In the coming days, the Military Boekelo will also be the setting for the Nations Cup final and the National Eventing Championships. A team with young debutants will compete for the Netherlands. National coach Andrew Heffernan opted for four relatively inexperienced twenty-somethings: Splinter Bergsma, Tijn de Blaauw, Sterre van Houte and Aliene Ruyter.
Andrew Heffernan about his own debut year in Boekelo
Heffernan knows better than anyone how special it is to participate in Boekelo, because he has ridden there several times in the past. “Boekelo is absolutely special. For most riders it is the last competition of the season, so it feels like a closing party. The cross-country runs through beautiful forests and fields and the sport here is always of a high level. In addition, the organization takes good care of the horses and riders and the enthusiastic audience creates a fantastic atmosphere. Because there is plenty to do, from a fair to drinks, so it is also fun for non-horse lovers. Moreover, you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy the spectacular cross in combination with a walk in the autumn sun, for example. No wonder that there are droves of spectators every year,” Heffernan gives a true promotional talk.
The half Irish/half Dutchman says he has many wonderful memories of Boekelo. “My very first time was in 1998. I was very young, about 23 years old, and rode for the Netherlands. Everything made a huge impression, because it was my first real big competition. I was even on the front page of the newspaper, because the journalists at the time found my story interesting. I competed for the Netherlands, because I have a Dutch mother and therefore a Dutch passport. However, I have lived abroad all my life due to a special family history related to the Second World War. World War. I didn’t win that edition of Boekelo, but I always kept the front page.”
Boekelo turned out to be the prelude to a successful career for Heffernan. He took part in the Olympic Games in London (2012) and won team bronze at the World Championships in Caen (2014), after which he became national coach in 2019. He hopes that this edition can do the same for his young riders. “I have consciously chosen to field a team of debutants in the Nations Cup. They are the future. They must be given the opportunity to perform at the highest level and experience the pressure of such a large entourage. My philosophy is to be one step ahead instead of lagging behind. I want to see how they deal with the presence of a large (home) audience and media. For me, that is more important than the results this year. Of course we want to perform well and we will go for it. the highest possible, but I prefer to look at the bigger picture.”
Military Boekelo as a springboard to the Aachen World Championships and the Los Angeles Games 2028
That bigger picture is the World Championships in Aachen next year and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. “Aachen may come too early for this group, but we have to work towards it. I want to see here in Boekelo to what extent these riders can work with me and with each other to take the sport to a higher level. We need riders who really want to win, and not just participate. But they must also be able to be part of a team and that above all. individualism. I have prepared them as best as possible for this competition, but I am not going to hold their hands forever. They are capable enough to hold their own this weekend.”
Splinter Bergsma: “Boekelo is of a completely different caliber than the races I have competed in so far, so I am nervous.” © MARTIN DOKOUPIL
This is how the young debutant Splinter Bergsma experiences what it is like to suddenly be the center of attention, before he has even started. When asked how he likes it in Boekelo, he gives a short but clear answer: “Very cool.”
Yet the 20-year-old Hilversummer admits that it is also quite exciting. “Boekelo is of a completely different caliber than the races I have competed in so far, so I do have nerves. But just healthy competition tension, that’s all. There is already a lot coming my way in terms of media attention and I know that there will be many acquaintances in the audience this weekend. Fortunately, I have been calm about it so far and I actually enjoy it a lot. I don’t think it will distract me.”
“I have already ridden European Youth Championships, but they cannot be compared to the Military Boekelo. This will be the toughest cross with the longest distance so far for me and my horse Vigo Key,” Bergsma continues. “It is also the first time with Andrew as my coach. Everything is new. As a result, the preparation was different both sportingly and mentally. Andrew walked the cross extensively with us and told us, for example, where the most crowds are. That wave of people may take some getting used to for my horse and me, but we are both ready for it and are especially looking forward to it.”
The Dutch event riders start today with dressage. Cross country is on the program on Saturday and jumping on Sunday.