Nina Mallevaey (Photo © Hans-Joachim Reiner, reitsportportal.com)

Henders & Hazel Nations Cup presented by STX Finance

France dominates, Belgium strong runner-up once again

At the Brussels Stephex Masters, Belgium secured a strong second place in the CSIO5* Henders & Hazel Nations Cup, presented by STX Finance, just like last year. France proved untouchable with a total of only 4 penalties, Belgium followed with 9, and Switzerland, last year’s winners, completed the podium with 12.
For France, a new generation of young stars rose to the occasion. Nina Mallevaey (Dynastie de Beaufour), just 25 years old, is already French Champion and leads the U25 world ranking. Alongside her, 24-year-old Jeanne Sadran (Dexter de Kerglenn), former employer and close friend of Mallevaey, showed her class. Antoine Ermann (Floyd des Pres), also 24, grew up in his family’s breeding stables and only competed in his second CSIO5* Nations Cup here in Brussels. Ermann and Mallevaey both delivered double clear rounds, while Sadran only dropped a rail in the second round. Adding to the team’s backbone was nearly 60-year-old Roger Yves Bost, the experienced anchor. Out of all competitors, only five riders managed to jump double clear, and France delivered two of them.

That such a young team could win the Henders & Hazel Nations Cup, presented by STX Finance, so convincingly was explained by Chef d’Equipe Edouard Couperie as a result of their talent and their recent European Championship experience:

“That was a valuable learning curve for
the three youngsters. We finished
seventh there and they took a lot from it.
The proof was on show here at the
Brussels Stephex Masters. The horses
have the quality, the riders the talent –
and now also the experience. In the
Belgian Nations Cup, they were
rewarded for it.”