DG Andy Crush and Bernard Fonck NRHA Belgium L4 Open Futurity Champion

20/09/2026 – The question was not whether, but when Bernard Fonck (BEL) would claim the NRHA Belgium Level 4 Open Futurity Champion titel again and that is exactly what he did with verve yesterday night. In front of a packed house the NRHA Belgium $ 50.000 added Level 4 Open-, $ 15.000 Level 3 Intermediate Open-, $ 7.000 added Level 2 Limited Open- and $ 3.000 added Level 1 Futurity were concluded yesterday at Azelhof in Lier (BEL).
By returning to Lier NRHA Belgium made every effort possible to give the event the vibe it deserves and one might say that they succeeded very well.
The Level 4 division counted 40 entries in total. With 5 more entries left to go Fonck entered the arena with the 4-year old DG Andy Crush [Mega Shine Chic] owned by Diego dalla Gassa (ITA) and little was left to chance. With a fluent and powerful ridden pattern Fonck set the bar at a 228,0 score. It felt like a déjà vu of the run this team performed earlier this year at the NRHA European Futurity in the € 358.974 added Level 4 Open finals. With 4 entries left to go Fonck and DG Andy Crush posted a 230,0 with a very powerful run, claiming the L4 Futurity Champion title. With the earnings that came along with the title Fonck, as the first European in history, surpassed the $ 3 million milestone in NRHA earnings.
The 228,0 score in Lier lasted and the L4 Open Futurity Champion is a fact. There was more though. With Sweet Little Diamond [Sugar Little Step] owned by Myriam Comparetto (ITA) Fonck posted a 221,5, claiming the co-Reserve Champion title together with -she is not to be ignored- Non Pro rider Anna Maria Zehetbauer (AUT) with SS Tarzan [Pale Face Dunnit] owned by Zeidelhof Reining Horses (AUT).
Fonck was not the only successful Belgian rider. Posting a 221,0 Matyas Gobert (BEL) piloted This Biz [Spooks Gotta Whiz] owned by AT Reining Dream (BEL) out of 39 entries to the Level 3 Intermediate Open Futurity Champion title. Reserve honors were for CD Charlie Top Gun [Americasnexttopgun] owned by Società Agricola CD Horses SRL (ITA) and ridden by Malin Billberg (SE) posting a 220,5. Posting a 219,5 step 3 of the podium was for A Dream Of Midnite [Magnum Chic Dream] owned by Matthias Borrack (GER) and ridden by Emanuel Ernst (GER).
Out of 47 entries Billberg also claimed the title I in Level 2. Reserve honors as well as the Level 1 title were for Arnellswallawhizcrome [Walla Whiz Crome] owned by Sabrina Adam (GER) and ridden by Fabienne Steiger (GER). There was a tie for 3rd place between Lucile Buisson (FRA) with Jag Gunna Smart Chic [Gunnatrashya] owned by BO Ranch (FRA) and Jayden Feichter (FRA) with Katie Blues [Colonels Shining Gun] owned by Edith Zenouda (FRA).
The Level 1 reserve title was for Jag Gunna Smart Chic and step 3 of the podium for Gold Wing [Colonels Shining Gun] owned by Katarzyna Roleska (POL) and ridden by Oz Queta (POL) posting a 216,0.

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Photo: DG Andy Crush and Bernard Fonck. Photo: International Horse Press, ITA