Hector Payne and Bueno Claim World Championship Silver at Le Lion d’Angers

EVENTING NEWS | 18 October 2026

British event rider Hector Payne secured an impressive second-place finish with seven-year-old Bueno at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Le Lion d’Angers, France, on Sunday (18 October).

The British combination completed the CCI3*-L competition on their dressage score of 29.0 penalties, producing clear rounds across both the cross-country and showjumping phases to claim the silver medal.

Payne and Bueno, an AES gelding by Dante’s Junior out of Florina (by Alicante), owned by Caroline Primrose, moved up from third place following a fault-free cross-country performance. A further clear round in the final showjumping phase secured their position on the podium, just 0.4 penalties behind the eventual winners.

Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier took the seven-year-old title aboard Tara van het Leliehof, successfully defending the championship the pair won as six-year-olds in 2025.

Payne Finishes Just Behind Double World Champion

The seven-year-old championship proved closely contested, with less than one penalty separating the leading three combinations.

De Liedekerke-Meier and Tara van het Leliehof, a BWP mare by Pegase van’t Ruytershof out of Bonita van het Leliehof (by Major de la Cour), completed the competition on their dressage score of 28.6 penalties.

The Belgian rider, making her 14th appearance at the championships, entered the final showjumping phase knowing that a clear round was required to secure victory.

“Winning once is quite something and then coming here again, everyone is watching you and waiting for you to do well,” she said.

“Obviously it was more pressure. I have been better at handling pressure, and I know how good the mare is. I wanted to do her justice. She is double world champion, which is quite nice.”

The mare, owned and bred by Stal het Leliehof, has now won consecutive young horse world titles.

France’s Alexis Goury completed the podium aboard Jeroboam Wal, a Selle Français stallion by Vleut*GFE out of Urea (by Flyer).

The French combination shared the lead after dressage on 28.6 penalties. However, 0.8 cross-country time penalties dropped them behind the eventual winners. A clear showjumping round secured third place on 29.4 penalties.

Feature Image: Hector Payne (GBR) and Bueno during the Showjumping for the 7 year olds. Mondial du Lion FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championship for Young Horses. Le Lion d’Angers. France. Sunday 18 October 2026. Copyright Photo: FEI / Libby Law Photography

Elsewhere in the competition

Ann-Catrin Bierlein Takes Six-Year-Old World Title

Germany’s Ann-Catrin Bierlein claimed victory in the six-year-old CCI2*-L championship aboard ACSI Daisy Dynamite, completing the competition on their dressage score of 29.4 penalties.

The victory was particularly significant for Bierlein, who has known the Westphalian mare since birth. ACSI Daisy Dynamite was bred by her grandfather, Dr Rolf Wilcken, and Bierlein helped choose her name.

“It feels a bit surreal,” said Bierlein. “I also had a bit of luck, which you always need to win. It’s a dream come true.”

The mare, by Diacontinus out of Camilla (by Casall), produced clear rounds in both cross-country and showjumping to secure the championship.

Bierlein, who won team silver at the 2026 FEI U25 Eventing World Championships, was making her third appearance at Le Lion d’Angers.

Switzerland’s Robin Godel finished second aboard Kosmic d’Elbe, a Selle Français gelding by Contendro out of Skalia de Lojou (by Caletto III), owned by Nicolas Caron.

The pair completed cross-country without penalties before adding 0.4 time penalties in showjumping, finishing on 31.3.

Australian rider Kevin McNab, based in Britain, secured third place with Monbeg Kobe, an Irish Sport Horse gelding by HHS Cornet out of HHS Black Beauty (by Clintord), owned by Valentine Tourres.

McNab also added just 0.4 showjumping time penalties to his dressage score, finishing narrowly behind Godel on 31.4.