The son of businessman Jacques Van Geenberghe, Jean-Claude began to ride at the age of 12. After six months of lessons twice a week, Jean-Claude's father purchased him his first horse, an Irish mare named Kimono. At the age of 14, Jean-Claude and Kimono won 15 national classes and soon began training under Gijs Vanheteren. In his final junior year, at the age of 18, Jean-Claude trained with well-known Dutch horseman, Henk Nooren. His training paid off, and Jean-Claude won the Belgian Cup, became the national champion, and placed fourth at the European Junior Championships.
Moving into the senior ranks, the competition was much tougher and Jean-Claude made the decision to stop riding after the pressure of his father, who was used to seeing Jean-Claude win every Sunday, became too much to bear. However, two years later dad bought some new horses for his son, and American trainer George Morris was called in to coach Jean-Claude. After winning the Grand Prix of Aachen in 1987, Jean-Claude competed as an individual at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. Having won the opening round and placing third the next day, Jean-Claude had incredible bad luck in the final round to place 16th overall individually.
The only Belgian rider to have won the Grand Prix of Aachen on two occasions, Jean-Claude has also stood in the winner's circle in many of the biggest Grand Prix events around the world. He has also competed in four World Cup Finals, as well as numerous European Championships. Despite all of his success riding for Belgium, Jean-Claude began the 2006 competition year riding for the Ukraine.
Jean-Claude has been based at Zilveren Spoor, a fabulous equestrian centre in Moorsele, since 2000. The professional rider is focused on competing at the highest levels, as well operating a coaching, training and sales business.
Osta Rugs Quintus 1993 bay Belgian Warmblood stallion, 1.63m by Pavarotti v/h Helle
Owner: Arnold de Brabandere
Osta Rugs Richebourg 1994 chestnut selle francais stallion, 1.67m by Bayard d'Elle
Owner: Arnold de Brabandere
Osta Rugs Coronation 1991 chestnut Holsteiner stallion by Cor de la Bruyere
Owner:
Pol Baert
Can Get You 1997 bay Holsteiner mare by Contender
Owner: Daniela Dilmetz
Click on a thumnail below for a larger view of each photo.
All photographs are property of JustWorld International and cannot be reproduced without permission.
2007
4th €15,000 1.50m Sigarci, CSIO5* Gijon, ESP Osta Rugs Quintus
41st Ind., European Show Jumping Championships, Mannheim, GER Osta Rugs Quintus
9th Team, European Show Jumping Championships, Mannheim, GER Osta Rugs Quintus
1st €40,000 1.50m Grand Prix, CSI3* Dinard, FRA Osta Rugs Tresor
3rd €100,000 1.60m Telefonica Grand Prix, CSI4* La Coruna, ESP Osta Rugs Quintus
8th €20,000 1.50m Camara Municipal, CSI5* Estoril, POR Osta Rugs Coronation
1st €12,500 1.50m Nations' Cup, CSIO4* Istanbul, TUR Ladino
4th €132,000 1.60m Volvo Grand Prix, CSI5* Madrid, ESP Osta Rugs Tresor
2nd €20,000 1.50m Nations' Cup, CSIO4* Copenhagen, DEN Osta Rugs Quintus
8th €20,000 1.50m, CSI3* Maubeuge, FRA Ladino
3rd €25,000 1.50m Grand Prix, CSI3* Arezzo II, ITA Osta Rugs Quintus
2nd €20,000 Sunday Grand Prix, CSI2* Comporta II, POR Osta Rugs Tresor
4th €10,000 Sunday Grand Prix, CSI2* Comporta, POR Osta Rugs Tresor
7th €18,500 1.40m Toshiba Open Welcome, CSI5* Zurich, SUI Osta Rugs Coronation
3rd €11,500 1.35m Mercedes Jump and Drive, CSI5* Zurich, SUI Osta Rugs Coronation
3rd €18,500 1.35m Toshiba Knock Out, CSI5* Zurich, SUI Osta Rugs Coronation
2006
9th €30,000 Trofeo Caixa Galicia, CSI5* La Coruna, ESP Osta Rugs Quintus
3rd €6,000 Trofeo Lexus, CSI5* La Coruna, ESP Osta Rugs Coronation
3rd €25,000 1.50m Sunday Grand Prix, CSI3* Porto, POR Osta Rugs Quintus
1st €10,000 1.45m Masters BPI, CSI3* Porto, POR Osta Rugs Quintus
3rd €20,000 1.45m Prix CWD, CSI5* Paris, FRA Osta Rugs Coronation
7th €100,000 1.55m Hannover Grand Prix, CSI4* Hannover, GER Osta Rugs Tresor
2nd €20,000 Grand Prix, CSI2* Wisbecq, BEL Pentagon
15th Individual, World Equestrian Games, Aachen, GER Osta Rugs Tresor
4th Team, World Equestrian Games, Aachen, GER Osta Rugs Tresor
8th €30,000 CN WorldWide 1.50m Derby, CSI5* Valkenswaard, NED Osta Rugs Coronation
9th €20,000 Grand Prix AZKAR Trophy, CSI4* La Coruna, ESP Osta Rugs Coronation
1st €6,000 Eroski Center Trophy, CSI4* La Coruna, ESP Osta Rugs Richebourg
3rd €40,000 1.45m Audi Accumulator, CSI5* Estoril, POR Osta Rugs Richebourg
4th €40,000 1.45m Small Grand Prix, CSI5* Estoril, POR Osta Rugs Coronation
5th €20,000 1.45m Vista Alegre, CSI5* Estoril, POR Osta Rugs Coronation
1st €40,000 1.60m Grand Prix, CSIO5* Lummen, BEL Osta Rugs Tresor
3rd (tie) €55,000 Nations' Cup, CSIO5* Lummen, BEL Osta Rugs Tresor
3rd €20,000 JustWorld Accumulator, CSI5* Monte Carlo, MON Osta Rugs Coronation
7th €300,000 Grand Prix of Aachen, CSIO5* Aachen, GER Osta Rugs Quintus
10th €150,000 Kia Motors Grand Prix, CSI4* Cannes, FRA Osta Rugs Tresor
5th €20,000 1.40m Prix Lucien, CSI4* Cannes, FRA Osta Rugs Coronation
1st €20,000 1.40m Team Relay, CSI4* Cannes, FRA Osta Rugs Coronation
1st €25,000 1.50m Prix Leclerc, CSI4* Cannes, FRA Osta Rugs Tresor
2nd €20,000 1.40m Speed, CSI4* Cannes, FRA Osta Rugs Coronation
8th €45,000 Derby, CSIO5* La Baule, FRA Osta Rugs Coronation
5th €25,000 1.50m Grand Prix, CSI3* Arezzo III, ITA Osta Rugs Quintus
5th 1.50m Grand Prix, CSI3* Arezzo, ITA Osta Rugs Quintus
3rd 1.40m Table A, CSI3* Arezzo, ITA Osta Rugs Richebourg
5th $150,000 US Jumper Championship, CSIO5* Wellington, FL Osta Rugs Tresor
6th $25,000 WEF Challenge Cup VII, CSIO5* Wellington, FL Osta Rugs Tresor
6th 1.50m Grand Prix, CSI3* Vejer de la Frontera, ESP Countdown 23
9th 1.40m Table A, CSI3* Vejer de la Frontera, ESP Cassira
2005
6th 1.55m Table A, CSI5* La Coruna, ESP Osta Rugs Tresor
5th 1.45m Table A, CSI5* La Coruna, ESP Osta Rugs Coronation
5th 1.45m Table C, CSI4* Paris-Porte de Versailles, FRA Osta Rugs Coronation
6th 1.60m Six Bars, CSI5* Brussels, BEL Osta Rugs Quintus
6th 1.50m Grand Prix, CSI3* Liege, BEL Osta Rugs Coronation
8th 1.50m World Cup Qualifier, CSI-W Oslo, NOR Osta Rugs Coronation
10th 1.60m Grand Prix, CSI-W Helsinki, FIN Osta Rugs Tresor
7th World Cup Qualifier, CSI-W Helsinki, FIN Osta Rugs Coronation
4th 1.45m Speed Derby, CSIO5* Calgary, CA Osta Rugs Coronation
6th Nations Cup, CSIO Aachen, GER Osta Rugs Quintus
1st 1.60m Grand Prix, CSIO Dublin, IRL Osta Rugs Quintus
3rd Nations Cup, CSIO Dublin, IRL Osta Rugs Quintus
1st 1.50m Small Grand Prix, CSIO Dublin, IRL Osta Rugs Coronation
2nd 1.45m Speed Final, CSIO Dublin, IRL Osta Rugs Coronation
6th Nations Cup, CSIO Hickstead, GBR Osta Rugs Quintus
5th Team, European Championships, San Patrigano, ITA Osta Rugs Tresor
1st 1.50m Table A, CSI3* Santander, ESP Osta Rugs Coronation
1st 1.40m Table C, CSI3* Santander, ESP Osta Rugs Que Sera
5th 1.50m Grand Prix, CSI3* San Sebastian, ESP Osta Rugs Coronation
9th 1.50m Table A, CSI3* San Sebastian, ESP Osta Rugs Coronation
2nd 1.60m Nations Cup, CSIO5* Lummen, BEL Osta Rugs Quintus
8th 1.60m Grand Prix, CSIO5* Lummen, BEL Osta Rugs Quintus
6th 1.55m Championship, CSI4* Norten Hardenberg, GER Osta Rugs Quintus
6th 1.55m Grand Prix, CSI4* Norten Hardenberg, GER Osta Rugs Tresor
1st 1.40m Table C, CSI4* Norten Hardenberg, GER Osta Rugs Coronation
2nd Nations Cup, CSIO Rotterdam, NED Osta Rugs Tresor
8th Grand Prix, CSIO Rotterdam, NED Osta Rugs Tresor
7th Nations Cup, CSIO St. Gallen, SUI Osta Rugs Quintus
7th Nations Cup, CSIO Rome, ITA Osta Rugs Tresor
5th 1.50m Table A, CSI4* Aachen, GER Osta Rugs Quintus
5th 1.60m Nations Cup, CSIO La Baule, FRA Osta Rugs Quintus
5th 1.55m Grand Prix, CSI3* Maubeuge, FRA Osta Rugs Quintus
1st 1.55m Grand Prix, CSI2* Vilamoura, POR Osta Rugs Quintus
2003
Belgian Horse of the Year Osta Rugs Richebourg
1st Belgian Championships, BEL Osta Rugs Quintus
4th Team, European Championships
2002
1st Nations' Cup, Helsinki, FIN
1995
1st Grand Prix of Aachen, GER Freestyle
1st Grand Prix of Cannes, FRA
1st Grand Prix of Monaco, MON
1994
1st Belgian Championships, BEL
1993
1st Belgian Championships, BEL
8th Team, European Championships
35th Individual, European Championships
1st Grand Prix of Rome, ITA
1st Grand Prix of Aachen, GER
1992
23rd World Cup Final, Del Mar, USA Osta Carpets Queen
1991
10th World Cup Final, Goteborg, SWE Osta Carpets Queen
7th Team, European Championships
20th Individual, European Championships
1990
45th World Cup Final, Dortmund, GER Queen of Diamonds
1st Grand Prix of Paris, Porte de Versailles, FRA
1989
6th Team, European Championships
20th Individual, European Championships
1st Grand Prix of Rome, ITA
1988
16th Individual, Olympic Games, Seoul, KOR
22nd World Cup Final, Goteborg, SWE Piguet
1987
2nd Belgian Championships, BEL
25th Individual, European Championships
1st Grand Prix of Aachen, GER
1985
2nd Belgian Championships, BEL
