Because the Longines International Jumping of La Baule is the only CSIO5* in France, the show keeps cultivating its difference.
From the FFE AC Print – Chev’El Young Talents classes (CSIU25), to the FEI Nations Cup presented by Longines (CSIO5*), including the Derby of the Pays de la Loire Region (CSIO5*), the Grand Prix Longines of the City of La Baule (CSIO5*), the François André stadium is the place for all meetings. Olympic medallists, world champions, celebrities, rising stars of equestrian sports, all of them will be in Loire-Atlantique from 11 to 14 May.
Friday 12 May, 2pm – FEI Nations Cup presented by Longines With the best riders of the planet, 8 countries are on the start list: Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden. Except for Belgium, all will do their best to score points in order to qualify for the world final in Barcelona. On home ground, the French team will try to chase their first title since 2014.
Saturday 13 May, 1pm – Derby of the Pays de la Loire Region One more time, the grandstand will be packed to share this moment of History of the CSIO5* of France. Writing one’s name on the marble of the François André stadium is always a great honour for a rider. Unique occasion within a CSIO5*, the Derby of La Baule combines natural and traditional jumping fences, with one only goal for each competitor: cross the finish line without jumping penalties and sign the best time.
Sunday 14 May, 1pm – Grand Prix Longines of the City of La Baule The Grand Prix Longines of the City of la Baule is without question the dream of any rider. For the champions, among which the French Olympic team champion, listen to one’s national anthem is always a real moment of connection between the public and the athletes.
Not to be missed! From the arena to the alleys of the different Villages, the spectators will meet champions of the discipline, experienced amateur riders, like Guillaume Canet, Marina Hands, Julien Courbet, Benjamin Castaldi riding in the CSI1*, but also Alicia Aylies, Miss France 2017, present on the site on Sunday 14 May. Stars of the sport but also in the grandstand, this is what this new Longines International Jumping of La Baule promises.
From 11 to 14 May, the magic of the Longines International Jumping of La Baule will operate one more time in the François André stadium. On the program, a panel of champions, riders and horses, competing in the prestigious CSIO5* of France, a showpiece event with the FEI Nations Cup presented by Longines (2nd leg of the Division 1 of this circuit of excellence), highlights, 19 international classes, a global endowment of 602 500 euros, the presence of celebrities and future champions in the discipline, a verdant patch located a few meters away from the Atlantic Ocean… so many assets for an exceptional competition.
Photo: SEMAF/Longines Jumping International de La Baule.
Rendez-vous for the world elite of showjumping, the Longines International Jumping of la Baule will be held from 11th to 14th May 2017, at the François André stadium.
At the dawn of its 60th birthday, the La Baule show displays a new arena and a brand new appearance! Already holding a label of sportive excellence through the CSIO5*, the Longines International Jumping of la Baule showcases new features that will definitely seduce and surprise its numerous supporters.
An esthetic value, on top of the renovation of the mythical grass arena, in order to strengthen the unique and prestigious character of the Officiel de France.
The traditional two storey tent, where every year more than 5 000 personalities are greeted as VIP, now leaves room for modern and transparent structures, specially designed and tailored for the show.
While the commercial village remains unchanged with more than 90 booths, the François André stadium also welcomes a unique and brand new VIP space dedicated to the world of Luxury. A lounge bar, run by Edouard Set, will give rhythm to the parties, thanks the DJ of the unmissable Bax, hot spot of the La Baule nights.
The motto of the La Baule Derby will take up its full meaning during this 2017 edition, « Talents confront each other, but art of living is meant to be shared » Welcome to the Longines International Jumping of La Baule!
Jérôme Guéry (BEL) et Grand Cru de Rozenberg. Photos: PSV Jean Morel.
The public is one of the strongest assets of the Longines International Jumping of La Baule. Gathered in the grandstand of the François André stadium, the spectators have been up to their reputation, encouraging each pair, supporting the French riders, greeting every ride and cheering the winners.
These true connoisseurs would have liked to sing the Marseillaise, but they did not hide their pleasure when listening to the Brabançonne that resonated to honour the victory of the Belgian Jérôme Guéry and Grand Cru de Rozenberg.
Before reaching that point, the riders had to qualify for the jump off, after analysing the course designed by Frédéric Cottier. Some were too cautious with the time (83 seconds allowed) and got trapped, especially over the oxer n°6 placed after the water jump, and over the triple combination. Among the disappointed: the Canadian Eric Lamaze, who had a rail down with Chacco Kid, the Olympic champion Steve Guerdat, penalized with 4 faults associated to Bianca, as well as Simon Delestre. The world n°1 and his gorgeous Qlassic Bois Margot completed the course with 5 penalty points. Patrice Delaveau will do his very best to forget his below average performance with Orient Express*HDC (12 points).
Only 11 riders managed to sign a clear round: Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) with Royce, Kevin Staut (FRA) with Elky van Het Indihof HDC, Bertram Allen (IRL) with Romanov, Pénélope Leprevost (FRA) with Flora de Mariposa, Cédric Angot (FRA) with Saxo de la Cour, Johnny Pals (PB) with Fernando, René Lopez (COL) with Con Dios III, Lucy Davis (USA) with Barron, Gudrun Patteet (BEL) with Sea Coast Pebbles Z, Jérôme Guéry (BEL) with Grand Cru de Rozenberg, and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) with Fibonacci 17.
Pénélope Leprevost (FRA) et Flora de Mariposa
Pénélope Leprevost put pressure on her opponents when jumping the 8 fences of the jump off in a time of 36’’19 without penalties on Flora de Mariposa. But the option on a victory by the French, vice world champion and world n°5, fell apart after Jérôme Guéry’s ride on his beautiful chestnut horse with an odd eye. Grand Cru de Rozenberg flew over the poles in a time of 35’’74 that allowed him to clinch victory in the Longines Grand Prix of the city of La Baule 2016, ahead of Pénélope Leprevost and Flora de Mariposa. The 3rd place goes to the German Michaels-Beerbaum and Fibonacci 17.
QUOTES:
Rémi Cléro, President of the international Jumping of La Baule:
« First of all, thank you to everybody for riding this Longines Grand Prix of the city of La Baule. This Grand Prix has been possible because of the unconditional support of the city of La Baule and Longines, sponsor of the show and of the Grand Prix. Congratulations to all, to the champion Jérôme Guéry, to Pénélope for her beautiful rounds and to Meredith. »
Yves Métaireau, Mayor of La Baule:
« We had ordered a nice weather, we had a wonderful Grand Prix and a fantastic public. Around 8000 to 9000 spectators were here this afternoon, thanks to the free admission and to the quality of the show. I would only worry about one thing: where to fit in more people next year. »
Jérôme Guéry (BEL), 1st:
« You have to know this show is particularly dear to me, even if I only came here twice. I started in Super League in La Baule and win here in front of this public gave me a lot of emotion, especially because I bought Grand Cru less than a year ago, and I was jumping 1,20m classes with him. I am really happy; my plan was to come to La Baule with the national coach. I was very good in the Grand Prix today, not so good in the Nations Cup. I want to apologize to my partners; it can happen. »
Pénélope Leprevost (FRA), 2nd:
« Flora is really in very, very good shape. I did not ride well in the Nations Cup, even if it does not show, since we signed a double clear; the mare was fantastic. It is a very strange feeling to ride her; she may be the mare of a lifetime that any rider dreams of meeting once in his high level career. She may be my Jappeloup. I ride each course with great pleasure with this mare, knowing that if I had found the right distance on the last fence, I could have been faster than Jérôme, but I did not. »
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), 3rd:
« I did not come here in a long time, since 1991 actually, since often I am in Florida in winter. I was very young the last time. I was very happy to be here and very pleased about the way things went for me this weekend. »
Frédéric Cottier (FRA), course designer:
« I heard a lot about the footing after the Nations Cup, but I was really confident today when I saw how the ground dried out. The course we put up was a real one with oxers between 1,65 m and 1,80 m, and 1,60 m verticals. The line after the water jump was very technical, even if after 10 riders I had already 6 clear rounds. The first horses jumped very high the water and backed up a little. This year, we had an exceptional quality of horses. »
