Filippo Bologni triumph at Le Siepi Grand Prix

Filippo Bologni came out with top honours at the Grand Prix Le Siepi. The young carabineer from Reggio Emilia, riding Lacan, left behind Germany’s Ulrich Gunter Hermann Kirchhof, second place on Cancun. Chief airwoman Francesca Arioldi completed the podium with Sellia du Bessin and added to her tally a fourth place with Uno – Cento.
The apple does not fall from the tree. Looking at the riders who made impact in the Test Event seniores and Giovani Cavalli Fise this weekend, which featured almost 400 pairs at Le Siepi equestrian centre in Cervia, the two stars Bologni and Arioldi have actually much in common.
First of all, their fathers, Arnaldo Bologni and Roberto Arioldi, are both icons in the national equestrian world. Moreover, they are same age (24) and were born with two weeks distance one from the other, and have also both clinched important results since they were very young.
It is not surprising to find them top of the final standing of the senior category of this Test Event, Francesca on first and Filippo second, tied with Paolo Paini. This ranking, along with the result of the individual classes, will be useful for Italy coach Duccio Bartalucci to define the Azzurri team for the Piazza di Siena event, taking place in Rome end May. 
Emilio Bicocchi sits on fourth place in the final standings, followed by Davide Kainich (fifth), Roberto Turchetto (sixth), Barbara Suter (seventh), Natale Chiaudani (eighth), Ulrich Gunter Hermann Kirchhof (nineth) and again Francesca Arioldi (tenth).
Looking back at the individual classes, the Grand Prix was won by Filippo Bologni and Lacan, the German bay (Lando x Contender) born in 2003 and joining the rider’s stables early this year. The 145 category on Saturday saw the success of Francesca Arioldi atop of Uno-Cento. Italy’s Natale Chiaudani clinched both second and third places, respectively with Cayen van Het Hobos and Queensland.
Sunday’s 140 category was won by Daniele Cuva and Cinderella, ahead of second-placed Chiaudani riding Eterna and Gianluca Apolloni, third atop of Baby Arko.
Along with the Senior Test Event, also that for FISE Young Horses took place, an event of high technical level dedicated to the 4, 5, 6 and 7-year-old jumpers from Italy and abroad. Hans Horn, a well-renown coach and selector of the Italian show jumping team, was there to judge the 4- and 5-year-old horses.
Among the 7-year-old jumpers, Geoffrey stood out from the rest, winning the two-round 135 category under the saddle of Davide Kainich on Saturday. Baltimora du Sud, ridden by Samuele Maestri, claimed the success in the 135 test against time on Sunday.
The complete result lists are available on the website of equiresults.com.
The competitive season at Le Siepi continues with a National five-star Grand Prix from May 18th to 20th and with the Regional Show Jumping Championship from June 1st to 3rd. 
Among the appointments to be fixed in the agenda are the Italian Amateur Championship and the second leg of the Dressage Italian Cup, scheduled from June 22nd to 24th, before the long kermesse of the Pony Italian Championships from June 28th to July 8th.
In the photo by Elio Paganelli: Francesca Arioldi