Peter Weinberg’s side of Nicola Philippaerts with Katanga v/h Dingeshof, Pieter Devos and Casual DV Z, Thibeau Spits with Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z and Gilles Thomas with Ermitage Kalone pinned Great Britain into silver medal spot, while Germany finished close behind in bronze.
With the start list reduced from 18 teams to 10 after two days of Jumping it was the British who held the lead as the day began, but with only fractions separating them from Germany and Belgium.
Course designer, Santiago Varela, presented a much bigger track this time out, featuring a particularly influential line from the big triple-bar at fence eight to the Longines triple combination at fence nine, but Belgian opener, Philippaerts, made little of it to start his side off on a zero score. Devos’ 10-year-old mare however spooked at the oxer at fence two and had it down, so it was impossible to predict the outcome in the early stages.
Candy-stripe oxer
The German effort kicked off with a mistake at the candy-stripe oxer at fence five for Marcus Ehning and Coolio 42 which was followed by a clear from team-mate Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames My Prins. But although British number one, Ben Maher and his Olympic ride Dallas Vegas Batilly, were foot-perfect, second-line rider Matthew Sampson saw a nightmare repeat of the problems he encountered yesterday when Medoc de Toxandria stopped at the middle element of the triple combination. This time however the pair composed themselves and jumped through at their second attempt, but with 14 faults on the board as they left the arena.
Back with the Belgians, Thibeau Spits left all the fences up when third to go for his side despite a good rattle at the back pole of the oxer at fence three and crossed the line with just a single time penalty on the board. So when both the German and British third-line riders, Christian Kukuk and the mare Just be Gentle and Donald Whitaker with his mare Millfield Colette, collected four faults apiece then last-line Belgian, Gilles Thomas, already knew his country had won a medal – but that his round would decide exactly which one.
His handsome 11-year-old stallion made it all look very elementary as he soared around the track, and even before Ermitage Kalone had cleared the final vertical the 27-year-old athlete was punching the air with delight, knowing he had clinched golden glory for his country. The Belgian team’s finishing score of 5.61 was unassailable.
Now the Germans and British had to battle it out for silver and bronze and when German anchor, Richard Vogel, was faultless with United Touch S his team’s tally stood at 8.19 and only a clear from the final Briton, Scott Brash, would leave them on 7.96 for silver medal spot and pin Germany back into bronze.
In Thursday’s competition Brash’s heroics after losing his reins on a vital turn on the course had the crowd on the edges of their seats, and it was thrill-a-minute stuff again this evening as Hello Folie made her rider’s life a little too exciting once more with her wild antics. Somehow the pair made it across the line with nothing to add however to settle the podium placings.
Moment to savour
For Belgian Chef d’Equipe Peter Weinberg it was another moment to savour. He was also at the helm when Team Belgium won their very first European team title in Rotterdam (NED) in 2019.
“It was a quite young team this time but they are unbelievable riders and with very good nerves, as you could see in the second round. We came from behind and the horses were jumping brilliantly. And what also helps is also the course builder doing a fantastic job for us, so we are very happy people this evening!”
Pieter Devos was on that winning team six years ago and was amused to find himself as the senior member of the side this time around. But he said he had mixed feelings about his performances this week.
“[Thursday] I really had a little bit of an off day (8 faults). I started very well the first day but [Thursday] something happened at the triple combination…so [Friday] I wanted to do a good comeback and to try my best and go for a clear round. But then unfortunately my horse spooked or something at the second fence, also again very strange. I kept believing in a good result and I fought until the end to bring home at least four. I think I’ve done what I could [Friday] and I think we have a fantastic team,” he pointed out.
For 24-year-old Thibeau Spits, one of the nicest things about Friday’s victory was the support he received. “I think it’s really the Belgian spirit of helping each other, connecting with each other, to make each other better… I think it’s just the Belgian spirit that made such results possible,” he said.
And Nicola Philippaerts agreed.
“I can only be delighted with my horse, she’s amazing and she’s been jumping good all week. The team spirit is really good and I think today was really an effort from the whole team,” said Nicola Philippaerts.
Even though so much hung in the balance as he went into the arena as last man for his side today, Gilles Thomas said he had a good feeling. “But it wasn’t like the first day. Actually, maybe [Thursday] during my ride, I had a bit more pressure. [Friday], I felt already great in the warm-up and the whole team was there and they confirmed it. When you are walking the course, you have a bit of nerves. But when you get on a horse like this and start to jump then the pressure goes away a bit,” he said.
A mind-reader
Britain’s Scott Brash talked about his ride on Friday. It seems he has to be a bit of a mind-reader to anticipate his mare’s next move. “Folie is quick, she’s feisty and she wants to get on with the job. So it can make it challenging at times, but she tries very hard when she gets there. I have to try to visualise what she’s going to do around the course. We walk the course, we make a plan and then try to execute that plan the right way. I’m very happy with where she’s at, she’s jumped three brilliant days here and she hasn’t touched a fence,” said the British star.
And he was also delighted with his team’s silver medal result.
“Ben (Maher) did an incredible job again, sometimes people expect it from him, because he’s been so consistent, so good, over the years, but I thought he really rode Dallas fantastic [Friday] and [Thursday]. Matt (Sampson) had the hiccup [Thursday], which didn’t really help for today, but he regrouped well and still put a score on the board. He’s a great team man, he’s great to have around and his time will come, but it’s great he’s got a medal. He deserves it, he works hard, and he’s going to be there for the future. And Donald (Whitaker) did a fantastic job all week. We were very close and just very unlucky really. It’s been a great team with great team spirit and we’re all delighted,” he added.
Brash has every reason to be feeling positive for another reason too, because tonight he lies second on the individual leaderboard ahead of Sunday’s individual final, just behind Germany’s Richard Vogel who once again gave a jumping exhibition with United Touch S to secure that team bronze medal. Talking about his mighty 13-year-old stallion this evening, Vogel said the horse can be a bit nervous outside the ring, “but once he is inside he knows he has to concentrate and he did that really perfectly”.
Lying third individually is defending champion Steve Guerdat from Switzerland who is closely followed by two of Friday’s team gold medallists – Gilles Thomas in fourth and Nicola Philippaerts in fifth place. There is still so much great sport to come, but tonight it is time for a big Belgian team celebration.
Source: FEI press release by Louise Parkes
