The second day of Jumping Mechelen ended successfully for Thibault and his older brother Nicola. Thibault claimed victory with Obama de la Liniere in the CSI5* Léon Melchior, while Nicola triumphed with Derby de Riverland in the CSI5* BMW Masters.
Jumping Mechelen has a special place in the hearts of Belgian riders, and the Philippaerts family is no exception. The family's history with this show dates back to 1991 when father Ludo, won the World Cup leg in Mechelen with Fidelgo, a performance he repeated in 2008 with Winningmood.
These memories inspired Thibault, who watched footage of his father's victories before competing. "Seeing my dad win was fantastic. It definitely gave me some inspiration," he said with a smile. Thibault described his win as an unbelievable experience, feeling as if he was in a dream he never wanted to end. "Winning in Mechelen's main arena is a dream come true, and doing it in a five-star event for the first time is just incredible," he added, expressing his gratitude to Joris De Brabander and Jeroen Lissens for the opportunity to work with such a magnificent stallion.
Later that day, Nicola followed in his younger brother's footsteps by winning the BMW Masters. "What an evening this was," Nicola beamed the next day. "This class was on my bucket list, and I'm extremely proud to have won it. Competing in Mechelen is always special, it feels like the crowd is pushing you with every jump. The feeling of winning here is indescribable, surrounded by all those excited fans. You realize the magnitude of what you and your horse achieved only moments later. It's magical!" Nicola praises Derby de Riverland, noting the horse's excellent performance, which had previously helped Thibault win the European Championship.
Also Ludo is, ofcourse, moved by the evening’s performances. "This might have been the most beautiful day ever in Mechelen for us," he said, reflecting on the joy and excitement of watching two of his sons dominate the evening. "I was completely caught up in the moment and enjoyed every second of it. It was a truly joyful and atmospheric night.”
