This was The Dutch Masters 2026
Team HeadFirst Group
On Thursday evening, the HeadFirst Group – Best of Champions event took place once again in front of a packed crowd at the Brabanthallen. As the main sponsor of The Dutch Masters , we were proud to welcome colleagues, freelancers, suppliers, and other business associates to our HeadFirst Group Lounge. Everyone caught up, laughed, and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, even before the horses entered the arena.
Talent Room
In addition to the lounge, the main program took place in the HeadFirst Group – Talent Room. Pieter van den Hoogenband spoke about his journey to the top and his current role as chef de mission, in which collaboration is crucial. Jesse Dercksen (sports psychologist at PSV) took the audience inside the minds of elite athletes, while Anky van Grunsven shared her insights on the similarities and differences between humans and horses. Jan Roelfs served as the day’s moderator and brought all these stories together into an inspiring whole about talent development, collaboration, and adaptability.
Back-to-back for Willem Greve
Then it was time for the main act: HeadFirst Group – Best of Champions. In this spectacular event, riders ride each other’s horses and have only a few minutes to get a feel for the course and the horse. Willem Greve once again proved he is the master, completing four clear rounds and thereby defending his title, while Richard Vogel, Julien Epaillard and Gilles Thomas provided an exciting battle.
The best part of the evening? Colleagues, partners, and clients all together, chatting in the lounge, and the enthusiasm with which top athletes shared their experiences and demonstrated how teamwork, adaptability, and talent development work.
At HeadFirst Group, we view our daily work as a top-level sport. Inspiring stories, craftsmanship that leaves a lasting impression, and energy that could be felt in every corner of the Brabanthallen. From casual conversations over drinks to the adrenaline rush of the Best of Champions competition, this was an evening that demonstrated why sports and HeadFirst Group are such a perfect match.
