADA Future Mini category, Helena Lubońska with S-PIORUN dominated, winning both Saturday’s and Sunday’s rounds. Second place in the second stage went to Paulina Stawiarska with TANGO, and third to Blanka Pellowska with PASJONATA PARYS.

In Sunday’s Midi category competition, the winner was Oliwia Leboda on CLOGHEEN TOO HOT, followed by Lena Janaszczyk on CHIPPENDALE in second place and Milena Rąbca on RÓŻA in third. Lena Janaszczyk and Maja Głoskowska now share the lead in the CAVALIADA Future rankings.

During CAVALIADA Warsaw, three competitions were held that counted towards both the world rankings and the CAVALIADA Tour rankings. One of the highlights was the Big Round competition (140 cm) for the Grupa MTP Award, which served as the first qualifier for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Lithuania’s reigning champion Matas Petraitis on CORNET'S COULD emerged victorious. The competition was very tight, with Germany’s Harm Lahde on KINGSTON DE L’EAU Z finishing second by just 0.2 seconds. Third place went to the Dutchman Leon Thijssen on LECHINTO ST GHYVAN Z, who missed second place by less than a second. The highest-ranked Polish pair was Mściwój Kiecoń on EYDA L.

The Medium Round Final (145 cm), also part of the Longines Rankings and sponsored by Respect Energy, was won by Ireland’s Diarmuid Howley on the gray ABSOLUTE DU MIO. The jump-off was incredibly close, with Germany's Robin Naeve on CASALIA R finishing just 0.6 seconds behind to claim second place. Third place went to Lesley Wulff on CAPALONA, only 0.8 seconds behind the winner. The best Polish result came from Mściwój Kiecoń, who took seventh place on the seven- year-old EYDA L. The jump-off also featured Maksymilian Wechta on ELDORADO and Marek Lewicki on QUAID CASIO, who finished ninth and tenth, respectively.

In the competitions held as part of CAVALIADA Warsaw, riders and horses showcased the highest level of performance, offering the audience the chance to admire both the precision and spectacle of equestrian sports.

In the Apart Dressage Tour, Sandra Sysojeva on FOUND BOY triumphed twice, impressing both the audience and judges with high scores and taking the lead in the Apart Dressage Tour rankings.

– “Found Boy was very calm and happy; he felt at home. This is already his second CAVALIADA,” said Olympian Sandra Sysojeva.

– “CAVALIADA is such a lovely, incredible event. This is my seventh year attending, and I always want to come back,” she added.

In the CAVALIADA Eventing Tour, Paweł Warszawski on FUERTA was unbeatable in both stages, held on Friday and Saturday. Representing the Baborówko Equestrian Association, he left no chances for his rivals and now leads the general classification.

– “I was the last to go, so I saw the competition was very fast. As in the main competition, there were many surprises and errors from riders you wouldn’t expect them from. The jump-off was very fast, which is mainly thanks to Fuerta – I just guided her,” said Paweł Warszawski during Thursday’s interview.

– “Her story is very interesting. She doesn’t have extensive experience in eventing, not because she isn’t fast but because she lacks other predispositions. She has a place of honor in our stable and waits just for CAVALIADA events.”

Sunday marked the end of the second stage of the Bavaria Motors Driving Tour, sponsored by Bavaria Motors, which was once again dominated by Aleksander Fularczyk. Second place went to Czech rider Jaroslav Jurań, while third place was taken by Bartosz Klupś, the youngest competitor at just sixteen years old.

Friday ended with the dynamic Speed & Music competition (135 cm), sponsored by the City of Warsaw. Riders competed against the clock, accompanied by energetic music, which added extra sparkle to the event. The winner was Michael Kölz on LEXIE GREY, completing the course in record time. Second place went to Anna Stasiak on CON CORDIA, and third to Damian Ostręga on FELINE. 

Saturday evening brought great excitement in the Puissance competition for the Marshal of the Mazovia Voivodeship Award, under the patronage of Polish Radio. The fight for the highest jump was fierce, but the final round did not determine a single winner. In the last round, three riders incurred faults. According to the rules, when no additional jump-off is possible, the competition ends in a tie.The winners of the Warsaw High Jump competition were Theodore Boris and KAYAK, Marvin Jungel and JOLIE LAFEE, and My Relander and IPSYLON.

Organizer: Grupa MTP
Main Sponsor: PKO Bank Polski
Strategic Partner: Respect Energy
Host City: Warsaw
Partner: Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship
Photos: Kamila Tworkowska