It has changed name. It has changed address. But it has not changed soul. After five editions in Courrière, the Jumping International de la Province de Namur is giving itself a new lease of life by settling in Gesves, from July 9 to 12. More space, two arenas, an auction, more entertainment… The show driven by Grégory Wathelet, Ugo Berrittella and Vincent Braeken is clearly moving up a gear. Without turning its back on what made it successful: top-level sport, a popular atmosphere and free entry.

Changing scenery without losing identity

It had to happen one day.

À force de grandir, le Jumping International de Courrière avait fini par se sentir un peu à l’étroit et les plannings arrivaient à saturation, les parkings débordaient, les infrastructures atteignaient leurs limites et les ambitions de l’organisation se heurtaient désormais au manque d’espace.

Difficile de pousser les murs: les organisateurs ont préféré changer de maison.

Just ten minutes from its historic site, the show is moving to Gesves and officially becomes the Jumping International de la Province de Namur. A name change that almost feels logical, given how much the project has now outgrown the Courrière framework.

The setting changes. The DNA remains intact.

« We started this six years ago with a very simple idea: to create a weekend where people could come and have a good time, something festive, open to everyone, where people could enjoy themselves. We are continuing exactly in that direction. ,” sums up Grégory Wathelet.

A philosophy that has never been about organising just another CSI on the calendar, but about building a genuine popular event around showjumping.

Gesves, a choice that is anything but random

The move is no whim.

Gesves has long been one of the epicentres of the horse world in Wallonia. The École provinciale d’élevage et d’équitation has been training riders there for decades and will, as usual, host the Belgian Young Horse Championships in a few weeks’ time.

A symbol.

For Wathelet, this new playground mainly opens up prospects that were impossible to consider before.

“We did not choose this place by chance. We are staying in the region, in a venue well known to the equestrian world, but above all, we have a lot of space. The event had grown enormously and we were reaching the end of what we could do. Here, we can raise certain ambitions.”

In other words: the show can finally stop chasing square metres and start thinking about development.

Two arenas, an auction and ambitions raised higher

The first change is obvious.

This year, two arenas will run simultaneously throughout the weekend.

A development that will allow the programme to grow without distorting the formula.

The CSI 1* and CSI 2* classes will remain the sporting backbone of the event, with courses ranging from 1.10m to Sunday’s 1.45m Grand Prix, offering €35,000 in prize money.

Mais autour de cette colonne vertébrale viendront désormais s’ajouter des épreuves régionales, davantage de finales réservées aux jeunes chevaux, avec l’arrivée des huit ans, ainsi qu’une première vente aux enchères de poulains et embryons (see our article here) .

“We do not want to increase the number of starters in the big classes. On the other hand, we are giving more riders the opportunity to take part thanks to the regional classes and the young horses. That was very important to me.”

A smart way to grow the show without sacrificing its sporting quality.

Sport, yes. But above all, an event to experience

Since the beginning, the Namur show has refused to be reduced to a succession of rounds.

That probably explains its success.

For five days, spectators do not come only to watch horses jump fences. They come to spend a full day, or even a full evening.

Equestrian shows by Quentin Vaerman, performances by the Derrone sisters, a fire show by Mathiou Spectacles, the Prix du Champion on two parallel arenas, the now unmissable biathlon, exhibitors’ village, bars, restaurants, food trucks, children’s area…

The recipe remains unchanged.

« We want everyone to be able to come: horse lovers, of course, but also families, children or simply people who want to have a good time. That was the idea at the start and it still is today. »

Le tout avec une entrée qui demeure entièrement gratuite. Un choix devenu presque militant à une époque où l’accès aux événements sportifs est parfois prohibitif.

A fixture that now matters on the Walloon scene

The show has changed name.

It has gained space.

It is even taking on a new dimension.

But behind this step up, Grégory Wathelet is pursuing a broader objective: to establish a major international fixture in Wallonia for the long term.

“People look forward to this event. There are not that many major shows here at home. We have to keep this going, pull the boat forward and make sure it continues to float. The work is enormous, but in the end, what matters is that people leave happy.”

The Belgian champion will therefore once again wear two hats. Rider in the arena. Organiser the moment he gets off the horse, supported by his partners Ugo Berrittella and Vincent Braeken.

And if Gesves really offers all the potential it promises, this sixth edition could well be the one where the Jumping International de la Province de Namur definitively stops being “the old Courrière show” and becomes one of the major summer fixtures in Belgian showjumping.

Retrouvez le programme du Jumping International de Namur ici

(Photos ©JIPN)