Paul Estermann/Castlefield Eclipse, 1er du Prix Beau Rivage Palace. Photo by: One Shot.

Friday 9 September – A busy programme now awaits the competitors at the International Longines Horse Show of Lausanne, with 6 different events spread over the day. Sunshine, heat, the idyllic setting of Lake Geneva and a wonderful sporting event in perspective with the arrival of top level CSI5* riders and horses.

The first to arrive on the track were 36 CSI2* competitors at 8 am Friday. The Prix des Bénévoles award, a 130cm event, run under Table A followed by a jump-off, was won by the young French rider Julia Dallamano with her 8-year-old bay mare, Uméa de Pleville. Switzerland placed second thanks to Charlotte Barbey and Cardoso, just 2 seconds behind the winner. Thierry Rozier (FRA) and Star completed the podium.

Eagerly awaited by the public, the CSI5* pairs made their entry to the arena at 10:30 in a 140cm event, in Table A against the clock, under the Fonds du Sport Vaudois colours. If some headliners represented serious rivals, the 45 pairs were all driven by the same goal: to defeat the difficulties designed by Michel Vaillancourt head of the Canadian jumping arena. A first victory for Switzerland thanks to the performance of the pair Claudia Gisler/Touchable, the 16-year-old Dutch gelding, with whom she finished 7th in a similar event at the CSIO5* Gijon (Division 2) last August. The German Marc Bettinger/Barino was placed 2nd ahead of the Belgian Ignace Philips/Dream di San Patrignano, 3rd.

The 29 under 25 riders followed in the Services Techniques de la Ville de Lausanne award, a 2 stage event of 135cm. The Norwegian Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen, 5th in the individual and team titles at the European Young Riders Championships in 2016, brilliantly won with Chaloubet, an 8-year-old gelding. Switzerland imposed its flag on the rest of the podium with Morgane Dassio/Horst van de Mispelaere (2nd) and Jennifer Meylan/Opportune de Bloye (3rd).

In the early afternoon, the Give-Life award at 14:15 (115cm, Table A against the clock), sponsored by the Swiss association working to promote the donation and transplantation of organs, was won by the American Molly Ohrstrom on Jimy, her 11-year-old stallion. The rider’s experience combined with the speed of her horse helped her to a dominant victory with more than 5 seconds on her opponents. Sophie Pellerey (FRA)/Aconnection came in second in front of the Swiss rider Charlotte Gellerstad/Amarena H.B; a 100% female podium was a reminder that riding is the only mixed Olympic sport.

The CSI5* riders made their return to the arena in the Beau Rivage Palace award (145cm in Table A followed by a jump-off). The showdown was particularly close. Only 22nd hundredths of seconds made the difference and gave leadership to the Swiss pair bronze medallist team at the European Championships in 2015, Paul Estermann/Castlefield Eclipse. Maëlle Martin/Giovani de la Pomme from France finished 2nd in front of the Olympic silver medallist in the 2016 team competition, the American Lucy Davis/Boucherom.

The Lausanne Palace & Spa award (CSI2 * 135cm, Table A against the clock) closed the day with a 100% Swiss podium. Christophe Barbeau/Ugo d’Argent secured the event, relegating his countrymen Hansueli Sprunger/Isaac vd Bisschop and Romain Sottas/Eyecatcher, to respectively 2nd and 3rd position.

Claudia Gisler (SUI, 1st slot in Prix Fonds du Sport Vaudois):

“It’s really extraordinary to win here today in this wonderful competition and in such a great atmosphere. My horse is 16 years old already and I am very proud of him. I feel so happy. It’s really beautiful with the lake all around and the weather has held up. We’ll see what the rest of the weekend holds for us but we will continue to fight for more good results.”

Patrice Delaveau (FRA, World ranking No. 16, vice world champion in individual and team) CSI5* competitor:

“It’s great to discover these new facilities that have changed a lot. It’s very pleasant, very open and beautiful. Obviously, the paddock is impressive with the lake and Alps in the background. The ground is excellent, very ‘good jumping’ and good sized. It is an all-round great success.”

Abdelkebir Ouaddar (MAR, 13th in the World Equestrian Games 2014), CSI5* competitor:

“It’s very well organised. Everything is beautiful. We can see that the organisers have put a lot of care into this competition. This is the first time I have come here but I will return for sure. All the riders have also said that it is great, so I think they will all be happy to come back too. ‘Quickly’ my horse likes it here too. He did a round this morning. I am looking forward to the rest. Thanks to the whole team for this great competition.”

Michael Whitaker (GBR, European team champion 2013) CSI5* competitor:

“Everything is beautiful here. The horses feel at home! The grounds are good! It’s perfect. My horse did well this morning so we’ll see what happens next. And as well as that the weather is great! It’s just perfect.”

William Funnell (European team champion in 2013) CSI5* competitor:

“The facilities are superb. The grounds are good! And we have a great warm-up area with good grounds, which is not always the case. Everything has been well thought out here. It is very airy with loads of space. Everything is perfect.”

Programme and full results of the day: www.longinestiming.com/#!/show-jumping/2016/1220/html/en/longinestiming/index.html

Information: www.ilhs.online

International media & Accreditations
Véronique GAUTHIER/AEM
Tel: +33 967 073 729
Mobile: +33 672 770 600
Email: veronique-gauthier@club-internet.fr

International television
Bruno Oppenheim/O.I.C
Tel: +33 146 033 113
Cell: +33 614 422 795
Email: bruno.oppenheim@wanadoo.fr

National media
Magali Dubois Vaucher/ComPeaR
Tel: +41 22 735 1 323
Mobile: +41 78 608 0 323
Email: magali@compear.ch

Photo by: Scoopdyga.

The International Longines Horse Show of Lausanne event has begun. And what a performance at Place de Bellerive for this new edition orchestrated by Jean-François Danton and the AEM Sport Team.

The first to inaugurate the paddock decked out in Longines blue (title partner of the event) were the CSI U25 riders, the competition reserved for the under-25s. Surprised by the beauty of the training area, at the edge of Lake Geneva, the 29 competitors however did not forget their podium goal.

The Butet Rider’s Academy award (Table A against the clock at 1.30m) was finally applauded to the French Marseillaise thanks to the Haute-Savoie rider, Victoire Echelard, and Querif Hoy, a 12-year-old French saddle gelding. Jennifer Meylan and Opportune de Bloye gave Switzerland 2nd place on the podium, leaving 3rd place to the Belgian Thibault Vermeulen and Baccord du Abnt.

As the sun reached its zenith and the thermometer registered 28 degrees, in the wake of the CSI U25, the Eugène Viollet-Le-Duc award (CSI1*) brought together 36 riders in this competition with the bar at a height of 1.25m in Table A against the clock. Another victory for France with the Rouannais Charles Henri Fermé/Volonté d’Eve, an 11-year-old Belgian mare (SBS). Switzerland took the rest of the podium with respectively Rachel Sandoz/Gigolo III in 2nd place and Jessy Putallaz/Salomé de Crann in 3rd place.

At 2 pm, 11 pairs of riders/horses maintained the sporting rhythm of the day, and entered the arena to compete in the Mövenpick Hotel Lausanne award (Table A against the clock at 1.15m), an event that resounded to the American anthem thanks to Molly Ohrstrom on Jimy. They beat Leah Decroes (SUI)/Bella Vita classed 2nd before Jennifer Hochstadter (LIE)/Thor Talma, 3rd.

The FEI Solidarity Program award completed this first day of competitions. Starting from 50 pairs, only 15 completed a clear round to qualify for the jump-off. A final neck and neck that crowned the tricolour Simon Lorrain and Troika Denfer, a 9-year-old Holsteiner stallion. Mark McAuley/Utchan de Belheme from Ireland finished 2nd, beating Hansueli Sprunger (SUI)/Isaac vd Bisschop, 3rd.

What they said:

Victoire Echelard (FRA, 1st in the Butet Rider’s Academy Award):

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to be invited to this competition. It is a rarity for me to take part in a competition like this, which is generally open to riders competing in the European Championships – not my case. I would like to thank Jean-François Danton for the invitation and for his confidence in me. The facilities are absolutely fantastic. I am not really used to riding against the clock but luckily my horse is very fast. Winning here is special because I am surrounded by the best riders in the world and I feel really at home here [his parents have facilities near Geneva, ed.]. There are plenty of people I know; it’s really nice. I always try to ride for myself and not put any extra pressure on.”

Michel Robert (FRA, CSI2* competitor):

“I am delighted to be here. It’s wonderful! The facilities are superb and the horses are well housed. The stables are well ventilated and all stalls have a window! The horses were very surprised to see the lake and boats. In fact, I think my horse has not missed a single boat departure. I hope that he will eventually focus on the obstacles instead. It was a very positive initiative to propose a completely free competition open to the public. It is very important for the promotion of sport.”

Laetitia du Couëdic (SUI, CSI5* competitor):

“I am delighted to be here. This is my 3rd CSI5* and the first with Cheyenne. It is a wonderful opportunity to compete at this level, as it is quite difficult to get a place in the top-level. Many thanks to the organisers for giving me this opportunity. I am delighted to represent the Young Riders Academy of Lausanne. The facilities are beautiful and the grounds are good sized. It’s not easy to find space in the city centre but the gamble has paid off. The courses are very well built and well dimensioned. I am delighted to participate! Given the list of committed riders, I think we will see some really good riding. I am not taking my participation lightly!”

Pierre Brunschwig (SUI, CSI2* competitor):

“It is a real pleasure to compete here. The course looks perfect and the conditions are ideal. The competition is completely free, which is an excellent initiative and I hope that the stands will be full!”

Thierry Rozier (FRA, CSI2* competitor):

“I love this new layout! It’s a genuine positive change. It has space; is well ventilated, with a view of the beautiful lake. The event is very convivial and everything has been well thought out! Opening the event with free entry to the public is essential for the discovery of our beautiful sport. We must not forget the younger generation.”

Programme and full results of the day: www.longinestiming.com/#!/show-jumping/2016/1220/html/en/longinestiming/index.html

Information: www.ilhs.online

International media & Accreditations
Véronique GAUTHIER/AEM
Tel: +33 967 073 729
Mobile: +33 672 770 600
Email: veronique-gauthier@club-internet.fr

International television
Bruno Oppenheim/O.I.C
Tel: +33 146 033 113
Cell: +33 614 422 795
Email: bruno.oppenheim@wanadoo.fr

National media
Magali Dubois Vaucher/ComPeaR
Tel: +41 22 735 1 323
Mobile: +41 78 608 0 323
Email: magali@compear.ch