Jumping International de Valence, saturday highlights

The Jumping de Valence showed its international colours today. If the day began with the French hymn, it pursued with victory from all around the world: Great Britain, USA, Belgium and last but not least, Austria.The highlight of this Saturday was obviously the SFAM – GBG Assurances Grand Prix of the CSI2*: fifty riders participating in the class, ten in the jump-off and finally, the American Laura Hite took the first place. Riding her 10-year-old gelding, Calypso v/d Zuuthoeve, former horse of the Belgian rider Gudrun Patteet, she managed an unbeatable time of 41.69 seconds. “It’s my first time winning a Grand Prix, I’m over the moon! The crowd is amazing, the atmosphere is great, one thing is sure: I’ll be back next year!“ she revealed. The second place goes to the British Louise Whitaker, the daughter of the legendary John Whitaker, with more than a second behind the winner of the class with a time of 43.05 seconds. The Austrian Max Kühner took the third place riding his handsome Chardonnay in 43.48 seconds.The major class of the day, the Prix Axeria of the CSI4*, a 1,50m with jump-off, was won by the Belgian François Mathy Jr, riding Uno de la Roque. “There is no slow riders or horses. I took advantage of my horse’s big strides, he was fantastic and jumped really well. All put together, that’s what made the victory, I’m delighted!“  The rider was the last one to start the jump-off, making the suspense last until the final jump of the course with a time of 39.86 seconds in front of an overexcited crowd. He’s followed by the French rider Simon Delestre with Sultan de Beaufour, only six hundredth seconds behind the winner, and by the Olympic bronze medal in London, the Irish Cian O’Connor, the last clear round with a time of 40,79 seconds. The final class of this third day of competition was a six-bars class, the Prix Mercedes-Benz, and kept its promises of a great show. It captivated the crowd until Max Kühner was made winner of the class after a successful 1.96m jump. The best French riders of the class, Vincent Mourier, only twenty-one years old, Guillaume Roland-Billecart and Aldrick Cheronnet finished ex-aequo at the second place with Shane Breen. The two classes of the CSI2* in the morning were won by the French Philippe Leoni in the opening Prix Hubside and by the British rider Jessica Mendoza in the following class, the Prix Smartphone Recycle / Seaver. Tomorrow will let place to the last day of this first week-end of competition at Haras des Grillons with the Grand Prix Axeria / SFAM which will start at the beginning of the afternoon. The arena will await its crowd since 10 am for the first class of the day. 
Source: Press Release Jumping International de ValencePhoto: R&BPresse