This week, sports, show, and horse enthusiasts are wrapping up the year at Jumping Mechelen. A lot of emerging Belgian talent is present, including Thibeau Spits!
At just 23 years old, Thibeau Spits is competing in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup for the third time. Other young top talents like Jules Van Hoydonck (22), Evelyne Putters (20), Mathieu Bourdeaud’hui (21), Thibault Philippaerts (23), and Maverick Van Lent (25) are not competing in the World Cup but have the opportunity to shine in other top events such as the Sires of the World, the BMW Masters, the CSIW5* KBC Bank & Insurance, and the Grand Prix Sport Vlaanderen.
Thibeau Spits has had an incredibly impressive year. Together with Impress-K van 't Kattenheye, he won his first 5* Grand Prix (LGTC Grand Prix – Riesenbeck), among other victories. During the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, presented by BMW, Thibeau will compete with Impress. Thibeau says, “I look back on a very consistent competition year with satisfaction. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for much more. But, like all other Belgian riders, Jumping Mechelen is the dream for me. Because I’ve had such a good year, I believe in my chances and approach the World Cup with ambition.”
Thibeau is a prime example of a top rider who has literally and figuratively grown up at Flanders Christmas Jumping. “The JM Indoor Masters, the KBC Golden Reins, even the mini steeple with Shetland ponies—there are few jumping events at Jumping Mechelen that I haven’t ridden. My fondest memory is my third place in the CSIW5* KBC Bank & Insurance in 2019. I was 18, entered with no expectations, and found it incredibly exciting to compete against my idols like Kevin Staut and Grégory Wathelet. Experiences like that have definitely helped me get to where I am now. I’m really looking forward to giving my best in Mechelen, where so many friends and family will be there to support me. My grandfather (Jos Ceulemans), for instance, will also be there. He is one of my biggest supporters and rarely gets to travel abroad. The breeders of Impress are also coming to cheer us on.”
At just 23 years old, Thibeau Spits is competing in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup for the third time. Other young top talents like Jules Van Hoydonck (22), Evelyne Putters (20), Mathieu Bourdeaud’hui (21), Thibault Philippaerts (23), and Maverick Van Lent (25) are not competing in the World Cup but have the opportunity to shine in other top events such as the Sires of the World, the BMW Masters, the CSIW5* KBC Bank & Insurance, and the Grand Prix Sport Vlaanderen.
Thibeau Spits has had an incredibly impressive year. Together with Impress-K van 't Kattenheye, he won his first 5* Grand Prix (LGTC Grand Prix – Riesenbeck), among other victories. During the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, presented by BMW, Thibeau will compete with Impress. Thibeau says, “I look back on a very consistent competition year with satisfaction. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for much more. But, like all other Belgian riders, Jumping Mechelen is the dream for me. Because I’ve had such a good year, I believe in my chances and approach the World Cup with ambition.”
Thibeau is a prime example of a top rider who has literally and figuratively grown up at Flanders Christmas Jumping. “The JM Indoor Masters, the KBC Golden Reins, even the mini steeple with Shetland ponies—there are few jumping events at Jumping Mechelen that I haven’t ridden. My fondest memory is my third place in the CSIW5* KBC Bank & Insurance in 2019. I was 18, entered with no expectations, and found it incredibly exciting to compete against my idols like Kevin Staut and Grégory Wathelet. Experiences like that have definitely helped me get to where I am now. I’m really looking forward to giving my best in Mechelen, where so many friends and family will be there to support me. My grandfather (Jos Ceulemans), for instance, will also be there. He is one of my biggest supporters and rarely gets to travel abroad. The breeders of Impress are also coming to cheer us on.”