After more than ten years of innovating and investing, CSIO Lummen, as the national competition is officially known, last year finally obtained what it deserved: international recognition of riders of the highest calibre of the FEI, the international equestrian federation.
Lummen is thus one of the 12 worldwide top events organized under the five-star label.
The better tracks are thinly populated. And not everyone gets a look-in at the Belgian national championship. A week before the big battle of the nations the Postelmans do general rehearsals during the international show jumping. The test of tests for horses, riders and organizers.
The Belgian national - or Samsungs Nations - prize is the zenith of the Flemish Equestrian Sports Festival. During the winter all thoughts turn to the World Cup circuit. Come the summer, all eyes turn to the ups and downs of the national teams. These are the most important competitions of the year. Even in big championships such as the EC, WC and the Olympic Games, most attention is focused on the team medals. The formula is simple. Each country puts up a team of four riders, each jumping two rounds. Only the three best results go towards the final result. The penalties are marked up per country. The team with the fewest penalties finally wins the fiercely-contested national price. Lummen is host to fifteen countries.
