Looking back at Indoor Friesland 2024 with brother and sister Sytze and Gemma van Dellen 

It has been a while since there was any trotting and galloping in the WTC Expo in Leeuwarden. What a great two weeks it was, how much we all enjoyed it. From riders to audience and from volunteers to grooms, everyone was equally enthusiastic. Indoor Friesland was also a family party. Mother and daughter, father and son, father and daughter, they all appeared on the starting lists, both in the national and international categories. The attentive viewer also spotted a brother and sister in the international one-star tour: Sytze and Gemma van Dellen from Opende in Groningen. Opende, the westernmost village in the province. The duo keeps the family name alive, because grandpa Sytze van Dellen sr. is a well-known KWPN breeder, in 2006 he even became breeder of the year.

Sytze is nineteen years old, was born in Leeuwarden and lives with his parents and two sisters at Stud Farm De Eloma Hoeve. In the mornings he rides with Jur Vrieling and in the afternoons he is busy with his family's horses. Gemma is fifteen years old, was born in Drachten and is one of Sytze's sisters. Gemma is still in school, but also spends as much time as possible at her parents' company. Outside of sports, Sytze likes to go out with friends and Gemma likes to delve into breeding. Sports and breeding go hand in hand at De Eloma Hoeve.

Indoor Friesland in three words
Gemma: “Great, fun, well organised.” Sytze: “Atmospheric, beautiful sport, well organised.”

Kevin EH, VDL Knight Rider d'Ive Z, Ibalia EH
Sytze: “I am satisfied with myself, but it could have been better. I rode our own Kevin EH in the Big Tour once clear and twice I had a pole. VDL Knight Rider d'Ive Z, who I have not been riding for so long and who was competing internationally for the first time, I rode four times including the jump-off and we were clear every time. I was placed three times. Gemma: “I am very satisfied. It was my first time internationally and I rode our own Ibalia EH in the Small Tour. The first time I had a pole. The second day I stayed clear and came sixth. The last day I rode 1.25m for the first time, I was clear in the basic course and had two poles in the jump-off.”

Indoor Friesland 2.0 much better
The interview takes place by phone, but we hear the pride and pleasure of brother and sister. Gemma: “That's right, I thought it was such a wonderful competition and that in our own Friesland and also being allowed to ride!” Sytze: “Exactly that. Nice that it is so close to home. I have heard many stories about the past, when Indoor Friesland was already a big happening. Too bad I didn't experience that, but it's good that it's back.” Mother Hedwig van Dellen listens to the conversation and now breaks in: “I am now going to stand up for the current Indoor Friesland. The atmosphere is comparable to the past, but the organization is much better now. The ambiance and all the facilities are also incomparable. Not everything was better in the past!”

In ten years
We are curious how Gemma and Sytze see their future, what will they be doing in ten years? Gemma: “I hope that I will still be riding then and preferably at the highest level, my dream is to get into TeamNL jumping.” Sytze: “The same for me. The focus on the sport, but taking over my parents' breeding on the side would be nice. The Grand Prix of Indoor Friesland is also high on my list, but I hope to win that sooner than in ten years.” Brother and sister agree that they would like a stable with horses both of their own and of third parties. They would also like to see their older sister Anniek Reinders join them in the company.”

Atmosphere the most beautiful
Gemma: “I really loved it and I still think about those four days. The best thing was that I rode 1.25m the first time and also stayed clear in the basic course.” Sytze: “I thought the whole atmosphere of everything was the best, it was so special, I have never experienced that before. Even if you made a mistake, when you left the ring you got a round of applause as if you had won the Grand Prix.”

Jur Vrieling example
Sytze is taught by his employer Jur Vrieling and both Gemma and Sytze are helped at home by Alwin Duiven. Mother Hedwig and sister Anniek also often help the duo. Jur is the great example for both of them and Gemma also likes to watch Henrick von Eckermann and Katrin Eckermann. Sytze: “Jur is a top performer in every way. He is friendly, makes horse riding look easy, is very good to his horses and helps me a lot.”

Comthago VDL and Highway TN
Praise for the number three of the Grand Prix of Indoor Friesland 2024. We are curious, if the duo were allowed to ride a round on one of the horses of this edition, who they would choose. Sytze does not hesitate for a moment: “Comthago VDL of Hessel Hoekstra!. That horse has so much power and such a beautiful way of jumping.” Gemma thinks for a moment, but then her answer comes decisively: “Highway TN, for his speed and agility.”

Best moment of young career
Despite the duo's young age, they have already seen and experienced a lot in the horse world. Gemma calls the silver medal at the Dutch Championship in the 1.10m class her best moment this year and Sytze chooses his first ranking test that he rode together with his top horse Kevin EH at CSI Zuidwolde, also this year. They do not hesitate for a moment about the best competition they have ever ridden and answer unanimously: Indoor Friesland of course!

CHIO Rotterdam
Good to hear. Which competition would they most like to ride in the future? They are unanimous on this as well and their motivation is the same. Sytze: “CHIO Rotterdam! Because it is five stars, because the Longines League of Nations is on the program, but also because we both know the competition well. We have been volunteers there and we just think it is a great competition.”

Finally, Sytze would like to pass on his compliments to the organization. For how everything went, for the VIP and for all the help from the volunteers.

Closing words by mother Hedwig
Mother Hedwig gets the very last word: “Here sits a 100 percent proud mother. Of my children, but certainly also of Indoor Friesland. What a competition, everything was beautiful and perfectly organized. I would also like to express my appreciation for the Horses2fly competition. So cool that national riders also get the chance to ride at Indoor Friesland. I also thought the run-up to those finals on Wednesday was great, it was very much alive here in the northern provinces. The only point for improvement that I would like to mention and I have heard that before is the timing of the Indoor Friesland Allspan Pony Cup. A great initiative that was made even more beautiful by the guidance of the five top riders. Only the timing was not favorable for the public interest. You have to do such a unique section and guidance for the two Grand Prix on Saturday, for example.”

Beautiful, praising words from Sytze, Gemma and Hedwig van Dellen. Thanks for this, success with your company and further career and very much until Indoor Friesland 2025.

Photos: Digishots
Text: Marjan de Wildt for Indoor Friesland