BEST OF Equita'Lyon

MAIKEL VAN DER VLEUTEN TRIUMPHES IN THE GRAND PRIX LONGINES

In Lyon, Maikel van der Vleuten won the greatest Grand Prix of his career on VDL Groep Verdi, beating some of the circuit’s best riders on his way to victory. Tackling the jump-off last in a field of 13 riders, the Dutchman took full advantage of the jumping order to win the class, surpassing Rolf Goran Bengtsson, who until then had the best time with Casall Ask. Sergio Lavarez Moya, riding Carlo, took third place. Given that Lyon will host the Final, this Grand Prix does not count towards the FEI World Cup.

In the French camp, Patrice Delaveau and Simon Delestre qualified brilliantly for the jump-off. Giving everything he had against the clock, Patrice Delaveau earned himself a very honourable 10th place, penalised by a refusal from his loyal Orient Express HDC. Simon Delestre, meanwhile, notched up two faults in the jump-off on Valentino Velvet, which put him in 12th place. Some good four-fault rounds were completed by Aymeric de Ponnat with Armitages Boy, Timothee Anciaume with Padock du Plessis*HN, Penelope Leprevost with Nayana, and Eugenie Angot with Old Chap Tame. Amongst the other French riders, Marie Hecart and Jerome Hurel on Myself de Breve and Quartz Rouge got two faults, and Julien Epaillard had three faults atop Qarat de la Loge.                      

But the great shocks of this Grand Prix were the spectacular falls by Kévin Staut and Roger Yves Bost. These were due to a misunderstanding for Kévin and Silvana*HDC at the second obstacle, while Roger Yves Bost, with Colombo van den Blauwaert, came unstuck at the second element of the triple. Luckily, both pairs emerge unscathed.

SATURDAY : DANIEL DEUSSER WINS THE EQUITA'MASTER

On Saturday 2nd November, the Stephex stables were in the spotlight as Germany’s Daniel Deusser won the Equita’Masters on Evita van de Veldbalie, beating his Japanese stable mate Eiken Sato, riding Espyrante. At the top of the best rider rankings at the Lyon competition, Hans Dieter Dreher consolidated his lead by taking third place on Colore.        
As for the French competitors, Roger Yves Bost and Castel Forbes Myrtille Paulois finished in 8th place, with a total of 4 points over the two rounds. Penelope Leprevost and Eugenie Angot amassed four and five points in the first round on Nice Stephanie and Pirate Andalou. Kévin Staut with Quismy des Vaux*HDC finished with eight points. 

SATURDAY : CHRISTIAN AHLMANN WINS THE PRIX MERIAL

On Saturday 2nd November, Germany was certainly riding high, as the world number 3, Christian Ahlmana, riding Little Lady Z, completed a masterful round to win this Special 1.50 m Competition in Two Phases. Scott Brash, atop Bon Ami, and Hans-Dieter Dreher with Embassy II, took 2nd and 3rd place respectively. The best two French riders were Simon Delestre and Julien Epaillard, who finished in sixth and eighth place respectively in the rankings, on Napoli du Ryt and Mister Davier. Timothee Anciaume and Aymeric de Ponnat also went clear, though in a slower time, earning them fourteenth and fifteenth place. 

FRIDAY : MARCO KUTSCHER OUTRIDES KEVIN STAUT AND PENELOPE LEPREVOST TO WIN THE GRAND PRIX FRENCH TOUR

Just a month after his return to competition, Germany’s Marco Kutscher caused a sensation by winning this event on Cornet’s Cristallo. Having already won the young horse event with Ayade de Septon ET HDC, Kévin Staut took second place on Quismy des Vaux HDC. Pénélope Leprevost completed the podium with a bronze medal performance on Nayana.