Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) is back with a bang. After two months of absence from the show rings due to an injury sustained at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, Philippaerts took home the win in the Longines Trophy Grand Prix of Maastricht. Riding the 11-year-old mare H&M Legend of Love (Landzauber x Corgraf), Olivier clocked the winning time of 37,93 seconds in the jump-off.
“I have been here at Jumping International Maastricht many times when I was small”, the happy winner told the press after the class. “My brother won the Grand Prix here last year and told me that now the pressure is on - so I am happy to win here today!” he laughed. “I still go three to four times a week to see my physio, but by the end of the year my shoulder should be totally healed.”
Frank Schuttert (NED) on the 9-year-old stallion Chianti's Champion (Champion du Lys x unknown) took the runner-up position with a time of 38,65 seconds in the jump-off. “I am very happy with my horse, he jumped great over the whole weekend”, Frank commented. “I think he did a really good job today, he just played around the course. I tried what I could in the jump-off, and I am very happy with the second place”, he continued. “From the first fence to the second I did six strides, and I did one less (stride) than Olivier in the last line, so I don’t really know where I lost the time”, he analyzed his ride.
Lisa Nooren (NED) on the 11-year-old stallion VDL Groep Sabech d'Ha (Qredo de Paulstra x Talent Platiere) took the third place with a time of 38,69 seconds in the jump-off. “Also two years ago I was third here, so I wanted to go for the win this time”, she smiled. “But I am very happy, this was the first big show back for my horse after he had a break. I think I could have been slightly quicker in two places, but this is a part of the sport; sometimes you see the distance, sometimes you don’t. Unfortunately I did not see a forward distance to the last fence.”
Kevin Olsmeyer (NED) on the 9-year-old gelding Dalvaro 2 (Calvaro Z x Glendale) took the fourth place after ending the jump-off in 43,35 seconds and Julien Epaillard (FRA) on the 10-year-old mare Toupie de la Rouge (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) placed fifth after having one fence down in a time of 38,25 seconds in the jump-off.
The first round over 1.55m fences counted 13 obstacles and 16 efforts, set by the Dutch course designer Louis Konickx. A total of nine horse and rider combinations cleared the challenge and joined the jump-off over a shortened, eight fence track. “I am very happy with the end result”, Louis commented on his day’s work. “After the first ten riders I had some doubts about maybe the course not being big enough, but in the end the game turned.”
“Each of the riders on the podium today live about 30 minutes from here – you have to live around Maastricht, that must be the secret”, Frank Kempermann, the show director of this wonderful event, commented. “I think we had a fantastic show and we are working to becoming bigger - we want to grow and we are doing our best to make the show good for everyone.”
Text and photos (c) World of Showjumping.