CSIO5* de France Rolex Grand Prix – Ville de La Baule: victory of the Canadian Beth Underhill and Dieu Merci Van T&L

The Rolex Grand Prix – Ville de La Baule CSIO5* de France held all its promises this Sunday in a packed François André stadium.
Fifty couples were at the start of the first round, only the best thirteen could qualify for the second.
After a clear round over the 14 fences course designed by the course designer Grégory Bodo, four French couples qualified for the second round of the competition: Nicolas Delmotte and Dallas Vegas Batilly, Pénélope Leprévost and GFE Excalibur de la Tour Vidal, Simon Delestre and Cayman Jolly Jumper and Pierre-Marie Friant and Urdy d’Estrée. There was also the Canadian Beth Underhill associated with Dieu Merci Van T&L, a stallion owned by 2008 Olympic champion and Canadian team leader Eric Lamaze.
In this course reduced to 8 fences, the Canadian couple was more agile, faster and managed to complete a second clear round. With this victory, Beth Underhill becomes the 7th woman to add her name to the record of winners in La Baule, after Janou Lefèbvre (FRA) in 1962, 1971, 1947 and 1975, Alexandra Ledermann (FRA) in 1994, Alison Bradley (GBR) in 1995, Katie Monahan-Prudent (USA) in 1997, Angelique Hoorn (NED) in 2002 and Simone Blum (GER) in 2019.
The Brazilian Yuri Mansur and Vitiki, also double clear, take the second place. With a total of 4 points and in the same time, Grégory Wathelet (BEL) and Nevados S and the Frenchman Pierre-Marie Friant and Urdy d’Astrée are 3rd ex aequo.
Press Release CSIO5* La Baule
Photo Crédit (CSIO5* La Baule/PSV) Beth Underhill (CAN) and Dieu Merci Van T&L, winners of the Rolex Grand Prix – Ville de La Baule