Text © World of Showjumping

Willem Greve and the 10-year-old stallion Highway M TN (Eldorado v. Zeshoek x Chellano) won Thursday night's CSI5*-W 1.50m Sport Vlaanderen Grand Prix at Jumping Mechelen 2022. 

The first-round track set by Eddy Geysemans (BEL) proved tricky, and in the end only five horse-and-rider-combinations managed to produce a clear round. As the second pair out in round one, Belgium's rising star Thibault Philippaerts (BEL) and Derby de Riverland (Kannan x L'Arc de Triopmhe) posted the first clear of the night, while directly after them Jeroen Appelen (BEL) and Moningo - D van'T Heyveld (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Brownboy) left all the fences intact as well, securing a jump-off to the joy of the cheerful Belgian crowd in the Nekkerhal. While the last fence caught out Philipp Weishaupt (GER) and Krokant (Kannan x Loran), Christian Ahlmann and Solid Gold Z (Stakkato Gold x Calvin Z) as well as Pieter Devos (BEL) and Claire Z (Clearway x Coronado), three more pairs posted clears and joined the deciding jump-off; Willem Greve and Highway M TN (Eldorado v. Zeshoek x Chellano), Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and H&M Legend of Love (Landzauber x Corgraf) as well as Edouard Schmitz (SUI) aboard Gamin van'T Naastveldhof (Chacco Chacco x Toulon). 

In the jump-off, only the top two produced another clear round and it was Appelen that set the standard when crossing the finish line in 37.38 seconds aboard Moningo - D van'T Heyveld. Even though Olivier Philippaerts and his faithful H&M Legend of Love were faster, the last fence fell which left Philippaerts behind Appelen. A home win was not to be though; Greve and Highway M TN impressed once again with their immaculate style, stopping the clock on 35.36 – taking the win, and leaving Appelen to the runner-up position, Olivier Philippaerts to third, Thibault Philippaerts to fourth and Schmitz to fifth. 

"It was big enough, and it jumped quite heavy," Greve said about the course. "In the first round, Highway felt really good. In the jump-off, I knew I had two fast combinations behind me so I had to push it a bit. Highway is very fast by nature, so I just tried to follow him," Greve said. "My horse has a high ground speed, and he is fast over the fences as well." 

"He is an incredible horse for me," Greve said about Highway M TN. "He is owned by the Nijhof-family, who has been great supporters for me through the years, first with Highway's father Eldorado and now with him and Grandorado as well. We have a very good partnership. I got Highway when he was seven, and he has always been a winner. Every challenge I have asked of him, he has done well, and together with Grandorado, they form a strong team of horses for me."

Greve was delighted to be ending his season on a high after plenty of ups and downs. "I had a great year, but then I broke my arm and my leg two weeks before the World Championships," he explained. "That was a disaster, but thanks to my team, my owners, the grooms and everyone in the stable, as well as Marc Houtzager who helped keeping my horses fit, I was quick in my recovery. As soon as I was ready, my horses were right there, ready to go, thanks to everyone – that made a big difference."

Thursday's second CSI5*-W class, a 1.45m against the clock presented by Miele went to Wilm Vermeir (BEL) and Linguini de La Pomme (Marius Claudius x Tinka's Boy) ahead of Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Donatello d'Auge (Jarnac x Hello Pierville) in second, Koen Vereecke (BEL) and Arioso du Bois (Rock'n'Roll Semilly x Qredo de Paulstra) in third, Thomas Ryan (IRL) and Karmel van de Watering (Diamant de Semilly x Quick Star) in fourth and Edouard Schmitz (SUI) aboard Babylone Des Erables (Chai D x Kashmir van het Schuttershof) in fifth.