It has been almost 20 years since the Belgian showjumping team won a Nations Cup on home turf. This weekend, on Friday the Belgium Nations Cup is scheduled in Brussels. "Last year I was in the team in Knokke, the atmosphere competing on home turf is amazing. Time we go for the home-win," says Olivier Philippaerts.
"This week I actually expect it will be incredible. On Friday evening, it will be dark when we have to perform, but the atmosphere will be incredible. I am actually looking forward to it."
Belgium's teamchef is hopeful. "We have a great team selected with Pieter Devos, Grégory Wathelet, Jérome Guery and Abdel Said. On Thursday I will decide the final team after watching the first classes of our competitors. I mainly watch how the Swedish and Swiss riders perform."
"It are busy times. This week the Nations Cup in Brussels, next week the European Championships in Milan and the week after the Calgary, Spruce Meadows Rolex Grand Slam. This forces us to make decisions in what riders to allow to compete where, to ensure not to overload the horses (and riders)."
18 years have passed
"Wow that has been a while," reacts Ludo Philippaerts. "I knew it has been some years since we won a Nations Cup on home turf, but that long... I actually didn't expect. But times were different then. These days the agenda is filled with major CSI(O)5* competitions. It has become very hard to manage the horses with such a busy schedule. Fortunately we have plenty of good horses in Belgium. I actually feel hopeful we can deliver a Belgian victory this week..."
"This week I actually expect it will be incredible. On Friday evening, it will be dark when we have to perform, but the atmosphere will be incredible. I am actually looking forward to it."
Belgium's teamchef is hopeful. "We have a great team selected with Pieter Devos, Grégory Wathelet, Jérome Guery and Abdel Said. On Thursday I will decide the final team after watching the first classes of our competitors. I mainly watch how the Swedish and Swiss riders perform."
"It are busy times. This week the Nations Cup in Brussels, next week the European Championships in Milan and the week after the Calgary, Spruce Meadows Rolex Grand Slam. This forces us to make decisions in what riders to allow to compete where, to ensure not to overload the horses (and riders)."
18 years have passed
"Wow that has been a while," reacts Ludo Philippaerts. "I knew it has been some years since we won a Nations Cup on home turf, but that long... I actually didn't expect. But times were different then. These days the agenda is filled with major CSI(O)5* competitions. It has become very hard to manage the horses with such a busy schedule. Fortunately we have plenty of good horses in Belgium. I actually feel hopeful we can deliver a Belgian victory this week..."