Philippaerts, Merschformann, Haunhorst, Morssinkhof, Wachman – there certainly wasn’t a lack of famous names in the Young Riders Tour in the battle for the NetAachen-Prize 2024. In the end, it was an 18-year-old aspiring Dutch rider, who perhaps not that many people of heard of, who won, but this probably won’t be the case for long.

“I simply wanted to put in a nice round. But my horse is simply fast and loves galloping. And of course, that is definitely possible here,” the 18-year-old Siebe Leemans said about his commanding victory after his debut appearance at der Aachener Soers. Shortly before he had been crowned as Dutch Champion of the Young Riders. He nevertheless commented humbly: “The fact that I am here now is to an extent due to luck and a lot of support.” Leemans comes from not far from Eindhoven and trains with his father. The horse that carried him to victory today, is the nine-year-old KWPN mare, Karamella, whose sire, Plot Blue, jumped many a sensational round at the CHIO under Marcus Ehning in the past. Reaching the finish line in a time of 68.17 seconds she and Leemans left their 19 fellow competitors trailing behind them.

Second place went to the Irish rider, Tom Wachman, who had the pleasure of watching his trainer, Cian O’Connor, jump to victory in the Mercedes-Benz Nations’ Cup yesterday. He had saddled the Luidam daughter, Obora’s Laura, and they took 69.57 seconds to master the course. Skye Morssinkhof, who also comes from the Netherlands, came third with Oui d’Emma (70.53).

Tom Wachman has already won team European Championship titles in the Pony and Junior classifications. He additionally claimed silver at the U18 European Championships in Gorla Minore, Italy, last year. Skye Morssinkhof won bronze at the European Championships of the Young Riders in 2023, also in Gorla Minore. Siebe Leemans is looking forward to competing at his first Young Riders European Championships this year.