On this festive day filled with music and shows, one would almost forget that at Jumping Mechelen we also enjoy five days of top-class sport. The crème de la crème of Belgian show jumping had yet another magnificent spectacle in store for our audience. They were all eager to compete for the title of Belgian Indoor Champion.
40 riders entered the competition. But only nine of them made it to the jump-off. Among them the 2019 winner Andres Vereecke and his father Koen. The latter has already won this class several times before. With a lightning-fast jump-off on the Selle Français Arioso du Bois (Rock’N Roll Semilly x Qredo De Paulstra), it was ultimately the father who dethroned the son.
“Riding fast, that was my strategy in the jump-off,” an overjoyed Koen Vereecke told us after the class.“I just wanted to be the quickest. Andres had some bad luck in the jump-off. I saw it happen on the screens. And of course that’s very unfortunate. But I’m still also happy to come out on top..”
Arioso was also quite pleased: “I know that horse so well. I already felt in the warming-up arena that winning was in the cards. Sometimes he is a bit calmer and then he usually jumps a good clear round. But today he was very playful during the warm-up. And when he gives me that feeling, I just know he’s going for the win. Or maybe it was the magic of Jumping Mechelen. It feels so good to be back here.”
As the winner of the Belgian Indoor Championship, presented by Paardensport Vlaanderen and Avant, Koen Vereecke gets to take home a brand new Avant machine.“I already have one that I regularly work with in the stables. So I am very happy!”
Pictures: Studio Temps De Poses – Jumping Mechelen
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