And as promised, we hear more about Thibault Philippaerts. He decides to broaden his horizons and starts to train at Marco Kutscher’s stables.
After a few weeks of warming-up in Oliva, Thibault kicks off a new outdoor season in style. He starts with some outstanding performances at the Nations Cup in Sentower Park with Moya van de Bisschop and Khan van de Kattevennen. Not so much later, he manages to turn those clear rounds into victorious rounds and wins the Young Riders Grand Prix in Cabourg. Khan van de Kattevennen and he even were the only clear combination and so there never came a jump-off, “That never happened to me before”, smiles Thibault. On top, he knows how to beat his father in the 7 years old class at Knokke Hippique. The highlight of this year? That must have been the title of European Champion for Thibault and his Young Riders team, topped off with a third place in the individual competition. This means that all four Philippaerts sons brought home gold from the European Championships as a Young Rider or Junior, isn’t that unique?
He seems unstoppable, and when the Belgian Championship arrives, he takes Derby de Riverland to beat the competition in an incredible way. The two leave all the fences untouched throughout the three competition days and crown themselves Belgian Champions of the Young Riders.
Father and mother Philippaerts shine proudly, “Thibault was strong, cool-headed, very present and clear. Top-notch”.