Top Belgian showjumper promises return to the Winter Equestrian Festival

Nicola Philippaerts and Gijs jumping to victory in the final grand prix of the season at WEF — Nicola Philippaerts and Gijs take victory in the final grand prix of the season at WEF

(Image credit: Sportfot)

Owners of the newly-branded Wellington International – home to the Winter Equestrian Festival – will be pleased to know that top riders are already ringing the changes. “I think for sure for next year there will be quite a big future here as well,” said Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts. “It will be exciting to see what’s going to happen and what the plans are, and I will be happy to come back.”

Nicola ended his second full year at Winter Equestrian Festival on a high after landing victory in the $50,000 national grand prix riding his 11-year-old bay stallion, Gijs. Nicola’s jump off time of 41.42sec brought home the win ahead of runner up, Britain’s Ben Maher who finished on 43.34sec with Point Break.

Nicola acquired Gijs last year after coming back to Wellington. “He’s been having good results and he started very good, this season, and then he had a little bit of a dip, but now he feels good again. He wants to give the best of himself. He’s got a lot of blood for a big horse and he’s very quick for a big horse. He’s got a fantastic character. He’s nice to ride and he’s not ‘stallion’ at all.”

Until last year Nicola had only visited Winter Equestrian Festival for a week or so, but had never ridden at the show until he stayed for the full season last year. “It’s been very good for us – the last two years – sales wise, but also on results. This year I had a very good circuit. It’s always nice to win a national grand prix here. Hopefully, we will have a good circuit again next year.

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Sarah Eakin is an international equestrian journalist who writes for publications on both sides of the Atlantic, including Horse & Hound, The Independent and The Daily Telegraph in the UK. A former Pony Club team member for dressage, showjumping and eventing, Sarah’s mother trained National Hunt horses and she and her three brothers also played polo. Formerly married to a US professional polo player, Sarah is currently based in Wellington, Florida.

Top European rider will return to Winter Equestrian Festival after winning final grand prix of the season

“It’s also nice for me as a European to ride against different people and be in a different crowd here. It’s been good for me so I really want to come back.”

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