Belgian Equestrian Federation Announces Team for the 2025 European Championship

By Jumper News on 2025-06-25

Brussels, Belgium – June 25, 2025 – The Belgian team is preparing for one of the highlights of the year: the 2025 European Jumping Championship in A Coruña (Spain), which will take place from July 15 to 20, 2025. The Top Sports Cell of the Royal Belgian Equestrian Federation (KBRSF), LEWB and Equestrian Flanders and Team Manager Peter Weinberg announced the selection of the riders who will defend the Belgian colors on the European stage.

The selected combinations, in alphabetical order:

Pieter Devos (BEL) & Casual DV Z (Song, Cornet Obolensky x Cicero van Paemel Z, owner/breeder Devos Stables)
Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) & Katanga v/h Dingeshof ( BWP, Cardento x Toledo FSC, breeder Lilliane Vermeulen, owner: Philippaerts/Fam. Lens/ AMB holding)
Abdel Said (BEL) & Bonne Amie (ESH, A Big Boy x Landfriese, breeder Trooja Hobune OÜ, owner: AS Trading)
Thibeau Spits (BEL) & Impress-K van ‘t Kattenheye Z (Song, Indocto van ‘t Kattenheye x Vagabond de la Pomme, breeder: A. Strobbe, T. Raman; owner: Spits Bvba)
Gilles Thomas (BEL) & Ermitage Kalone (SF, Catoki x Kannan, breeder Magali Dessalles, owner: Joris Van Dijck)

It is not until A Coruña that it is decided which of these five combinations will start as individual riders. That decision rests with team manager Peter Weinberg, in consultation with riders and staff.

Reserves:
First reserve: Emilie Conter (BEL) & Portobella van de Fruitkorf
Second reserve: Jos Verlooy (BEL) & Parise van den Dael
With this selection, Belgium combines experience, young talent and proven top form. Each and every one of them is combinations that have already proven their worth at the highest level.

Peter Weinberg, Team Manager, expects a lot from this team:
“In recent weeks we have shown a lot of great things at the highest level. For example, there were the silver medals from La Baule and St. Gallen, we proved in Rotterdam that we can continue to perform even under pressure, and on Saturday Gilles Thomas won the 5* Grand Prix in Paris. So I think it is only natural that I hope for a strong performance at the European Championships. And although this European Championship is not a qualifying competition, and it is therefore only about the medals competition, I certainly think this is an important competition. Every championship is important, and it is also a good benchmark for the other highlights that are still on the calendar this year, such as the 5* Nations Cup in our own country, in Brussels at the end of August, and the LLN Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.”

Source: Press Release from Belgian Equestrian Federation (FRBSE – KBRSF)