Karin Donckers and Fletcha van't Verahof at Houghton Nations Cup 2019
Belgium’s Karin Donckers, one of the most capped Olympic riders with six Olympic Games under her belt, now has a confirmation result for Tokyo 2020 following her win in the CCI4*-S at Barroca d'Alva, Portugal on board her long-time partner, the 15-year-old Fletcha van't Verahof
It is an outstanding result for the 49-year-old rider who only returned to riding a few weeks ago after sustaining a broken knee and broken ribs in a freak accident at Arville in August. Karin was helping to load a pupil’s horse on a lorry when the horse fell on top of her, resulting in surgery followed by several months off
Karin and Fletcha’s last major competition was the 2019 FEI European Championships in Luhmuhlen but it seems that Barroca d’Alva is a lucky event for her as they won the CCI4*-L here in February last year
Not only did Karin win this class on a final score of 37.0 on Saturday but she also took second place on board Fletcha’s full brother Leipheimer van't Verahof (39.5) and topped it off by winning the CCI3*-S with the 14-year-old mare Grandioz so it seems that her injuries are well and truly healed!
The long format competitions of the Portugal Winter Tour Week 3 at Barroca complete on Sunday. Australia’s Sammi Birch currently leads the CCI4*-L on Hunter Valley II, Britain’s Tim Rogers leads the CCI3*-L and Brazil’s Carlos Parro leads the CCI2*-L after dressage and cross country
