Three FEI World Cups between Christmas and New Year Eve in Mechelen

Known from the dog’s lovers for being the Malinois’s city of birth, one of the four breeds of Belgian Sheepdog, Mechelen is also famous in the equestrian world for hosting the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, which counts 85 000 visitors per year. This Belgian leg is the ninth European qualifier after London, Oslo, Helsinki, Verona, Lyon, Stuttgart, Madrid and La Coruña, with 13 in total across the continent and a rider’s seven best results counting.

Eighteen riders from Europe can earn a spot for the next spring’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden, with a victory worth 20 points and 40 points usually enough to qualify. For now, three riders have already reached or passed the 40-point threshold: Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat with 58 points, Belgium’s Pieter Devos with 46 points, thanks to his victory in Stuttgart, and Germany’s Daniel Deusser after he won Verona and Madrid’s legs. Three others riders have almost reached 40 points: Gudrun Patteet for Belgium, the Australian Edwina Tops-Alexander, and Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs.  Among them, only Gudrun Patteet participates at this ninth stops and might climb the ranking this week-end.

But to know how the ranking will evolve, spectators will have to wait until December 30th  for the CSIW 5* Longines FEI World Cup Grand Prix. With 46 riders on the starting list, the show promises to be spectacular. This year, world number one Harrie Smolder, last year winner, will compete against world number two Steve Guerdat, on top of the World Cup ranking after the first eight legs.  The French too are sending a great delegation to Mechelen: Roger Yves Bost, winner in 2016, Kevin Staut and Simon Delestre. Only two riders will represent Great Britain: Guy Williams and Robert Whitaker.

Mechelen is also hosting two others FEI World Cups. Visitors won’t miss the CDIW Grand Prix Freestyle on December 29th and the FEI World Cup Driving on December 30th.

Starting list: here

Watch live: here

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup’s ranking: here

This week-end, equestrian’s lovers can also enjoy the Liverpool Horse Show in Great Britain from December 28th to December 31st. In order to close the year with a great show jumping, the CSI4* will begin at 7pm on December 31st featuring some British stars like Laura Renwick, John Whitaker and Michael Whitaker.

Program: here

Starting list: here