The second week of the Autumn MET II 2021 concluded with the CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix, where the Belgian rider Nicola Philippaerts and the 10-year-old stallion Gijs claimed victory. Only five combinations of the 60 participants managed to ride a clear first round and thus qualify for the jump-off. The course, designed by French course designer Gregory Bodo, was not only a technical challenge but the permitted time of 73 seconds also played a major role in this Grand Prix.
It was an international affair in the jump-off, with Mike Kawai (JPN) and Saxo de la Cour (Tlaloc M x Jalisco B), Michel Robert (FRA) with Bingo Del Tondou (Vigo D Arsouilles Stx x Querlybet Hero), Rebecca Conway (USA) and Con Coleur (Contendro I x Couleur Rubin), Niklaus Schurtenberger (AUT) in the saddle of Quincassi (Quintero x Cassini I) and Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) with Gijs (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Numero Uno) who competed against each other in the jump-off.
As the first duo in the jump-off, Kawai was determined, but suffered a fault in the jump-off, while French legend Michel Robert set the first double clear of the day by clocking off at 45.45 seconds. Conway and Schurtenberger were faster, but had to pay for the risks taken and both saw a pole on the floor.
Finally, it was the turn of Nicolas Philippaerts in the saddle of Gijs. The pair already showed they were in top form last week when he won a 1.45m Longines Ranking class in Oliva Nova. Philippaerts kept his turns tight and the pace constant, crossing the finish line in 40.49 seconds. He won, bumping Robert into second place, Conway into third, Kawai into fourth and Schurtenberger into fifth.
What were your tactics to bring this jump-off to a successful ending?
"There were only five of us in the jump-off, so I thought I'd take a shot at beating Michel. I was lucky to go in towards the end so I could see a little bit of what the rest did. In the end it was my day and it worked out, I'm satisfied!"
How is the partnership with Gijs going so far?
"I haven't had him for that long, but he has been going well here. Gijs has had a lot of good results lately and jumps well. He won the small Grand Prix last week; I think he likes the sun here. So I'm very happy with the result today."
How has your time in MET Oliva been over the past two weeks?
"I've been coming here for a few years now and I really like it. It's not so easy for us in the winter season, but here the horses get a little bit of sun and they can go to the beach in the morning, so I think it's very good for them mentally to come here. I always enjoy coming back to Oliva."
The 2021 Autumn MET II continues with the third week of competition starting today, November 9.
Source: Press Release