“I must honestly admit that I was quite nervous before the match,” says Declercq. “I had asked Mattan and Lampaert for tips. They and other people had let me know that you really have to start strongly, because as soon as that horse gets going, you have to fight to stay in the lead. In the last 100 meters you can’t get into the animal anymore. During the race I saw the horse coming out of the corner of my eye, but I still finished first with a clear lead.”
After the match, Declercq stayed to chat with fans for a while. “My season is over, so I have room for that now. Moreover, the atmosphere here is great!”
