Two International Driving Competitions in Kronenberg in 2027

The organisers in Kronenberg have decided to take over the vacant competition dates in June, preventing another international driving competition from disappearing from the calendar. “We think it would be a shame if the cancellation of Harich-Gaasterland left a gap in the calendar,” says Jeroen Houterman, chairman of Horse Driving Kronenberg.

Three Competitions, Each with Its Own Character

The first international competition will take place from 14 to 18 April 2027 and, as usual, will be held at Equestrian Centre de Peelbergen, using the sand arenas. The national competition in May will also remain on the calendar. It will take place during the third weekend of May, on the grass section of the venue.

The new international competition will be held from 23 to 27 June 2027, also using the grass section of the venue. This will give the event a different character from the international competition in April.

Organising three competitions within a relatively short period will require some adjustments. The organisers want to ensure that the marathon obstacles differ sufficiently between the events. For the national competition in May, greater use will therefore be made of mobile obstacles. This will give the permanent obstacles and the grounds enough time to recover before the international competition in June.

Two-Star Classes Also Included

The new international competition will offer both two-star and three-star classes for horses and ponies. The April competition will remain a World Cup qualifier for Horse Four-in-Hand drivers and will also welcome international youth competitors. This will not be the case for the June competition.

Discussions are also currently taking place with the Dutch Equestrian Federation about hosting Dutch National Championships at the new competition in June. These would be the national championships that have been held in Harich-Gaasterland in recent years. However, no final agreement has yet been reached.

Financial Considerations in Harich-Gaasterland

According to the organisers, the cancellation of the international competition in Harich-Gaasterland in 2027 is due to financial considerations and insufficient support within the board of the equestrian centre where the event was held. Over the past few years, the competition had developed into a highly regarded and professionally organised international event.

Following changes within the board and the departure of several board members involved in the event, support for the driving competition has declined. There has also been increasing scrutiny of the revenue generated in relation to the costs and the effort required to organise an international competition.

However, the disappearance of the competition may not be permanent. Discussions about its future are still taking place among the parties involved, and a meeting is planned for this autumn to explore whether the event could return in the longer term. For 2027, however, it has been confirmed that the competition in Harich-Gaasterland will not take place.

International Competition Calendar Under Pressure

Volunteers play an important role in making the additional competition in Kronenberg possible. Some members of the regular volunteer team from Harich-Gaasterland are already involved in the competitions in Kronenberg and have indicated that they are willing to help with the new international event in June.

With this expansion, Kronenberg aims to help preserve international driving competitions in The Netherlands. The number of events has been under pressure for some time, and the calendar could shrink further towards 2028. By adding a second international competition in Kronenberg, the Netherlands will retain an additional competition opportunity for international drivers in 2027.

Source: Hoefnet, reproduction without permission via info@hoefnet.nl is not permitted
Photo: Wilco van Driessen