Mechelen Belgium – December 26, 2022 – On a festive Tuesday filled with music and shows, one would almost forget that at Jumping Mechelen CSI 5*-W & CSI 2*, spectators also enjoy five days of top-class sport. The crème de la crème of Belgian show jumping had yet another magnificent spectacle in store for our audience. They were all eager to compete for the title of Belgian Indoor Champion.
Forty riders entered the competition but only nine of them made it to the jump-off. Among them, the 2019 winner Andres Vereecke and his father Koen Vereecke (BEL). The latter has already won this class several times before. With a lightning-fast jump-off on the 12-year-old bay Selle Français gelding Arioso du Bois (Rock’N Roll Semilly x Qredo de Paulstra), it was ultimately the father who dethroned the son, registering a penalty-free performance in 33.32 seconds.
“Riding fast, that was my strategy in the jump-off,” an overjoyed Koen Vereecke told us after the class.“I just wanted to be the quickest. Andres had some bad luck in the jump-off. I saw it happen on the screens. And of course that’s very unfortunate. But I’m still also happy to come out on top..”
He was also quite pleased with Arioso: “I know that horse so well. I already felt in the warming-up arena that winning was in the cards. Sometimes, he is a bit calmer and then he usually jumps a good clear round. But today he was very playful during the warm-up. And when he gives me that feeling, I just know he’s going for the win. Or maybe it was the magic of Jumping Mechelen. It feels so good to be back here.”
Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) and Luna van’T Ruytershof (Levisto Z x For Pleasure) were the runners-up, matching the double clear of the winners while registering a final time of 34.18 to secure second place.
Jordy Van Massenhove (BEL) and Stocantes (Stolzenberg x Contendro I) also left all the poles up in their two runs, roudning out the top three in 36.35 seconds.
As the winner of the Belgian Indoor Championship, presented by Paardensport Vlaanderen and Avant, Koen Vereecke gets to take home a brand new Avant machine.“I already have one that I regularly work with in the stables. So I am very happy!”
Final Results – Paardensport Vlaanderen Belgian Indoor Championship presented by Avant
1) Koen Vereecke (BEL) & Arioso du Bois – 0 / 0 – 33.32
2) Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) & Luna van’T Ruytershof – 0 / 0 – 34.18
3) Jordy Van Massenhove (BEL) & Stocantes – 0 / 0 – 36.35
Source: Press Release (edited) from Jumping Mechelen
Photos: © Jumping Mechelen / Temps de Poses
Categories: CSN, English, Jumper News Belgie
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