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Between Christmas and New Year, the Nekkerhal once again becomes the beating heart of international equestrian sport. For more than forty years, Jumping Mechelen, Vlaanderens Kerstjumping, Memorial Eric Wauters, has stood for top-level sport, atmosphere and spectacle. This year is no exception, as the very best of the equestrian world return to Mechelen.
Across jumping, dressage and driving, the three most popular equestrian disciplines, the world’s leading riders and drivers compete for prestige, FEI World Cup points and the chance to shine on one of the most iconic indoor arenas of the season.

Jumping Mechelen is about far more than elite sport alone. The unique blend of international top competitions, national classes and shows, combined with a warm Christmas atmosphere and an enthusiastic audience, makes the event a must-visit for riders, horse lovers and sports fans from Belgium and far beyond.

Course designer Bart Vonck aims to surprise with variation and subtle challenges

Showjumping fans can indulge themselves for five full days, with the ultimate highlight taking place on Tuesday 30 December, when the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, presented by BMW, is on the programme. For riders, Mechelen is a key stop on the World Cup circuit, where crucial points are up for grabs on the road to the final later in the season.

“Alongside the five-star classes, there is the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy, CSI2* competitions, youth classes and amateur events. Those with an eye on the future of the sport should plan their visit for Saturday, when young jumping horses and sought-after stallions take centre stage. But as a Belgian, it is of course very special to be able to build the 5* courses here. Jumping Mechelen is the event for us, and it always will be.” – Bart Vonck

Spectators can expect sport at the very highest level, featuring technical courses, thrilling jump-offs and combinations pushed to their limits. International stars and Belgian crowd favourites will all be present. Course designer Bart Vonck, responsible for the course design in Mechelen for the third time, stresses that Jumping Mechelen goes far beyond the CSI5* competitions. “This is a huge event,” Vonck explains. “Alongside the five-star classes, there is the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy, CSI2* competitions, youth classes and amateur events. Those with an eye on the future of the sport should plan their visit for Saturday, when young jumping horses and sought-after stallions take centre stage. But as a Belgian, it is of course very special to be able to build the 5* courses here. Jumping Mechelen is the event for us, and it always will be.”

Vonck, who has followed the event for more than thirty years and has marked it in his calendar for nearly fifteen, particularly looks forward to the major highlights such as the CSIW5* KBC Bank & Verzekering, the Sport Vlaanderen Grand Prix (CSIW5* 1.55m) and the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, presented by BMW (CSIW5* 1.60m). “In those classes, we want to surprise with variety and subtle challenges,” he says. “The art is finding the right balance, difficult enough to create excitement, but always fair and achievable for the horses.”
He is also keeping a close eye on the starting field. “Once again, we will see strong Belgian riders, driven by their home crowd, alongside international stars like Julien Epaillard and a powerful Dutch delegation led by current World Cup leader Willem Greve. As a course designer, you want to create an exciting competition for everyone. When that succeeds, it adds enormously to the atmosphere. And that is exactly what makes Jumping Mechelen so special.”

Belgian world-class talent chasing the ultimate rider’s dream

Belgium’s position at the very top of the global showjumping scene is well established. What many may not realise is that all Belgian stars have been part of Jumping Mechelen since childhood. Riders such as Niels Bruynseels, Pieter Devos, Nicola and Thibault Philippaerts, Thibeau Spits, Gilles Thomas and Jérôme Guéry never want to miss this event.
Bruynseels claimed the Belgian Championship for seven-year-old horses last summer aboard Vintage, by Vagabond de La Pomme. More recently, Thibeau Spits made his mark in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, where he secured third place with Impress K van ’t Kattenheye, by Indoktro K van ’t Kattenheye. At the previous edition in Mechelen, the then 23-year-old rider repeatedly impressed in the CSI5* circuit, with no fewer than four top-ten finishes, including third place with Conrad Quality Z, by Connor, in the CSI5* Jumping Mechelen Prize.

Belgian riders competing in the World Cup include Jordy Van Massenhove, Mike Van Olst, Jos Verlooy, Annelies Vorsselmans and Gregory Wathelet. They will be joined in the other CSI5* classes by Jeroen Appelen, Gudrun Patteet, Leonie Peeters, Olivier Philippaerts, Jules Van Hoydonck, Wilm Vermeir and Frédéric Vernaet.

Olympic-level international competition

“Belgians are true horse people, and you feel that in every aspect of the event, especially in the crowd. There is genuine passion and admiration, and that energy carries right into the arena.”

International stars once again make their way to Vlaanderens Kerstjumping. The entry list features World Cup Final winner Julien Epaillard, multiple Jumping Mechelen World Cup winner Daniel Deusser, last year’s winner Hans-Dieter Dreher, multiple Olympic medallist Maikel van der Vleuten and Olympic champion Steve Guerdat. Dutch rider Willem Greve currently leads the FEI Jumping World Cup Western European League after a series of strong performances. He opened the year with a victory in Leipzig aboard Highway TN N.O.P., by Eldorado van de Zeshoek, marking the first World Cup win of his career. This was followed by third place in Bordeaux with Grandorado TN N.O.P., also by Eldorado van de Zeshoek. More recently, Greve relied on the family Rooms-bred Pretty Woman van ’t Paradijs N.O.P., by Vigo d’Arsouilles, to secure victories in both Stuttgart and La Coruña.