he was part of the Belgian team that secured the bronze medal in the Nations Cup. Throughout the entire competition, Olivier achieved an impressive total of six top-ten finishes. "As I reflect on the past competition, I find myself torn between two sentiments. I have mixed feelings," begins Olivier Philippaerts. "Overall, the horses performed well, but aside from that, I couldn't secure a spot in the Sunday afternoon Grand Prix. While I am part of the team that won bronze, I also had one too many jumping faults. I had expected more from myself." The performance of Thibault Philippaerts on Sunday morning quickly became the talk of the town. The 21-year-old Philippaerts marked his debut very well and claimed victory in the Young Riders Grand Prix riding his horse Pompidou van het Kuilenhof. On Friday, Thibault Philippaerts already stood on the podium when he finished third in the NetAachen-Prize, also with Pompidou. "I am extremely pleased with the results from last week. It was the first time I had the opportunity to compete on the prestigious grass arena. I have watched my father, Olivier, and Nicola perform there so many times. To now be riding there myself and even winning a competition is fantastic," says Thibault Philippaerts. "Out of the two competitions I participated in, I won one and finished third in the other. My horse didn't have much experience, but he performed brilliantly. We purchased Pompidou van het Kuilenhof when he was seven years old. Pompidou comes from nearby Bocholt, where he was bred and raised by Jo Maesen." Just like his brother Thibault, Anthony Philippaerts made his debut in Aachen. On Friday, he finished seventh in the NetAachen-Prize riding Orchidee van Dorperheide. "Participating in Europe’s largest equestrian event of the year is an incredible experience," shares Anthony Philippaerts. "I remember coming here as a young boy to cheer for my father and my brothers. You often dream of being able to do the same one day. That dream came true last week. Riding onto that massive grass arena truly evokes emotions. In one word: fantastic. On one hand, it brings a touch of stress, but on the other hand, it's an immense honor and a reward for all the hard work. Sure, it may not have been a five-star competition, but that doesn't diminish its significance." In closing, Ludo Philippaerts shares his thoughts. "It is very unfortunate what happened to Nicola and Katanga. For the second year in a row, they were able to qualify for the jump-off of the Aachen Grand Prix. And who knows what could have happened there. Katanga is in the form of her life. You don't often get such an opportunity in your lifetime," says Ludo Philippaerts. "On the other hand, unfortunately, this is part of the realities of top-level sports. You can and should be disappointed, but you also have to move on. Learn from the mistakes and become better. Those eight hundredths of a second are a shame, a real shame. But it must not overshadow the rest of the week. Bronze in the Nations Cup, a victory for Nicola in the young horses category, a victory for Thibault in the Youngsters, several top ten placements for Olivier, and a seventh place for Anthony. Believe me, this is exceptional too. I am proud of my sons and everyone who has contributed to this success."
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