The Philippaerts family looks back with satisfaction on their performance at Jumping Mechelen. Earlier this week, Nicola won the CSI5* BMW Masters with Derby de Riverland, while Thibault triumphed with Obama de la Liniere in the CSI5* Léon Melchior. On the final day, Thibault narrowly missed out on a second victory in Mechelen, while in the same class, Olivier finished fourth. Nicola concluded the World Cup in sixth place.
For the family, the last week of the year is always action-packed. Week 52 is a highlight in Team Philippaerts We Live Horses' calendar, with Jumping Mechelen being an unmissable annual event. This year, the Philippaerts were the spark that intensified the excitement in Mechelen.
Nicola won the BMW Masters on Wednesday. In the Grand Prix Sport Vlaanderen, he went clear in the first round but dropped a rail in the jump-off, securing tenth place. On the final day, Nicola rode Moya vd Bisschop, staying clear in the first round. A single rail down in a six-horse jump-off resulted in a sixth-place finish. “I'm pleased with my performance at Jumping Mechelen. My win in the Masters, and the sixth place in the world cup are highlights I've worked hard for," Nicola said. "While you always aim for more, staying realistic is key. Moya has made great progress this year and performed excellently in the World Cup. My big goal for 2024 is the Olympics with Katanga van het Dingeshof.”
But also brother Thibault put on an exceptional show. He won his first five-star class in Mechelen with Obama de la Linière. On Thursday, he went clear with Obama in the KBC Bank en Verzekering class, and on Friday, he achieved another clear round with Jumper D’Oase in the GP Sport Vlaanderen. On Saturday morning, Thibault narrowly missed winning the Stephex Stables, or the Last Chance, after a clear round and jump-off. “I've had a dream week in Mechelen,” Thibault shares. “Apart from the World Cup, I remained clear in all other classes. My first five-star win and the crowd's euphoric reaction will stay with me for a long time. This week, my horses and I have taken an important step in our careers. My goal for 2024? To do even better in Mechelen.”
Olivier had a tougher week, concluding with a fourth-place finish in the Stephex Stables class. Olivier had a strong start at Jumping Mechelen but experienced a somewhat challenging week, finishing in fourth place during the Last Chance. “Indeed, the competition was a bit more inconsistent for me and overall, I'm not too satisfied with the results,” Olivier explains. “From H&M Miro, I expected much more during the World Cup. Le Blue Diamond performed well, but we were unable to clinch a prize together. The highlight of the past week has been the eight-year-old Precious. It's a young horse with a lot of potential for the future. And if we're looking ahead, then the Olympic Games next year are something we cannot overlook. That is my ambition for 2024.”
Anthony, unlike his brothers, had a challenging time at this year's Jumping Mechelen. “It was a tough week with disappointing results,” Anthony said. “But I take the positive from every setback. I'm young, working with young horses, and I know we have space for improvement. That's the goal for next year.”
Ludo gave the final word. “Jumping Mechelen 2023 was an incredible edition for both our family and the organization,” Ludo began. “It was full of atmosphere and spectacle, to which my children contributed from the opening night. Thibault won the Stallion competition, Nicola the Masters, with Olivier competing until the final round. Besides the opening day, my sons consistently delivered clear rounds in other events. On the final day, Thibault narrowly missed victory, Olivier finished fourth in the same event, and Nicola was sixth in the World Cup. We met the challenge, as did the organization, which makes Jumping Mechelen special each year. It's a fantastic event where the audience plays a major role. My biggest goal for 2024 is everyone's health: if that's ensured, everything will be fine.”
