Felicie Bertrand, the emotion

In this French women’s sport weekend, Félicie Bertrand’s victory, riding a 13 years old mare Sultane des Ibis, could not be any more feminine. The 36 years old lady exploded last year on the international level, finally takes the win of her first Grand Prix 5*, here in Bordeaux, usually man’s land.
A first win at this level is always a great moment in a rider’s life. Seizing this win in your own country, in front of one of the best crowds of the circuit, gives this accomplishment another dimension, a bit more special. We can then understand Félicie Bertrand answering her first major interview, in tears: “I am going to wake up and realize it didn’t happen. I know Sultane des Ibis is naturally fast, I know I have to let here do her thing, that I don’t need to take risks. She’s an incredible mare, so sweet, so small, precious, so…. We can’t even imagine she’s able to jumps things like that. She has this incredible desire to give so much… She’s magical.” Those words and tears bring a fresh spirit on the show jumping stage and benefit a lot of people, especially the French team staff, relieved of this first and unique French win in this emblematic competition.
Félicie Bertrand, grand-daughter of a breeder (the Lécuyer family) and daughter of a rider and stable director (Gilles Bertrand) knows the equestrian world very well. She moved to Normandy, close to Deauville, where several owners entrusted her with horses. In general, youngsters, to work and train them to the high level, where they can be sold. Among them, Geneviève Megret, previously offering headliners horses for Pénélope Leprévost. When they went separate ways, Félicie rose through the ranks with this impressive cavalry. The truth is that since September 2017, she was already climbing her way to the top with her “friend” Sultane des Ibis, a mare she trained and improved herself: 5* French team member, gold medal at the Mediterranean Games, and a tenth place, a bit announcing this Bordeaux win, at the Longines Grand Prix of Paris last December. An explosive ascension!
Today, in this Grand Prix Land Rover in Bordeaux, she beats riders such as Bertram Allen (second place, only 29 hundredth behind with GK Casper), Simon Delestre (third place with Chesall Zimequest) or even the legendary Ludger Beerbaum (fifth with Cool Feeling). And Félicie’s story is not going to stop here, she has the complete support of the Megret family: “It’s a family story.” Specified the owner.  “We count on going far, all together with Felicie. It’s a team effort and a shared pleasure.”
And it wasn’t the only good Equestrian World of the day for the French team: two other riders were among the nine participants of the jump-off. Guillaume Foutrier takes fourth place with Valdocco Des Caps and Nicolas Dezeuses, sixth with Ulloa du Trefle. Everything ends well, as would say Ludger Beerbaum, enjoying French expression when he uses Molière’s tongue! A splendid conclusion for this week-end of high sport at the Jumping International de Bordeaux. The appointment is already made for next year, February 6th to 9th!
Credit photo
Felicie Bertrand – sportfot
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