This week, the 2023/2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League has moved on to Mechelen for the 9th and last leg of the year. The five-star action in the Nekkerhal in Belgium got underway on Wednesday, and it was the popular Philippaerts-brothers that ensured a successful first day for the hosts. 

Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) and Derby de Riverland (Kannan x L’Arc De Triomphe) topped the CSI5*-W 1.50m BMW Masters ahead of Pius Schwizer (SUI) and Cyra Z (Casimo x Balougran) in second and Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) aboard Le Blue Diamond van'T Ruytershof (Plot Blue x Diamant de Semilly) in third. 

“Mechelen is the highlight of the year for Belgian riders," Nicola said in a press release from Jumping Mechelen. "We aim for every victory, and the audience certainly helps us with that. I haven’t had Derby for long, but today he clearly showed what kind of horse he is. He jumped with confidence and has tremendous potential.”

“Such a competition takes more time, and it’s a challenge for the horses to adapt to the heights," he said about the format of the Masters, where the height of the fences grows for each round. "Today, we jumped five rounds, which is not easy. To spare your horse, you warm up as little as possible. After you’ve completed the course a few times, you know what to expect. But then you get to the jump-offs and have to carefully watch how your competitors tackle the course.”

Wednesday night's CSI5*-W 1.45m Léon Melchior Open Sires of the World, a class open for approved stallions, was won by Thibault Philippaerts (BEL) and the 9-year-old Obama de la Linière (Marius Claudius x Figo De Muze).

With a time of 33.87 in the jump-off between nine horse-and-rider-combinations, Philippaerts took the win ahead of Jens Vandenberk (BEL) and Faldiano (Heartbreaker x Jus de Pomme) in second in 34.74.

“Luck was on my side today," Thibault said in a press release from Jumping Mechelen. "It was like we flowed through the course. My father rode him as a 7-year-old, and we never discussed why he passed Obama on to me. I needed a horse, and Obama was ready. He trusted me enough to see what we could achieve together, and it’s currently going well. In any case, I am very pleased that the owners Joris De Brabander and Jeroen Lissens are giving us the opportunity to use Obama in sports. It’s a beautiful partnership.”

Matthew Sampson (GBR) and Daniel (Heartbreaker x San Patrignano Mister) placed third in 35.27, while Daniel Deusser (GER) and Otello de Guldenboom (Tobago Z x Caretino) finished fourth in 37.08 and Jos Verlooy (BEL) fifth in 41.40 aboard Nixon van'T Meulenhof (Denzel van'T Meulenhof x Carthago).