Doug Payne and Crown Talisman in the dressage at the 2014 Saumur CCI3* (Eric Knoll)

Saumur, France – Land Rover Competition Grant recipient Doug Payne closed out a successful weekend with Crown Talisman at the Saumur CCI3* on Sunday with near faultless performance in the show jumping to earn a sixth place finish.

The excitement began early in Saumur as France’s overnight leader Propriano de l’Ebat ridden by Luc Chateau was not accepted at the Final Horse Inspection. A total of 41 combinations went forward into the show jumping with only six of those producing faultless efforts over Jean-Francois Morand’s 12 obstacle track.

Payne (Apex, N.C.) and Larry and Amelia Ross’ 11-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding had a single rail down at fence five in an otherwise immaculate round to collect four faults in the final phase to finish the weekend on a score of 54.2.

With their sixth place finish in Saumur the talented combination recorded their second top 10 CCI3* placing after finishing fourth at the 2013 The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3*.

The top three finishers of the 2014 Saumur CCI3* all belonged to the host nation as Maxime Livio, Donatien Schauly ADJ, and Thibaut Vallette CNE were able to produce clear rounds for France. Livio and Qalao des Mers collected the winners’ spoils finishing on their dressage score of 41.2, with Schauly earning second place honors on Cadiz on 48.4 and Vallette finishing third with Qing du Briot ENE HN on 48.6.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about the Saumur CCI3*, visit http://www.saumur.org/cci/accueil-gb.html.

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