Gold medal for Belgium in the team showjumping
Belgium won its first European title at the European team showjumping championships on Friday 23 August, also qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The team earned almost all its penalty points during the open event. However, Belgium returned to the top of the table thanks to clear rounds from Pieter Devos (Claire Z), Jos Verlooy (Igor) and Grégory Wathelet (MJT Nevados). The team achieved the best score of the three best rounds selected during the second day of events. The four riders finally came through with 12.07 penalty points, ahead of Germany, France and Great Britain.
Individual events
Grégory Wathelet qualified for the final and performed a clear round, finishing 9th. Rider Jos Verlooy took 3rd place and achieved the personal feat of becoming a bronze medallist at the age of 23, together with showjumping stars such as Martin Fuchs (Switzerland, Clooney) and Ben Maher (Great Britain, Explosion W).
Manon Claeys (San Dior) won one silver medal and one bronze medal during the individual para-dressage trials. Barbara Minneci (Stuart) and Michèle George (Best of 8) won two bronze medals each.
These wonderful results give us hope for a medal in Tokyo.