After the stages in Warsaw, Poznań and Łódź, it was time for the grand finale of the Perlage CAVALIADA Tour in Kraków. At Tauron Arena, from 26 February to 1 March, 195 athletes and nearly 300 horses competed in four equestrian disciplines, and the fight for valuable points and victory in each category was exceptionally fierce. We summarise the final leg of the series and the results of Perlage CAVALIADA Tour, Perlage CAVALIADA Future, Apart Dressage Tour, Respect Energy Open Tour, CAVALIADA Eventing Tour and CAVALIADA Driving Tour.

The semi-final of this prestigious series was held on Friday in the Big Tour competition for the prize of the Marshal of the Małopolska Region and under the patronage of Baborówko Equestrian Association. Eight pairs out of 44 competing qualified to the jump-off – four from Germany, two from Poland, and one each from the Netherlands and Lithuania. Michael Kölz set the bar almost under the roof of Tauron Arena, stopping the clock at 35.43 seconds, and no one managed to beat his result. Second place went to another German, Magnus Schmidt on Carl Gustav 7, while the Top 3 was completed, with one knockdown, by Poland’s Marek Lewicki riding the stallion Quadis II.

"I feel great, I’m very proud of my horse," said the winner. "I had a good feeling this week and the horse is in great shape. Two years ago I was also in the jump-off here and I was second. Today I decided to try a bit harder and I finished with a win. It’s a very nice show, and the audiences give us a great feeling and it’s a lot of fun to be here!”

Marek Lewicki moved into the lead of the Perlage CAVALIADA Tour standings ahead of Sunday’s final with 57 points. Maksymilian Wechta dropped to second place with 51 points, and Germany’s Harm Lahde was third with 41 points.

Thirty-seven combinations from 12 countries competed in the Perlage CAVALIADA Tour Grand Prix of Kraków, for the prize of Perlage and under the patronage of the Mayor of the City of Kraków. The course in the first round of this final was very demanding – technical challenges concentrated in the second half of the track caused many faults, and ultimately only two combinations qualified for the jump-off. Repeating his triumph from Łódź a month ago was four-time Polish champion Jarosław Skrzyczyński riding Komboy. Hungary’s Péter Szuhai finished second with one rail down on Corbluecenta, and Roel Holthuizen of the Netherlands completed the Top 3 with one time penalty in the first round riding Carlson W 3. Antoni Strzałkowski placed fourth with Castello (one time penalty), and Marek Lewicki was fifth riding Quadis II (two time penalties).

In the battle for overall victory in the Perlage CAVALIADA Tour, consistency and maintaining top form – both for rider and horse – across all four stages in Warsaw, Poznań, Łódź and the final in Kraków proved crucial. This season’s overall winner was Polish representative Marek Lewicki. Although he did not win any of the stages, he consistently placed among the top five in the Tour competitions. He was second in Warsaw, fourth in Łódź, third in Friday’s competition in Kraków, and fifth place in Sunday’s Perlage CAVALADA Tour Grand Prix secured his overall triumph in the Tour with a total of 87 points.

“It’s an incredible feeling. I would like to thank the organisers for holding such events in our country, my beloved family for their support, and of course the best CAVALIADA audience!” said Lewicki.

Jarosław Skrzyczyński finished in second place with 76 points, and Hungary’s Péter Szuhai was third with 69 points.

The Grand Prix was also the final of the Central European League of the World Cup. Tickets to the World Cup Final, which will take place in April in Fort Worth, Texas, were secured by Péter Szuhai, Latvia’s Kristaps Neretnieks and Turkey’s Necmi Eren.

In the final competition of the Perlage CAVALIADA Future Mini category, all eight starting combinations qualified for the jump-off. Nell Klupś won riding Pasjonata Parys, Helena Lubońska was second with S-Piorun, and Nina Wiercioch finished third riding Holista Lasek.

At the top of the overall 2025/2026 standings was Nell Klupś, who won six competitions this season. Second place went to Helena Lubońska of KJ Podkowa Gruszczyn, and third to Otylia Reimann of KJ Reimann Team Kołobrzeg.

In the Midi category final, seven of the eight starting combinations qualified for the jump-off, and Zuzanna Sasin rode to victory on Juultje. Amelia Marszałek was second with Heeterveen’s Julia’s Luna, and Bianka Pellowska riding Corbinian – third.

Bianka Pellowska was the overall winner of the Perlage CAVALIADA Future Midi category. Konstancja Dziedzińska of KJ Infernal Team Golesze Duże finished in second place, and Zuzanna Sasin completed the Top 3.

In the final Respect Energy competition in the Bronze category, for the prize of Respect Energy and under the patronage of TVP Sport, the winner was Maja Głoskowska riding Atos. Right behind her was Ignacy Luboński with Mariposa, and Natalia Bodziarczyk with Passier P finished third.

In the overall standings of the entire Tour, Ignacy Luboński stood on the top step of the podium with 97 points. Maja Głoskowska placed second (89 points), and Julia Banasik – third (73).

The Silver category final, for the Respect Energy prize under the patronage of the Małopolska Equestrian Association, ended with a victory for Hanna Kosińska on Lot. Second place went to Wiktoria Legierska on Krekwakwou C, and third to Hungary’s Lili Puskás on Charmer.

The winner of this category for the season was Hanna Kosińska, who collected 90 points. With 86 points, Szymon Cieślak finished second, and Julia Tybulczuk stood on the lowest step of the podium with 85 points.

Aleksandra Lewicka on Narthago VDL won the final competition of the Gold category, for the prize of Respect Energy and under the patronage of the Małopolska Equestrian Association. Hubert Prasek on Bueno L placed second, and Izabela Bandura on the gelding Goos was third.

Aleksandra Lewicka was also the best in the final classification of this category with 105 points. With 95 points, Hubert Prasek finished second, and Maria Glonek was third, having collected 94 points after the stages in Warsaw, Poznań, Łódź, and Kraków.

The battle in the final stages among the best eventing riders was very intense. On Thursday, the first round of the competition for the prize of the National Support Centre for Agriculture brought several surprises, including a mistake from the leader Mathies Rüder, which ruled him out of contention for victory in the decisive second round, to which the best six advanced. Ultimately, Lithuania’s Aistis Vitkauskas won riding Commander VG, Joanna Pawlak was second on Armin de Monsieur, and Hanna Pogodzińska finished third with Chips.

In Friday’s final – for the prize of Grupa MTP and under the patronage of the Mayor of Kraków – emotions reached their peak. The course was demanding, but the riders delivered excellent performances – the audience in Tauron Arena witnessed seven clear rounds and two with only time penalties. In the second round, the 2022 Junior European Champion, Germany’s Mathies Rüder on Hjoptimus, proved best, sealing his overall victory in the 2025/2026 series.

"It’s a pleasure to ride at CAVALIADA, all the shows are amazing, it’s a lot of fun to be here. The audiences are amazing and give us a lot of support. Thank you to the organizers – they have done a brilliant job with these events and I’m already looking forward to coming back," said the rider.

Joanna Pawlak riding Fantastic Frieda finished second both in the competition and the overall Tour standings. Daria Kobiernik on Ideal Girl completed the Top 3 in the final competition, while Aistis Vitkauskas stood on the lowest step of the overall CAVALIADA Eventing Tour podium.

The dressage competitions took place at Tauron Arena on Thursday and Saturday. In the semi-final, Germany’s Lena Hassmann on Doc-Holliday 3 received the highest marks from the judges. Poland’s Marcin Woldański was second with Poker Face, and Lithuania’s Justina Vanagaite-Samuile third riding Phoenix van de Kempenhoeve.

In Saturday’s Freestyle to Music final, Lena Hassmann once again proved best. Ilona Janas from Poland was second with Heracles, and Denmark’s Helene Stenshoj Vitkauskas riding Flintegardens Papillon took home the podium for third.

After the stages in Warsaw, Poznań, Łódź and the Kraków final, the overall winner of the Apart Dressage Tour was Paris Olympian Justina Vanagaite-Samuile of Lithuania with 53 points, having won six of the eight competitions in the series. Following strong final performances, Lena Hassmann finished second overall with 52 points, and Ilona Janas completed the Top 3 with 46 points.

Point differences in this category were minimal before the final, and reigning Polish champion Aleksander Fularczyk arrived in Kraków in excellent form with his groom Filip Nowacki and his top horses Neptun and Nuta. Fularczyk won both competitions in Kraków and, after a Sunday fault from previous leader Bartosz Klupś, stood on the top step of the overall Tour podium.

"This is a huge success for me. This Tour was special– we decided to take on a new challenge and used different horses in the first two stages. We knew that if we had some mistakes way, we would have a chance to come back with my two top horses, which have been fantastic here," said Fularczyk. "The cheering of the crowd helped us the most; they carried us through it!”

Fularczyk won the Tour with 64 points. Six points behind in second place was the married duo of Joanna and Rafał Paszyński, and third was the youngest driver in the field – 17-year-old Bartosz Klupś.

In Saturday’s competition for the prize of Raitech, Bartosz Klupś was second with Koczis and Kros-GJ, with Kacper Mosiek as his groom. Rafał and Joanna Paszyński completed the Top 3 with Ikar and Cynamon. In Sunday’s competition for the prize of Bawaria Motors, the Paszyńskis finished second, and Hungary’s Péter Juhász with Neapolitano and Weltissimo completed the Top 3.

These were four days of wonderful sporting competition with packed stands, full of excitement, unforgettable rounds and a fantastic atmosphere, which once again showed how unique the Perlage CAVALIADA Tour equestrian series is.

Organizer: GRUPA MTP | Titular partner: PERLAGE | Strategic partners: DOLINA NOTECI, RESPECT ENERGY | Host city: KRAKÓW |Partners: MINISTRY OF SPORT AND TOURISM, MAŁOPOLSKA VOIVODESHIP, POLISH EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION