Olivier Philippaerts and his twelve-year-old gelding H&M Miro clinched victory in the Longines Global Tour GP in Stockholm on Sunday afternoon. The Belgian combination was the fastest in a jump-off with nine competitors. For Olivier Philippaerts, this is his first overall victory in the Global Tour. Earlier this year, his brother Nicola Philippaerts won the Longines Global Tour GP in Mexico with H&M Luna van't Ruytershof Z.
Olivier Philippaerts started strongly in the GP, and so he continued to the jump-off. Nine other combinations, including Belgians Jérôme Guery (Quel Homme de Hus) and Gregory Whatelet (Bond James Bond de Hay), followed. "Finally. Finally," said Olivier Philippaerts after the jump-off. "I've been chasing this win for years, and now it finally happened. Until today, I've had to settle for a few second and third places. Today, we can finally tick off the victory. The level here is very high, and everyone wants to win. That's why it's so difficult. But we did it."
Olivier already had a good feeling after the qualifiers. "Miro and I finished eighth in those qualifiers. Regardless of the result, the feeling was very good. That feeling continued during the main course. Along with nine other combinations, we qualified for the jump-off. I was the seventh to go. Today, I really didn't feel like coming second and decided to go all out. We took some risks, but it paid off.
Today, everything fell into place. I'm filled with joy." Nicola Philippaerts and H&M Luna van't Ruytershof Z knocked down two rails and ultimately finished 22nd. Both twin brothers are already qualified for the final in Riyadh. Olivier and Nicola Philippaerts had a less successful weekend in the Longines Global Champions League. However, even after this leg in Stockholm, the Stockholm Hearts are still in the lead.
On stage Wilma Hellström and Cicci Bjn (Ci Ci Senjor ASK) followed as runner up, while Jérome Guery and Quel Homme de Hus (Quidam de Revel) completed the stage.