Belgium’s Philippaerts caps stellar performance by nation with Grand Prix victory in Portugal

Indeed, the victory by the 24-year-old native of Genk, Belgium – son of Ludo Philippaerts and twin brother of Olivier Philippaerts, also elite-level Show Jumpers – on his 11-year-old grey gelding H&M Harley vd Bisschop was one of several by Belgians at the Hipódromo Manuel Possolo. Wathelet and Karel Cox were among the winners in other classes.

As observers on the ground described, the 1.60 m Grand Prix of Cascais, Estoril took place in ‘challenging’ conditions, with clear skies under a crescent moon but wind gusts up to 40 km/h in the Atlantic coast resort near Lisbon. Out of the 32 starters, six retired, including the current LGCT leader Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia on Inca Boy van T Vianahof. “It just wasn’t my week,” Tops-Alexander said afterwards. “My horse is still green and I had to do the right thing and retire him today.”

Another retiree from the class was Ireland’s Michael Duffy on EFS Top Commander, although his similarly-named compatriot Michael G. Duffy, on Lapuccino, was the top Irish finisher in 16th. The Emerald Isle was also represented in the marquee competition by Mark McAuley (19th on Miebello), Cameron Hanley and Quirex (20th), Denis Lynch and RMF Echo (22nd) and Bertram Allen and Hector van d’Abdijhoeve, also retired. There were no riders from Great Britain in the Grand Prix.

Eight pairs had clear first rounds to go through to the jump-off Saturday evening, with Philippaerts and his mount recording the fastest time after a second faultless ride, 39.57 s, against Wathelet’s result of 40.93 s and third-place Eduardo Alvarez Aznar on Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot (41.36 s).

“I think he (H&M Harley) is in really good shape,” Philippaertssaid. “We rested him after Hamburg.  I can’t thank him more and hopefully he will stay in good shape though the season. It is always nice if you can beat a guy like Gregory, he is known everywhere.”

All of the performances from the first round and tie-breaker at the Portuguese venue can be seen again here. In the Global Champions League battle, the Paris Panthers team led by Wathelet (on Qualido and Mjt Nevados S) alongside Darragh Kenny (Balou du Reventon) took first place in front of the Scandinavian Vikings and London Knights (also represented by Nicola Philippaerts). London is in the lead for the League at the halfway point of the season, with the team standings here. Next stop for the LGCT and GCL is Monaco, from June 28–30, before the horses and riders head to Paris and Chantilly, France.