Top riders about 75 years CHIO Rotterdam: Imke Schellekens – Bartels

Imke enters the cozy library of Academy Bartels a little later than planned, apologizing:
"I’m so busy, mostly with running the business. I feel like I’m dealing with numbers more than ever before. My parents are now fully retired from the company, and sometimes I feel more like a director than a rider. We have a big business with a lot of staff. Of course, I still ride competitively and give lessons, but being a national youth coach just didn’t fit into my schedule anymore."

Child of

"The first time I attended CHIO, I was there as a 'child of.' My mother was competing with Duco back then, during the time of riders like Annemarie Sanders. I used to play with Annemarie’s daughter—it must have been over 40 years ago. When I think of CHIO, I still picture the old stadium in the forest, especially the magical atmosphere on Saturday night during the freestyle to music. The audience would be hanging over the stadium and above the trees. The new grandstand is beautiful too, but that old forest atmosphere was unique—you can’t bring that back."

Defeating Salinero

“My best CHIO memory is beating Anky and Salinero with Sunrise. That was in the freestyle to music in the main arena. Edward and Totilas won, I came second, and Anky was third. Besides Sunrise, I’ve ridden many other horses in Rotterdam—Toots, Allegretto, Lancet, Mexican, Barbria, and Janssen, to name a few. I must have competed there for 12 to 15 years in total. After a break of a few years, I hope to return this year with Honoré. I hope she keeps performing as well as she has been lately and that I dare to enter. I mean, it has to be right. Rotterdam is not just another competition—it has a certain standard, and you want to ride well."

One more time at the highest level

"My mother was once the sports director in Rotterdam, but I don’t aspire to that role. I love coming to CHIO, but I’m not a board member type. In ten years, I won’t be competing at the highest level anymore. Right now, I still have the horses to make one last attempt at the top, but after that, it’ll be enough. Of course, I’ll keep riding, but on a different level—combined with teaching and running our business. I enjoy this mix; I don’t need to focus on just one thing."

Dreams

Imke talks as we know her—lively, cheerful, and with the familiar humor that runs in the family. But when we ask about her dreams, she pauses and takes a moment to reflect. She has already achieved the ultimate goal of many riders: competing at the Olympic Games. But does she still have dreams?

Hesitantly, she replies: "I’m figuring that out. What my dreams are for the future. Right now, I hope to raise my child well. Raising a child is a special journey, and I do my best to teach him good values so he grows up to be a decent person. In the short term, I hope to be at the Olympics in Los Angeles—either as a coach or as a rider. The Olympics remain special. Last year, I attended as a spectator in Paris, and it reignited my Olympic fire. As for my long-term dreams, I love to keep developing myself, and at some point, that becomes harder in riding. That’s why I’m looking for new challenges."

Hunter Douglas

Imke is a true Brabander at heart, so we’re curious if she knows her way around Rotterdam beyond CHIO. She smiles apologetically: "I never got further than the hotel where we dressage riders stayed and the stables. So no, I don’t really know Rotterdam. The only place I occasionally visited was Restaurant De Tuin. In recent years, I haven’t competed, but I did attend as a guest of Hunter Douglas, a former sponsor of mine. They started supporting CHIO during my time and have continued ever since."

Arrested at CHIO

"CHIO in three words? Prestigious, top sport, and memories. Besides my best memory of winning against Anky and Salinero, I have so many other memories of CHIO. (laughing) Have I ever told you the story about my dad getting arrested at CHIO? Parking at the event is always a challenge. My father, who was the press chief at the time, believed he was entitled to park in a certain spot. The police thought otherwise. It escalated, and my dad got so worked up that he was actually arrested. I was about nine or ten years old and had no idea what was happening. Looking back, we can all laugh about it, but at the time, it wasn’t funny at all!"

Carnaval and skiing

"Carnival is coming up, and besides riding, I love it! I also enjoy skiing. My husband hates it, so I didn’t ski as much in recent years, but luckily, our son Joepie loves it—so now the skiing fans are in the majority again!"

Ensuring CHIO's future

"Coming back to CHIO, I truly hope it will continue for as long as I live. We all need to make sure we can keep enjoying our sport and CHIO Rotterdam and ensure its future. I hope that even when I’m old and in a wheelchair, I can still visit Kralingse Bos. Just like my mother does now."

Let’s not tell her that, Imke—your mother certainly doesn’t feel old yet! Thank you for your hospitality and this wonderful conversation. We hope to welcome you back as a competitor this year—and maybe, in the future, as ...?