CDIO Lier took place in Belgium over the weekend, with Australian riders Warwick McLean and William Matthew competing in the CDIO4* Big Tour classes. Unusually warm spring weather presented a challenge, however both riders achieved personal best scores with their young Grand Prix horses across both the Grand Prix and Special tests.
Warwick McLean and 10-year-old KWPN gelding Le Special (Grey Flanell x Sir Oldenburg) scored 68.196% in the CDIO4* Grand Prix, a result that marked a new personal best for the combination and also gave them an FEI World Championship MER and Australian qualifying score.
As per Equestrian Australia’s selection policy, to be eligible for selection combinations must be consistently achieving scores approaching or exceeding 68% in at least two Grand Prix tests at CDI3* or above. The scores must be obtained at events where there is at least one Level 4 judge on the ground jury, of a nationality other than the athlete. As has always been the case, this score is higher than the FEI Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) of 66%.
It was Le Special’s third CDI Grand Prix test to date, and the result was all the more remarkable given the gelding was involved in multi-vehicle truck collision while travelling to the 2026 CDI Munich in Germany a little over a week ago.
In the CDIO4* Grand Prix Special, Warwick and Le Special scored 67.787% – another personal best result.
Olympian William Matthew and 11-year-old chestnut Oldenburg mare Faye 43 (Fuerst Heinrich x Aljano 2) also achieved a personal best CDI Grand Prix score and FEI MER, with the combination awarded 67.087% in the CDIO4* Grand Prix. It was the mare’s fifth international Grand Prix start, and in her last four occasions the marks have improved at each outing.
In the CDIO4* Grand Prix Special, Will and Faye scored 66.830% for another personal best.
Although Australia was unable to field a team following the withdrawal of Olympian Lyndal Oatley and Forever Young HRH due to injury, it was great to see solid and improving results from both young Grand Prix horses.
The CDIO4* Grand Prix ultimately went to Zonik Plus and Justin Verboomen on 80.391%, with the Belgian combination also claiming the CDIO4* Grand Prix Freestyle on 90.015%.
The CDIO4* Grand Prix Special went to Belgium’s Wim Verwimp and Jedai de Massa on 73.107%.
CDI1* Small Tour
Warwick McLean also rode Abtwald’s Goetterfunke in the CDI1* Small Tour, scoring 67.177% for 12th place in the Prix St Georges and 66.176% for 17th place in the Inter I from a big field of over 40 combinations.
Both classes were won by Belgium’s Suraya Hendrikx and Benicia on 71.118% and 70.794%.
Belgium claims CDIO4* Nations Cup
Belgium completed a successful defence of its 2025 Nations Cup title Saturday, capturing a win on home soil for the second year in a row in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup of Lier.
A year ago, the event marked the first ever dressage Nations Cup event held in the country, and the competition celebrated the growth of the sport for the nation, with a flourishing field of eight countries lining up for Nations Cup competition in 2026. The result, however remained the same.
Led by Chef d’Equipe Jeroen van Lent, the four-rider squad of Wim Verwimp (Jedai de Massa), Charlotte Defalque (First-Step Valentin), Larissa Pauluis (Flambeau), and Justin Verboomen (Zonik Plus) finished on a total score of 225.543. Great Britain secured runner-up honours (213.391), followed by Germany (211.804).
“It is incredibly important to have shows like this. To repeat the victory from last year here at home is amazing,” van Lent said. “These riders continue making history for Belgian dressage, and that honestly makes my job as chef d’equipe quite easy.”
Defalque, Pauluis and Verboomen were all members of 2025’s winning squad, and on that occasion Verboomen made his Nations Cup debut with his exciting (then 9-year-old) stallion, Zonik Plus, leading the team with a personal best score of 78.543%. The effort ultimately foreshadowed a tremendous season for the combination, and this year they are unquestionably at the forefront of Belgian dressage, with Zonik Plus ranked among the top three dressage horses in the World. The pair anchored Lier’s 2026 team with a score of 80.391% in the CDIO4* Grand Prix test, receiving marks of 9.5 for their pirouettes – a month after recording another personal best of 83.500% in the Nations Cup at Fontainebleau, France.
“I was a little stressed before my test today because of the weather conditions, but we tried to adapt where possible. We were lucky to warm up indoors. Zonik Plus is a horse full of surprises,” Verboomen said. “Not everything went exactly as planned, but I’m really proud of the result and also of the entire team.”
There was less pressure on Verboomen this year, though. A Belgium victory was secured before he even cantered down centerline, thanks to the strong performances put in by Paulius (73.522%), Verwimp (71.630%), and Defalque (69.848%).
“I’m very proud to be on this team and very proud of the progression this team has had. Today you could see that with Charlotte and Wim as well,” said Paulius, who delivered a fluid, harmonious test with Flambeau, her partner from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. “This was probably the best Grand Prix I have ever ridden with Flambeau. It was the first time he felt this relaxed and easy to ride in the ring. That felt really special.”
It was also a rewarding day for Verwimp, who in addition to competing, served as the competition’s event director.
“It’s really fantastic to see how this event keeps growing,” he said. Last year we hosted the FEI Nations Cup for the first time, and already we had so many international riders. This year the event has grown even more, and that makes me very proud, both as show director and as part of the Belgian team.”
Verboomen announced that Lier will be Zonik Plus’ last competitive outing ahead of the upcoming FEI Dressage World Championships at Aachen in August.
“Of course, Aachen is still a long way away, but I hope we can maintain this form and maybe improve even a little more toward the championship,” van Lent said. “We are very fortunate to have combinations like Justin and Zonik Plus performing at this level, and that makes me very proud.”
With 32 points from three straight podiums, including a victory at Fontainebleau, Germany continues to lead the Nations Cup series. Belgium and Great Britain follow immediately behind with 23 points each.
FEI Dressage Nations Cup continues with its penultimate leg at Hagen, Germany on 03 July 2026.
View the full results from CDIO Lier here.
Re-watch the action on ClipMyHorse.TV here.
Source: FEI press release
