Strong British performances headline CDI Opglabbeek

British riders enjoyed a wealth of success at CDI Opglabbeek (27 October – 1 November), with Frost, Fry and Cawley all producing impressive performances at Sentower Park in Belgium. Matt Frost continued his meteoric rise on the international stage, while Lottie Fry celebrated a standout Grand Prix debut at international level on her young stallion. Lily Cawley delivered a string of top ten results in the Junior ranks, highlighting another encouraging week for British combinations competing against some of Europe's strongest fields.

© Eurodressage

Matt Frost carried on his spectacular achievements from this season with Keeva Dedicoat’s ten-year-old mare Lenika (Foreign Affair x Lord Sinclair). This pair only made their international debut at the Hartpury CDI back in July where they secured a hattrick result. They were subsequently crowned the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Supreme Champions at the LeMieux National Championships in September and attended the Future Elite Championships that were held in early October at the Horse of the Year Show, where they finished fourth. Last week, however, this formidable duo traveled to Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium for the mare’s second CDI1* competition, where they competed against some of the top combinations in Europe, producing two podium finishes, and one fourth place result. Starting of the week strong, Matt finished in third place in the Prix St Georges on 69.853% in front of judges Patricia Wolters (H – NED), Thomas Kessler (C – GER) and Christine Prip (B – DEN). This class was won by Poland’s Sandra Sysojeva with Jewel Star, who scored 72.500%, and Belgium’s Suraya Hendrikx finished in second with Benicia on 71.127%.

The following day the pair finished fourth in the Intermediate I on 69.314% in front of judges Olivier Smeets (H – BEL), Janine Van Twist (C – NED) and Christine Prip (B – DEN), with Sysojeva and Hendrikx claiming the top two spots once again. In the Intermediate I Freestyle to Music, Matt and Lenika made a strong conclusion to their campaign with a sensational second place on 73.275% in front of judges Carlos Lopes (H – POR), Paula Nysten (C – FIN) and Oliver Smeets (B – BEL), where they achieved a super artistic score of 76.467%, and a technical score of 70.083%. Sharing his thanks to his team via social media, Matt posted “Lenika was brilliant… thanks to the whole team for all the hard work to get us here, and to Chris and Keeva Fox for this opportunity.” The class was once again won by Sandra Sysojeva with Jewel Star, and Belgium’s Sally Jacobs completed the podium lineup on Monamie.

Lottie Fry competed in both the CDI1* alongside Matt and in the 3* competition. In the 3* Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, Van Olst Horses’ Nalegro (Painted Black x Negro) made a memorable international debut at this level, as Lottie piloted the young stallion to finish in fourth and second place on 67.674% and 69.256%. The combination finished just 0.2% off the podium in the Grand Prix in front of judges Patricia Wolters (E – NED), Cesar Torrente (H – COL), Christine Prip (C – DEN), Carlos Lopes (M – POR) and Olivier Smeets (B – BEL). In 2023 and 2024, Nalegro was selected to compete in the FEI World Breeding Championships in the five- and six-year-old divisions, where he qualified for the final on both occasions. Reflecting on international debut at this level, Van Olst Horses shared via Instagram that “He was very eager during the Grand Prix, which occasionally manifested as some tension – though he certainly does not lack power or ability. In the Grand Prix Special, the pair stepped it up a notch, finishing in second place”. Alongside Nalegro, Lottie also Van Olst Horses’ Jayson (Glock’s Johnson x Negro) and her own and Van Olst Horses’ Niksmismee VK (Everdale x Exquis Vivaldi) in the CDI1*, where both horses competed in the Prix St Georges, finishing 19th and 12th respectively.

Junior rider Lily Cawley took two horses to Belgium, Kate Cawley’s Damon’s Dan Farrington (Damon Hill x Florencio I) and Quimbaya NRW (Quartertime x Samarant). Lily achieved three top ten finishes on Damon’s Dan Farrington, finishing fourth, tenth and seventh in the Junior Team, Individual and Freestyle competition. The pair scored 67.475% in the Team test in front of judges Freddy Leyman (H – BEL), Paula Nysten (C – FIN) and Sandy Phillips (B – GBR), and the class was won by Italy’s Matteo Borghesi with Incognito on 71.263%. They then went on to generate another consistent score of 66.912% in the individual test in front of judges Knut Danzberg (H – GER), Sandy Phillips (C – GBR) and Olivier Smeets (B – BEL). This result led to Lily qualifying for the Sunday’s Freestyle competition, where she produced another strong result of 69.775%, including earning 71.800% for her artistic mark in front of judges Olivier Smeets (H – BEL), Cesar Torrente (C – COL) and Patricia Wolters (B – NED). Aboard Lily’s other ride Quimbaya NRW, Lily finished 14th in the Team test and 18th in the Individual in the combination’s first overseas CDI.

Congratulations go to the riders, grooms, owners and the whole team involved as we look forward to the remaining international fixtures of 2026.

Results – top three and British riders

Thursday 29 October

3* Grand Prix

1. Jeroen Devroe and Jackpot, 70.174% (BEL)

2. Nadine Capellmann and Antonia, 184 68.956% (GER)

3. Camille Judet Cheret and Donaustern, 12 67.891% (FRA)

4. Charlotte Fry and Nalegro, 67.674% (GBR)

Junior Team Test

1. Matteo Borghesi and Incognito, 71.263% (ITA)

2. Matteo Borghesi and Alkaline, 70.707% (ITA)

3. Féline Verreet and Liviah Diar, 68.889% (BEL)

4. Lily Cawley and Damon's Dan Farrington, 67.475% (GBR)

14. Lily Cawley and Quimbaya NRW, 63.232% (GBR)

Friday 30 October

3* Grand Prix Special

1. Jeroen Devroe and Jackpot, 70.532% (BEL)

2. Charlotte Fry and Nalegro, 69.256% (GBR)

3. Camille Judet Cheret and Donaustern 12, 69.000% (FRA)

Junior Individual

1. Matteo Borghesi and Alkaline, 72.549% (ITA)

2. Matteo Borghesi and Incognito, 70.882% (ITA)

3. Esmae Niessen and Florado M, 70.294% (NED)

10. Lily Cawley and Damon's Dan Farrington, 66.912% (GBR)

18. Lily Cawley and Quimbaya NRW, 60.931% (GBR)

1* Prix St Georges

1. Sandra Sysojeva and Jewel Star, 72.500% (POL)

2. Suraya Hendrikx and Benicia, 71.127% (BEL)

3. Matt Frost and Lenika, 69.853% (GBR)

12. Charlotte Fry and Niksmismee VK, 65.490% (GBR)

19. Charlotte Fry and Jayson, 63.431% (GBR)

Saturday 31 October

1* Intermediate I

1. Sandra Sysojeva and Jewel Star, 72.598% (POL)

2. Suraya Hendrikx and Benicia, 71.127% (BEL)

3. Sally Jacobs and Monamie, 70.147% (BEL)

4. Matt Frost and Lenika, 69.314% (GBR)

Sunday 1 November

Junior Freestyle to Music

1. Matilde Manzato and Napoli Royal, 73.650% (ITA)

2. Sophie Evers and Edmar D, 73.009% (NED)

3. Amélie Willem and Glendale vd Kempenhoeve, 71.975% (BEL)

7. Lily Cawley and Damon's Dan Farrington, 69.775% (GBR)

1* Intermediate I Freestyle to Music

1. Sandra Sysojeva and Jewel Star, 77.317% (POL)

2. Matt Frost and Lenika, 73.275% (GBR)

3. Sally Jacobs and Monamie, 73.159% (BEL)

FULL RESULTS