What a night for Team Belgium at the Stephex Arena in Lier! The Belgian squad jumped to victory in front of a home crowd during the Longines EEF Series Nations Cup, outperforming powerhouses like Germany and Great Britain. With a final score of zero penalties, the Belgian selection delivered a rock-solid performance.
The foundation for the victory was laid in the first round. Led by Chef d’équipe Filip Lacus, Belgium shot out of the starting blocks with one clear round after another. Koen Vereecke set the pace with a faultless ride on Quinoa de La Liniere, followed seamlessly by Frederic Vernaet (Orak d'Hamwyck T&L) and Gilles Thomas (Riesling Van T Roosakker). Jeroen Appelen also kept a clean sheet with King Cjs, ensuring the Belgians started the second round with a perfect record.
In the decisive second round, the team kept their cool. Vereecke and Vernaet repeated their masterclass, and when Gilles Thomas logged his second clear of the day, the win was secured. Jeroen Appelen's four penalties served as the drop score, allowing Belgium to take the top step of the podium with a brilliant score of 0. Great Britain finished in second place with four penalties, narrowly ahead of the Czech Republic and Germany.
"A Deliberate Choice for Quality"
Chef d’équipe Filip Lacus did not hide his pride afterward. According to him, the victory was no stroke of luck: "We deliberately came here with a highly competitive team to maximize our points," he stated during the press conference. Lacus praised Henk Linders' technical course, describing it as challenging yet fair, and noted that his experienced riders and talented horses handled the level excellently.
Focus on the Future
One of the absolute highlights was the relatively new partnership between Gilles Thomas and Riesling Van T Roosakker. Although they have only been a duo for a few months, confidence is high. "Riesling is a horse for the future," Thomas said. "Competitions like these in the Longines EEF Series are crucial for the development of both horse and rider toward the highest level." While he did not yet reveal his full future schedule, his ambition to represent the Belgian team in upcoming Nations Cups is clear.
Koen Vereecke also looked back on his double clear with the mare Quinoa de La Liniere with a big smile. "I definitely felt the pressure in the second round because we were right in the hunt for the win. But Quinoa actually jumped even better in the second round than in the first," Vereecke shared. Frederic Vernaet echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the rock-solid confidence Orak d’Hamwyck T&L gives him: "We knew beforehand that we had a strong team, and it’s fantastic to deliver on that here in the Stephex Arena in front of our home fans."
With this convincing victory, Belgium takes a significant step forward in the Longines EEF Series and once again confirms its status as a powerhouse in the world of showjumping.
