Nordic-Baltic Championships 2025: A Spectacular Showcase of Equestrian Talent and Unity

The 2025 Nordic-Baltic Equestrian Championships concluded successfully at the prestigious Ypäjä Hevosopisto in Finland, bringing together riders from seven nations for five days of exceptional competition from 25-29 June.

This Regional Championship, officially recognised by the European Equestrian Federation (EEF), provided invaluable international experience for over 200 riders ranging from children to seniors, fostering the development of future equestrian stars, and showcasing the remarkable depth of talent across the Nordic-Baltic region in three core disciplines: Show Jumping, Dressage, and Para Dressage.

Dressage: Danish Dominance Across All Levels

Denmark's dominance in dressage was evident from day one, delivering a masterclass in dressage throughout the championship, and claiming a dominant victory in the Senior Grand Prix Dressage Team Championship, finishing with 203.217 points, ahead of Sweden and host nation Finland.

“They don’t have much experience at this level, so it was a very fine effort. Our key was consistent, stable riding. The Nordic-Baltic Championships are all about development, and we’re looking forward to the future,” said Jeannett Andreasen, Chef d’Équipe of the Danish Senior Team.

Building on their team victory, Denmark continued their strong performance in the Grand Prix Freestyle, achieving a full podium sweep. Cecilie Dybro Jensen captured gold with Zagori, followed by Camilla Lunderskov on Donnerhall’s Son II in second place, and Julie Dyrgaard aboard Ryvangs Damon Dione in third.

“Feels amazing! I didn’t expect this at all, it was a really nice surprise,” said Jensen. “Today was a bit difficult because of the wind. He got a little tense, and I could already sense it during warm-up, so I knew I had to be very careful not to ask too much. The piaffe was especially challenging, but I’m happy he still gave it his best. The pirouettes were actually better today than on the previous days, which makes me really happy, since they’ve been a bit tricky at home.”

In the U25 Freestyle, Sweden’s Linnéa Holmgren won gold with Qc Sir Dennis, while Denmark’s Sofie Amalie Kjærgaard Wettendorff took silver on Hacker, and Sweden’s Maxime Kjellvertz claimed bronze with Heuberger Tsf. In the Young Rider Freestyle, Denmark’s Anna Have Larsen-Ledet earned gold on Finnigan-Vitz, followed by Sweden’s Tove Slåtteby with silver aboard Ebony EE, and Denmark’s Emilie Balling Nissen with bronze on Soegaards Secret.

Jumping: Swedish Strength and Finnish Glory

Sweden excelled in the Children and Pony divisions, claiming multiple top honours. Jonathan Hansson won gold in the Children Individual Final after an exciting jump-off, with fellow Swede Emelie Kjellberg taking silver, and Finland’s Nita Tolonen earning bronze. In the Pony Individual Final, Nova Kolberg secured victory with a fast, clear round, followed by Norway’s Kaja Foss Kjølner and Sweden’s Tova Lorentzson. Sweden swept the podium in the Small Ponies Individual Final, with Tindra Palmer, Esmeralda Lund, and Alice Nilsson finishing first, second, and third.

Finland’s Pipsa Koski secured gold in the Senior Individual Championship riding Iprimero. Denmark’s Kamilla Ladefoged Rasmussen claimed silver aboard Chico Z, while Sweden’s Camilla Ahlén earned bronze with Black’s Caliente. The final standings were determined based on results from the first two rounds, following the cancellation of all show jumping classes on Sunday 29 June, due to severe rainfall and unsafe ground conditions.

“The overall feeling is really positive, even though it was disappointing not to ride the final round,” said Koski. “My horse felt amazing throughout the competition, and we were in a strong position after the first rounds. This is my first NBECH medal – and it’s gold – so it means a lot. Next up are the Pohjola Grand Prix in Myrkky and the Finnish Championships in August. We're heading to both aiming to win. Iprimero loves the derby field – we won the national championship last year and also took the win in the final Pohjola GP leg. So we’re on a good streak!” 

Norway’s Ingrid Sandhei Bjoerklund claimed gold in the Young Riders Individual Championship with Palousy van het Exelhof, followed by Finland’s Aada-Minea Hanhela in silver and Sweden’s Bianca Maggi with bronze. In the Junior Individual Championship, Denmark’s Emily Filippa Windtberg took gold aboard Finest Selection H.T.W., with Finland’s Isabel Olsson securing silver and Denmark’s Anna Ley earning bronze.

“We came here with a really strong team and of course hoped we’d be standing here with gold medals – that was the goal. I have four strong riders with good horses who have performed well all season. It’s great to be here and see the plan come together,” commented Bo K. Møller, Chef d’Équipe, Denmark Showjumping Team

Para Dressage: Emotional Highs and Home Wins

The Para Dressage competitions showcased strong performances across all grades. In the Para Grand Prix Freestyle Grade V, Paralympian Jonna Aaltonen, who represented Finland at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, claimed gold on home soil with Laxton For U, ahead of Sweden’s Lotta Wallin and Camilla Christensen. Aaltonen noted her satisfaction with the performance praising her horse’s energy.

“I’m really happy with the result, despite some timing issues with the music that required improvisation. My horse felt energetic, and the canter work matched the music well. There’s room to improve, and I’m excited for the season ahead.” 

Norway’s Oda Helen Finnanger won gold in Grade IV aboard Fiona, with Finland’s Jessica Kerttunen and Laura Kangasniemi completing the podium. Finnanger celebrated the medal as a rewarding finish to a strong weekend commenting - “Winning gold was really fun! After a strong weekend, this medal is a wonderful bonus. I’ve worked hard for this, and I’m very pleased with the outcome.” 

Beyond the competition, the championships celebrated the strong bonds between the seven participating nations – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden, reinforcing the event's reputation as a cornerstone of regional equestrian development. The EEF extends its heartfelt congratulations to all participating athletes, horses, teams, and national federations and looks forward to the continued growth and unity of these prestigious championships.

Full Results

For those who missed the action or want to relive the highlights, full competition results are available here.

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