It was a weekend full of successes and victories for Team Phillipaerts. Every team member that got into action this weekend, showed some successes. Thibault, Olivier, Nicola as well as Ludo came with great results. Anthony didn’t jump this weekend but went to cheer for his brother Nicola in Sentower Park.
Thibault and his gelding Khan van de Kattevennen Z left everyone behind in the Grand Prix for Young Riders in Cabourg. This unique combination was the only one that managed to ride a clear round. On top of that, Thibault placed 2nd in the Nations Cup with his team on Friday night. “We started with a very strong team on Friday and finished 2nd. Maartje Verberckmoes jumped clear twice, Emily Conter rode one clear round but got one fence down in the second round. Unfortunately, Thibeau Spits and I were less lucky and got a fence down in both rounds. After I dropped a rail in the first round, I knew that if I’d make a mistake in the second round, we’d ran out of chances to win. It started so good, but then, we dropped down that very last rail. So unlucky, as we only hit it very light and it rarely falls down when you touch it like that. A second place is not bad, but I’m quite disappointed as we were so close to a first place.”, says Thibault. “On Sunday, I was the 11th to start the GP. I was the first to stay clear, and it stayed like that for a long time. Some got a time penalty, others pulled a rail or more. I was getting ready for the jump-off, but the jump-off never came. I was the only one who stayed clear and won without even riding a jump-off. That never happened to me before.”
Olivier and Le Blue Diamond Van ’t Ruytershof won the first round of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Valkenswaard. The Grand Prix of this Longines Global Champions Tour rode Olivier with H&M Legend of Love, placing 7th. With his team the London Knights he finished 4th in the Global Champions League. On Sunday, Olivier and Dagade de Grevis took silver in the CSI 2* Grand Prix. “I couldn’t be more satisfied with the results of last weekend. All of my horses did so well. Take Blue Diamond for example. It was his first time at this level. He learned a lot lately and took his chance to show that in Valkenswaard. I’m sure we’ve not seen everything of him yet. Dagada on the other hand is a young and rather inexperienced horse who joined us for the first time. That second place was outstanding! He’s a potential competitive horse for the future.”. Olivier stays in France now as he'll compete in Deauville next weekend.
Nicola stayed in the neighborhood and showed up in Sentower Park. Last Saturday, he won the CSI 2* Grand Prix with his stallion Gijs. “I just know Gijs for a couple of weeks. This was only my third show with him. Gijs is a potential horse and he made a lot of progressions in the past few weeks. I hope that we can continue this way. I take him to Sopot in two weeks. A five-star competition is a whole other level. I’m curious how he’ll cope with that. He was very efficient and fast in the jump-off on Saturday, that’s quite a big asset.”. Nicola continues and goes to Sentower Park again next weekend.
And last but not least, we end with a great performance from Ludo who stayed clear in the ranking class in Cabourg and finished 6th with Mr. Idol S. “I have a very good feeling about that competition and I’m very satisfied. It was a very fast course. I made a lot of progression in a short time and that feels good. Besides my own performance, I’m also very proud of my boys. Thibault winning the GP for Young Riders, Olivier standing out in the first part of the Global Tour, Nicola winning the GP in Sentower park and Anthony winning the GP of Wierden last week. He didn’t jump this weekend because of his exams.”
