Calvin Böckmann (GER) and The Phantom Of The Opera during the Cross Country test for the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship 2025 in Blenheim Palace (GBR). © FEI/Benjamin Clark

History will be made in Millstreet (IRL) as the first-ever FEI Eventing U25 World Championship gets underway from 22-26 July 2026, bringing together 40 Athletes from 14 nations to contest a brand-new title and mark an important milestone in the sport's athlete pathway.

Created to bridge the gap between Young Rider and senior competition, the new championship gives Under 25 Athletes the opportunity to compete for a world title at a pivotal stage of their careers. Contested at CCI4*-S level, it provides an important stepping stone to future FEI Championships while recognising a generation of athletes already making their mark on the international stage.

For years, the FEI Eventing European Championship for Young Riders marked the final stage on the youth pathway. The introduction of an Under 25 World Championship creates a natural next step for Athletes who are already establishing themselves at senior level.

The battle to become the first FEI Eventing U25 World Champion brings together proven senior performers and some of the discipline's brightest emerging talent. While several athletes already have experience at senior championship level, others arrive in Millstreet with the chance to make a major breakthrough in their careers. 

Athletes representing 14 nations will line up in Millstreet: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United States. The strong international entry reflects the growing interest in the new Under 25 World Championship and highlights the importance of its addition to the FEI Eventing calendar.

The Contenders

Alongside the race for the individual title, the battle for team honours promises to add another compelling dimension to the championship. France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and the United States will contest the team medals, with each nation able to field four Athletes in the team while any additional combinations compete as individuals.

Leading the line-up is Germany's Calvin Böckmann, who tops the current FEI Eventing U25 Ranking. The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 season, finishing fourth individually at the FEI Eventing European Championship in Blenheim and confirming his place among the sport's leading young Athletes. Together with Altair de la Cense, he arrives in Millstreet among the favourites to become the first FEI Eventing U25 World Champion.

Great Britain also brings outstanding depth through Alice Casburn and Jasmine Underwood, currently ranked third and fifth in the FEI Eventing U25 Ranking and both established among the leading names in the age group.

Host nation Ireland will pin its hopes on Godfrey Gibbons, who helped secure team silver at the 2025 FEI Eventing European Championship for Young Riders and now has the opportunity to challenge for a world title on home soil. 

France's six-strong squad combines proven championship performers with established CCI4*-S combinations, including reigning Young Rider European team champion Vérane Nicaud and former Young Rider European individual champion Charlotte Bordas.

The United States has also sent six combinations to Millstreet, with Olivia Dutton, Molly Duda and Cassie Sanger among the Athletes aiming to make an impact in both the individual and team competitions. 

The Venue

Few venues are better suited to host the first FEI Eventing U25 World Championship than Millstreet. Over the past decade, the Green Glens Arena has welcomed generations of young Athletes through FEI European Championships for Ponies, Juniors and Young Riders, while also establishing itself as a regular host of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™. For many competitors, returning to Millstreet marks the next step on a pathway that has already taken them through the youth championship ranks.

The Cross-Country course has been designed by Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR), whose résumé includes two Olympic Games, one FEI World Championship and three FEI European Championships. Set across Millstreet's rolling terrain and natural features, the course is expected to reward accuracy, balance and bold decision-making throughout the cross-country test.

As always in Eventing, success will depend on excellence in Dressage, Cross-Country and Jumping. Two days of Dressage will establish the early leaderboard before Saturday's Cross-Country presents the defining test of the championship. Sunday's final Jumping test will then decide which combinations can maintain their composure under pressure and be crowned the first FEI Eventing U25 World Champions.

Beyond the medals, the championship represents the beginning of a new chapter in FEI Eventing. When the competition concludes on Sunday, the sport will have its first FEI Eventing U25 World Champions and a new milestone in the athlete pathway between youth and senior championship competition. For the winners, Millstreet will forever be remembered as the place where they became the first names on the championship's roll of honour – a distinction that can never be repeated.

More information available here