Friday July 28’s Jumping International de Dinard allowed all the amateur and professional riders to express their full potential
Thanks to much a more clement weather than the day before, and ideal temperatures for horses to exert themselves, the carefully concocted program for Friday July 28’s Jumping International de Dinard allowed all the amateur and professional riders to express their full potential.
CSI1* Belgium, Colombia and Mexico take top honors
Amateur riders had three classes against the clock in which to express their talent on the splendid main arena, preserved for part of yesterday afternoon. In the Esthederm Institute class, over 1.15m, victory went to Belgian rider Elsbeth Goltz with Iris, fastest of the eight clear rounds by more than a second, followed by Joy Alison Fournier Laroque/Canao du Lohic and six other French riders. The challenge proposed by Emeria Dinard Thalasso & Spa over 1.25m was taken up brilliantly by Colombian Jorge Hulberto Gomez Pelaez, riding Kyrol, ahead of four French riders, including Camille Fuzeau Thomas, who took the other two places on the podium with Vahiné de Levaux (2nd) and Emingway CT (3rd). The biggest class of the day for this label, run over 1.35m and sponsored by Vertikal Management, was won by Mexican Federica Fernandez with VIP, four seconds ahead of the rest of the eight clear rounds.
CSI3* François Xavier Boudant and Martin Fuchs on the podium
The 58 riders of the CSI3* began the second day of the Jumping de Dinard by competing in the Prix du Conseil Municipal de Dinard in two phases over a 1.40m course, won by François Xavier Boudant, the fastest of the 32 clear rounds with Egoki, ahead of Rodrigo Pessoa /Chili, and Thomas Rousseau/Folie d’Helby. The second target of the day for this label was to shine in the Prix Defender on a course raised to 1.50m, to be completed as quickly as possible. The challenge was masterfully met by Swiss Martin Fuchs, winner of the Rolex Grand Prix 2022 with Leone Jei, who had saddled Viper Z for the occasion, and won by one second over Belgian Jérôme Guéry and Enjoy d’Eole, while Nicolas Delmotte and Baladin des Matis was the best of the four French riders in the standings.
CSI5* Edward Levy and Henrick Von Eckermann clinch victory in the two classes of the day
The faithful Dinard public, discouraged by yesterday’s rain, wouldn’t have missed their rendezvous with the great sport on this second day. After yesterday’s warm-up on the sand arena, the most experienced riders of this 2023 edition met for the first time in the Prix Cordon Group, designed on the grass arena by Jean François Morand over 1.45m. Aim of the day, leave all the poles on the stands, and reduce the time as much as possible. In this skilfull game, among the 17 couples who crossed the finish line without any penalty, the experienced Edward Levy comes out first with his vibrant Vitôt du Château, taking the win ahead of Julien Gonin, who appears to be in fine form for this 2023 edition, this time riding Valou du Lys, while Belgian Gilles Thomas and Feromas Van Beek Z complete the podium.
Mars &Co class
The real action began at the end of the afternoon, when the 40 stars of the discipline, this time in association with other mounts, competed in the day’s flagship event, the Prix Mars & Co, on a 1.55m course, judged on A scale with jump-off. The aim was to avoid pushin any pole on the ground, or exceeding the time limit in order to qualify for the decisive phase and win part of the €60,000 prize money on offer.
Although the course designed by Jean François Morand’s teams was, as usual, carefully calculated to not to put the horses in unnecessary difficulty, it was nonetheless tricky to clear in the allotted time since 14 of the 40 pairs on the start list qualified for the jump-off that promised to be fiercely contested. It was the case, for the great pleasure of the public, massed in the stands to admire this top level confrontation.
Julien Epaillard’s magnificent clear round with Dubaï du Cèdre, first rider to start in the jump-off, seemed quick, but given the quality of the plateau of riders, a fierce battle for the winner’s cup was to be expected. Sweden’s world No. 1 Henrick Von Eckermann and his mare Iliana were soon in the lead (36”87), ahead of Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet with Nevados S (36’’97), and Jérôme Guéry on Floris TN (37”51). Neither Sweden’s Jens Fredricson/Diarado’s Rose Elith, nor Germany’s Daniel Deusser/Killer Queen VDM, nor even Swiss Olympic champion Steve Guerdat/ Double Jeu d’Honvault were able to alter this provisional podium, at the foot of which stands Julien Epaillard, world n°2. A great moment of sport offered by some of the world’s best riders of the planet, as a rehearsal for Sunday’s Grand Prix Rolex, which promises to be thrilling.
The Top 7 The Rocuet Stud winner
If on the first day, the 45 young 7-year-old horses took their time to discover the sand arena, this Friday’s event, presented by the Groupe Fabrice Georgelin, was run on 1.35m fences. Double challenge : not touch a single pole, and keep the time as short as possible. 16 of the pairs on the start list managed to clear the course, but on this tricky exercise, especially for horses still in training, the most skilful couple was the mare Gigi, daughter of Aktion Pur Z x and Luna du Thot by Flipper d’Elle, entrusted by her owner Bruno Rocuet to his in-house rider Nicolas Layec. Galax du Rouet, a stallion son of Lauterbach and Souche du Rouet by Qaprice Bois Margot, ridden by Robin Lesqueren, followed by Genius de Rance, a gelding from the cross of Quitus d’Armanville and Venus du Reverdy by Quick Star complete the podium.
Tomorrow, six classes are on the program, including the legendary Derby de Bretagne, the first highlight of this four-day event.
Timetable and results on https://results.worldsporttiming.com/event/158
Press release Jumping International de Dinard | Photo Sportfot – Jumping International de Dinard
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