Come back victory for Ludo Philippaerts

In front of a packed Nekkerhal in Mechelen, Ludo Philippaerts took it home, literally. In a jump off of eight combinations, the Belgian rider took risks, attacking all fences. The reward was as good as it can get: winning in front of an almost hysteric home crowd, keeping the 20 Belgian World Cup points inside Belgium. 

Relief

“This is what I’ve been waiting for for a long time.” Ludo Philippaerts says it with a big sigh of relief, as if he had made his come back to the international top level. ”I can’t remember when I won my last World Cup qualifier, I think it was in Bordeaux or Paris, maybe eight years ago.”

The seventh leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition resulted in a very special victory. Last Sunday in the Nekkerhal, Ludo Philippaerts said goodbye to his former top horse Parco, the grey stallion who took him to his last FEI World Cup™ win eight years ago. Now Parco will dedicate himself completely to covering mares. Only two days later another grey stallion took over from the legendary Parco. Cavalor Winningmood showed the same attitude as his predecessor, ‘eating’ all fences, jumping with the greatest of hearts.

“They are quite alike”, says Ludo. “Both grey, both by Darco. But Winningmood has even more blood than Parco. I bought him when he was only six months old and I’m still the owner, so I gave myself a nice Christmas present!”

This present consisted of a brand new Land Rover, very suitable as Philippaerts will go on holiday to Tanzania tomorrow.

Steamy atmosphere

The Belgian edition of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition was a superb event in its own right. Five degrees below Celcius outside, but a hot and steamy atmosphere inside the Nekkerhal, where no seat was untaken. Most top riders were at home, celebrating their holidays. But the fight was as exciting as ever.

Lucien Somers took into account that most high ranked riders were not present in Mechelen this time. His course was not very technical, yet big enough. Still a lot of horses made silly and unexpected mistakes. Philippaerts did not think the warm and damp atmosphere caused horses to make mistakes. “As soon as you get inside and can ride in front of this wonderful crowd, you don’t feel heat or anything else, you just want to go. And I think my horse received the same inspiration from this great atmosphere.”

Belgian talents

It was nice to see that several young Belgian riders knocked on the door of international top sport. Two young talents made it to the jump off, of whom Pieter Devos had to set the track. “Tonight you needed a horse that can jump high and tricky verticals”, says the 22 year old, elected as AA Talent of Belgium. The long line in seven short strides to a high vertical and the Zangersheide vertical, a little bit hidden in the middle of the arena, indeed took their toll. In the jump off the long seven stride to the Zangersheide vertical, the only technical challenge in the decisive round, made Devos’ blood type mare Tekila D hollow her back and lower her hind legs. Four faults, but the time (38.62 sec.) soon turned out to be very sharp.

Lengthen strides

Christian Ahlmann inspired his scopy but slow Lorenzo to lengthen his strides. The son of Lord Caletto was playing with the big fences, but the clear round in 40.60 sec didn’t look like good enough for victory.

Third to go Jos Lansink tried to prepare Valentina van ‘t Heike for the turn straight after the landing of fence thirteen. Holding contact with the mouth of his sensitive mare, Valentina stiffened her back and made the mistake with her hind leg. The four faults in 40.28 left the World Champion with no more than seventh place.

Ludo Philippaerts had to kick his brave and willing stallion Cavalor Winningmood in order to cover the long seven stride to the Zangersheide vertical. Every turn was sharp as a knife, the last one to the big triple bar was very risky, but Winningmood acted according to his name and left all rails untouched: 0/38.53 sec.

Sweat and wait

Four riders were left to make Philippaerts sweat, waiting for what soon turned out to be his come back victory, 18 years after his last Mechelen World Cup win aboard Fidelgo. Penelope Leprevost did not survive the long seven stride to the Zangersheide vertical, Daniel Etter had a wonderful second clear round aboard Peu a Peu, but 38.90 seconds was only good enough for second place, Judy-Ann Melchior had two rails down and also last to go Denis Lynch didn’t keep a clean sheet for the second time.

The seventh leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition, a tropical event in the freezing city of Mechelen, did not just have the winner that everyone dreamed of. Ludo Philippaerts also was the guy who deserved to win, adding his typical fighting spirit to his riding skills.

Effect on the WC competition

‘Mechelen’ had a great effect on the standings after seven legs of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition. Winner Philippaerts is pretty confident that he will qualify for the final in Las Vegas. His stallion Cavalor Winningmood now returns to stud to collect semen and will return to the show jumping circuit in February. Daniel Etter also had a day well spent. The 17 World Cup points for second position give him the possibility to relax and get his horse Peu a Peu fresh for Vegas.

Results of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition in Mechelen:

1)      Ludo Philippaerts (BEL), Cavalor Winningmood, 0-0/38.53 sec.

2)      Daniel Etter (SUI), Peu a Peu, 0-0/38.90 sec.

3)      Christian Ahlmann (GER), Lorenzo, 0-0/40.60 sec.

4)      Pieter Devos (BEL), Tekila D, 0-4/38.62 sec.

5)      Denis Lynch (IRL), Nabab’s Son, 0-4/40.21 sec.

6)      Pénélope Leprevost (FRA), Jubilee d’Ouilly, 0-4/40.22 sec.

7)      Jos Lansink (BEL), Valentina van ‘t Heike, 0-4/40.28 sec.

8)      Judy-Ann Melchior (BEL), Aktion Pur Z, 0-8/42.27 sec.

Standings after 7 of 13 competitions:

1) Steve Guerdat (SUI), 51

2) Daniel Etter (SUI), 45

3) Ludo Philippaerts (BEL), 41

4) Ben Maher (GBR), 39

4) Edwina Alexander (AUS), 39

6) Geir Gulliksen (NOR), 35

6) Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), 35 (already qualified)

8) Max Kühner (GER), 34

9) Rutherford Latham (ESP), 33

10) Gerco Schröder (NED), 30

10) Helena Lundbäck (SWE), 30

12) Thomas Velin (DEN), 27

13) Omar Bonomelli (ITA), 25

14) Vincent Voorn (NED), 22

15) Alois Pollmann Schweckhorst (GER), 20

15) Jos Lansink (NED), 20

15) Nicolas Delmotte (FRA), 20

18) Marcus Ehning (GER), 19

19) Lars Nieberg (GER), 18

19) Tim Stockdale (GBR), 18