2017
Record year for Nicola and H&M Chilli Willi

2017 is a fantastic year for Nicola. He sensationally claims his first victory in Zürich, riding Ustina Sitte. A horse that Nicola achieves multiple podium finishes with in 2017. Not much later, he walks away with the Grand Prize of Omaha, riding H&M Harley v/d Bisschop. He also gets a new partner, Aikido Z. During their first weeks together, they already win a number of medals, while they also win GCT contest of London.

But 2017 is also the year of H&M Chilli Willi’s breakthrough. The most memorable moment of 2017 definitely takes place in September. It is then that Nicola and H&M Chilli Willi become Champion of Belgium. The duo is very strong and the only one to run 4 flawless tests. “I had my mind set on this Belgian championship. After the Grand Prize of Lausanne, where we ended fourth, I knew that Chilli Willi was in top form, which he definitely proved here. And even more important toward the future: he proves that he is a champion horse. Over a period of four days and as many tests, he never faltered. Next year, he should certainly connect with the world top,” Nicola states about this achievement. During the same weekend he does another championship, the one for the 7-year olds. This is where Nicola and Krapuul F. become fourth. Nicola concludes this record year with a 3rd place in the Grand Prize of Mechelen, in the saddle of H&M Harley v/d Bisschop.

2018
Debut at the World Championship

Nicola is on a roll and his success is being repeated time after time. In April, the very first Nations Cup of the season is raced in Samorin. National coach Peter Weinberg selected Pieter Devos, Jos Verlooy, Christophe Vanderhasselt, Wilm Vermeir and Nicola Philippaerts. An honor that Nicola will proudly fulfill. Nicola and H&M Chilli Willi remain flawless, Belgium gets bronze.

The man from Limburg is also very successful in the Longines Global Champions Tour. Early May, Nicola Philippaerts and H&M Harley v/d Bisschop just miss out on a win in Madrid. The Chantilly LGCT, later that year, is however won by them. This achievement also immediately assures Nicola a ticket for the Prague Playoffs. He brings H&M Chilli Willi to that one.

It will be an exciting fall, starting with Spruce Meadows, followed by the Belgian Championship, and then returning to the States for his first appearance at the World Championship, however failing in the final of the Nations Cup. During the latter, Belgium achieves the final victory, partly thanks to Nicola’s performance.

Together with twin brother Olivier and their teammates Ben Maher, Martin Fuchs and Emily Moffitt he achieves the overall victory in the Longines Global Champions League. This year, their team London Knights won five out of the eighteen contests.

2018 has also seen difficult times. H&M Harley vd Bisschop, one of Nicola’s top-class horses, leaves the Philippaerts family and is moved to its new home in Ireland. Also he will be saddling his stallion Bisquet Balou C for the last time. With a clear round and an overall fifth position in the Léon Melchior CSI5* Open Sires of the World Zangersheide, the 13-year old stallion says farewell to its sports career. Bisquet Balou C is moved to France where it is going to be used for breeding.

2019
Through trial and error

2019 has everything to turn it into a top year. At the Equi Gala, the Jumping team it is performs the Nations Cup Barcelona, with Chef d’équipe Peter Weinberg and equestrians Niels Bruynseels, Pieter Devos, Wilm Vermeir, Jos Verlooy and Nicola Philippaerts, being crowned team of the year 2018.

Nicola and H&M Chilli Willi make an excellent start of the new season and end as 3rd in the opening race of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Doha. This duo also shines in the Chantilly LGCT and they achieve a podium finish. 

Unfortunately, this year takes a turn for the worse. H&M Chilli Willi sustains an injury and Nicola decides not to appear at the European Championship. A little later, Nicola himself falls off and will undergo an immediate operation. Due to a shoulder injury he cannot train for weeks. In the fall of 2019, he goes back onto the saddle and works hard on his comeback.