In an overnight bronze position, the Belgian squad consisting of Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga vh Dingeshof (Cardento x Tornedo FCS), Pieter Devos and Causal DV Z (Cornet Obolensky x Cicero Z Van Paemel), Thibeau Spits and Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z (Indoktro K van’t Kattenheye Z x Vagabond de La Pomme), as well as Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan), attacked their competitors from behind in Friday’s final round of the team competition at the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship 2025 in A Coruña, Spain.
The Belgian boys only added one time penalty to their total score, to end on 5.61 penalties. With both Great Britain and Germany – in gold and silver position overnight – making mistakes, and adding four penalties each to their respective scores, they dropped down below Belgium with the Brits taking silver and the Germans bronze.
As Belgium’s last pair in the ring, 27-year-old Gilles Thomas and the phenomenal 11-year-old stallion Ermitage Kalone had the opportunity to secure the gold with Richard Vogel and Scott Brash still to come after them. Jumping spectacular on the two first days at Casas Novas, all eyes were on Ermitage Kalone as he entered the ring. And in a pure demonstration of power and precision, the two made light work of the course – and as he was clearing the last upright, Gilles Thomas punched a fist in the air in pure joy: He had just delivered the most important round of his career to bring the gold home for Belgium.
Here we look back at how it all unfolded for Team Belgium, and the celebrations that followed at Casas Novas Equestrian Centre.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No screenshots or reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.
Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga vh Dingeshof have jumped three clear rounds for Belgium at Casas Novas Equestrian Center so far this week.
The Kiss&Cry during Philippaerts's round.
Thumbs up after another clear round!
Ludo Philippaerts thanks the fantastic Katanga.
Things took a turn for the worse for the Belgians when Pieter Devos and Causal DV Z – their second duo out – had most of the rails on the oxer at no. 2 down, but they recovered well to finish on a score of four, which eventually would be the team's drop-score.
Pieter Devos' long-time groom Simon Rousic with the lovely Casual.
Thibeau Spits – 24 years old – and the 10-year-old stallion Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z really brought pulse into the competition as third out for Belgium when only adding a time penalty to their score in an otherwise foot-perfect round, having not touched a pole so far at Casas Novas.
Mixed emotions after just an agonising time penalty...
Thibeau Spits looked slightly disappointed after his time penalty.
But it quickly turned around; here he is congratulated by Nicola Philippaerts on another fantastic performance.
When Olympic champion Christian Kukuk and Just Be Gentle picked up four faults on the triple bar for Germany, and Donald Whitaker had a rail on the oxer at no. 13b with the splendid Millfield Colette for Great Britain, Belgium had taken over the lead on a score of 5.61 ahead of the last rotation of riders, with the Brits sitting second on 7.96 and the Germans third on 8.19. Belgian anchors Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone could now secure the gold...
Full focus...
... with a nervous crew on the Kiss&Cry...
...who could erupt in pure joy when Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone...
...went clear!
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Gold it is!
Oh, Ermitage....How we all love you!
Hugs, kisses, treats!
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Now, that's a big smile Nicola!
Sanne Melsen with the one and only Ermitage Kalone.
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A big hug from Marcus Ehning for Nicola Philippaert's extremely hard working groom Tiffany Letallec.
Admiring Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z, who really has lived up to his name this week.
The golden horses and riders!
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Gold is looking good on you Ermitage Kalone!
Thibeau Spits being congratulated by his grandfather Jos Ceulemans.
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Patrick Spits celebrating the Belgian success.
Well done Tiffany!
A very happy Team Philippaerts!
Golden Gilles!
Well that's a happy crew! Stephan Detry, Patrick Spits, Joris Van Dijck, Marc Van Dijck, Gunther Van Lent, Ludo Philippaerts, and Jos Ceulemans. Congrats to all involved in the Belgian success!
Then