For internationally renowned course builder Louis Konickx, it had been a very long time since he had built the courses for the National Championships in the Netherlands. He was therefore a bit apprehensive: "With so many groups you have to stay very close to your feelings. You have ponies, children, juniors, young riders and seniors and it's all flying around. In that respect, it was a 'hell of a job.' It's not so much in the work, but you have to keep it clear in your mind. I'm glad that it all worked out reasonably well."
Konickx keeps good memories of his first NC: "In Mierlo I once entered as a volunteer, at that time there was still a volunteer culture. It's nice that there still is, I liked that. Those volunteers know it's serious sport, know what work is but also know what fun is, that made it nice for me. I think I built courses for the juniors, young riders and seniors once, that went easily then. This NC was quite different with all those different championships. This was hard work. It was also too much to prepare. I did do a few studies with Quintin (Maertens, ed.) beforehand, but when we were here things went a little differently. It wasn't all perfect either, but I can only be satisfied, nothing happened either."
Unknown riders
Whereas at big international competitions Louis Konickx by now knows the participants and their level well, that was certainly not the case now in the youth classes. "I also used to know the youth better than now, I am too far removed from it all nowadays. The level was quite high, most of them ride technically well."
Konickx received a lot of praise from riders and national coaches for his selective and technical courses, the course builder was in turn positive about the soil of the jumping arena in Deurne: "In Mierlo we always had to keep the soil in mind on Sunday. In Deurne I could build higher."
After the first round, Louis Konickx even said "they go over it very easily, we are going up a hole. "I am happy with the result of this race, although I have to confess that I am not a competition man. That may sound crazy, but I want to see the horses jump beautifully. I totally enjoyed that today and especially in the second round."
source: KNHS
Konickx keeps good memories of his first NC: "In Mierlo I once entered as a volunteer, at that time there was still a volunteer culture. It's nice that there still is, I liked that. Those volunteers know it's serious sport, know what work is but also know what fun is, that made it nice for me. I think I built courses for the juniors, young riders and seniors once, that went easily then. This NC was quite different with all those different championships. This was hard work. It was also too much to prepare. I did do a few studies with Quintin (Maertens, ed.) beforehand, but when we were here things went a little differently. It wasn't all perfect either, but I can only be satisfied, nothing happened either."
Unknown riders
Whereas at big international competitions Louis Konickx by now knows the participants and their level well, that was certainly not the case now in the youth classes. "I also used to know the youth better than now, I am too far removed from it all nowadays. The level was quite high, most of them ride technically well."
Konickx received a lot of praise from riders and national coaches for his selective and technical courses, the course builder was in turn positive about the soil of the jumping arena in Deurne: "In Mierlo we always had to keep the soil in mind on Sunday. In Deurne I could build higher."
After the first round, Louis Konickx even said "they go over it very easily, we are going up a hole. "I am happy with the result of this race, although I have to confess that I am not a competition man. That may sound crazy, but I want to see the horses jump beautifully. I totally enjoyed that today and especially in the second round."
source: KNHS