Gregory Wathelet scooped the honours for the host nation when coming out on top at the eighth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2011/2012 series at Mechelen in Belgium.  And he did it in style, throwing down an impossible target when first to go with Copin van de Broy in the eight-horse jump-off, and sitting back to watch the rest line up behind him.

It was 2009 individual European Champion, Kevin Staut from France, who filled runner-up spot with the grey mare, Silvana HDC, while Belgium was prominently placed once more when Rick Hemeryck and Quarco de Kerambars finished third.  Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher (Magnus Romeo) slotted into fourth, while the fifth-place result for Denis Lynch (Abbervail van het Dingeshof) has promoted the Irishman to second spot on the Western European League leaderboard as 2011 draws to a close with reigning European Champion, Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, still at the head of affairs.

PACKED TO CAPACITY
The Nekkerhal at Mechelen was packed to capacity for the exciting competition in which 38 riders from 15 nations lined out.  And this leg would not be easily won, with the first-round track proving too much of a puzzle for the first 20 starters.  It was not until Wathelet and his nine year old bay stallion came up with all the answers that the spectators could at last relax in the knowledge that a jump-off was likely.  And they were particularly appreciative of the fact that the first man to find the key to it was one of their own.

Advertisement