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Jeroen Appelen Claims Belgian Indoor Championship for the Second Year in a Row
(presented by Paardensport Vlaanderen and Avant)
“This was the first real test for Dancing Wolf O.L., and he passed with flying colors.”
The first day of Jumping Mechelen traditionally kicked off with the JM Kids Day. Thousands of young visitors and pony riders brought excitement and joy to the Nekkerhal. Shows, activities, pony rides, and demonstrations created a magical start to the event, highlighted by an energetic performance from No Direction & Liam van Milo.
In the evening, the youngest horse enthusiasts made way for the first major competition of Jumping Mechelen 2024: the Belgian Indoor Championship. A total of 45 Belgian riders competed, but only seven managed to complete the first round without penalties.
In the jump-off, Koen Vereecke quickly took the lead with Oilily de Muze (BWP). However, Thibault Philippaerts (Quilano | BWP) and the eventual winner, Jeroen Appelen, outpaced him. For the second consecutive year, Jeroen secured the title of Belgian Indoor Champion.
“Starting strong is always nice, especially at Jumping Mechelen,” Jeroen shared. “It’s the biggest competition in the country, and everyone looks forward to it. Plus, the Nekkerhal is practically in my backyard, which makes winning here extra special for me.”
For the championship, Jeroen rode Dancing Wolf O.L. (Mylord Carthago x Contender | MASAF), a horse he has only had in his stable for four months. “We’ve taken the time to get to know each other and gradually built our rhythm. The jump-off was strong, but I believe we made the difference in the final stretch to the finish. This was Dancing Wolf’s first big test, and he passed it with flying colors.”
Tomorrow, Jeroen will return to the arena, this time for the stallion competitions. Later this week, he will compete in top events such as the CSIW5* KBC Bank and Verzekering class and the Grote Prijs Sport Vlaanderen. For these events, he relies on the support of several grooms, although today he was assisted by his girlfriend, Maxime Hazebroek.
Click here for the full results of the Belgian Indoor Championship.
