Harrie Smolders named Dutch Rider of the Year

Every year the Dutch federation elects its Rider of the Year, given its triumphant season in 2017 it could not be no other than Harrie Smolders to lift the prestigious title intended for the rider who best represented the Netherlands in the international arena.
In a brief summary of the season for the 37-year-old Dutch rider, Smolders has won an individual silver medal at the Europeans in Gothenburg, a victory in the final of the Nations Cup and finally the Longines Global Champions Tour title obtained the day before.
As said, it was not difficult this year to elect the recipient of this year’s title, but for Smolders it is the first time he has won Rider of the Year which is all in great credit for this triumphant season to Don VHP Z his greatest accomplice and companion of the many successes.
Smolders is currently in second place in the world ranking behind leader Kent Farrington, among other the candidates for the title of Rider of the Year 2017 also the driving champions Ijsbrand Cardon, Koos de Ronde and Theo Timmerman, the paralympic athlete Sanne Voets.
 
Source press release CHIO Rotterdam
 
Photo: European Championships JumpingIndividual Final.Harrie SMOLDERS (NED) rides DON VHP ZPhoto FEI/Richard Juilliart