Tag Archives: Les 4 Etoiles de Pau

First CCI4* Win for Young French Star – Livio Beats Jung to Pau Victory

Maxime Livio (FRA) and Qalao Des Mers (Trevor Holt/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 16 October 2016 – To the delight of the French crowd, Maxime Livio (FRA) scored his first CCI4* victory by Jumping clear on Qalao Des Mers at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau, the first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2016/17, to finish on his Dressage score of 45.3.

Michael Jung (GER), the 2016 and 2012 individual Olympic gold medallist, held the lead after Cross Country on FischerRocana FST, his 2015 and 2016 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* winner. But Jung lowered two fences on the 11-year-old mare, moving down to third place, and handed the win to Livio.

Maxime Livio, 29, has a superb CCI4* record so far from just three attempts – he finished second on his debut at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau in 2014, and took the runner-up spot with the Selle Français 12-year-old Qalao Des Mers at Luhmühlen in June this year.

He said: “I’ve finished second at this level before, so finally to win is very special. I’ve had a marvellous time at Pau – the ground was well prepared, the courses were great and my horse performed well.”

Jung also finished second to Livio on FischerTakinou, having knocked one fence down on the nine-year-old on whom he won individual and team gold medals at the 2015 FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle (GBR). “It is always disappointing to have a fence down, but I am happy with both my horses,” he said.

Jung also led Les 4 Etoiles de Pau going into the Jumping phase in 2015 on FischerRocana FST but hit one fence, handing victory to France’s Astier Nicolas, who went on to win team gold and individual silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Nicola Wilson (GBR) took fourth place with One Two Many, slipping from third place after knocking two show jumps down. Her fellow British rider, CCI4* first-timer Alexander Bragg, finished fifth on Zagreb after a faultless jumping round – one of just seven in the competition.

Camilla Speirs (IRL) was delighted with her Rio Olympics partner Portersize Just A Jiff – the pair rose from 32nd after Dressage to take sixth place with a double clear round in the cross country and jumping phases.

New Zealand’s Jock Paget finished seventh after picking up eight jumping faults with Clifton Signature, while Nicola Wilson filled a second top-10 spot with Annie Clover in eighth.

Thirty-five riders contested the final Jumping phase over a track, designed by Yann Royant (FRA) that was considered to be one of the biggest seen at CCI4* level this season.

Two horses were withdrawn before the final veterinary inspection; 10th-placed Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison (Sonja Johnson, AUS) and Fleet Street (Roo Fox, GBR) and two more were eliminated at the final veterinary inspection on Sunday morning – Cracker Jack, who lay in sixth place with Boyd Martin (USA), and Cooley Blue Flame, 35th with Katie O’Sullivan (IRL)

About the winner

Maxime Livio (FRA) runs his own stable, Ecurie Maxime Livio, near Saumur with his girlfriend, Jumping rider Mathilde Montginoux.

Maxime competed on French team at the FEI Junior and Young Rider European Eventing Championships, and made his senior championship debut at the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014.

His first major success came with his Les 4 Etoiles de Pau winner Qalao Des Mers in 2014, when they won the Saumur (FRA) CCI3*, but he had received international recognition when taking second place at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau aboard Cathar De Gamel in 2014.

Maxime’s family has no connection with horses, but he started having riding lessons as a small child and participated in all forms of competition. He trained at the Ecole Nationale d’Equitation de Saumur, and spent time with François Roemer and Nicolas Touzaint before setting up his own establishment.

Full results: www.event-pau.fr

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Catherine Austen

Les 4 Etoiles de Pau Media Contact:

Véronique Triffaux
servicedepresse@centaure-production.fr
T +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
M +33 (0)6 80 03 18 44

FEI Media Contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Michael Jung Holds Cross Country Lead at Pau

Michael Jung (GER) and FischerRocana FST (Trevor/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 15 October, 2016 – Michael Jung (GER) rode two brilliant rounds of Cross Country at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau (FRA), the first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2016/17, to hold the lead on FischerRocana FST and be within a fence of victory on his Dressage leader, the youngster FischerTakinou, now in fifth place with a few time penalties.

France’s Maxime Livio thrilled the large crowd enjoying the warm autumn sunshine by finishing bang on the optimum time of 11 minutes to rise to second place on his Luhmühlen runner-up Qalao des Mers.

Time proved influential on Pierre Michelet’s (FRA) clever Cross Country course and only one other rider finished on a clean sheet. That was the trailblazer Christopher Burton (AUS), who has now risen 22 places to 22nd on TS Jamaimo.

Jung, the 2015/16 FEI Classics™ champion, finished just one second over time on the 11-year-old mare FischerRocana FST, twice a winner of Kentucky and the individual world silver medalist in 2014.

He gave the nine-year-old FischerTakinou, a far less experienced horse, a beautifully sympathetic, unhurried ride for 8.8 time penalties but he is still within a Jumping fence of his leading ride.

“Rocana was wonderful – she is so simple to ride – and Takinou gave me a good feeling for his first time at this level,” commented Jung.

Nicola Wilson (GBR) on One Two Many and Jock Paget (NZL) on Clifton Signature both rode stylish, well-judged rounds are now in third and fourth places respectively and could put pressure on Jung in the final Jumping phase.

Boyd Martin (USA) on the grey Cracker Jack and last year’s winner, Olympic gold and silver medallist Astier Nicolas (FRA), on the CCI4* first-timer Molokai rose to sixth and seventh places with two time penalties apiece, and Tina Cook (GBR) showed all her class aboard her Olympic reserve, Billy the Red, to rise five spots to eighth.

The Dressage runner-up Alexander Bragg had a great round on the big Dutch warmblood Zagreb, following Jung’s lead in taking a neat line out of the final water complex, and he is in ninth place, 0.2 penalties ahead of Australian Olympian Sonja Johnson, a sheep farmer from Perth, who has climbed into the top 10 on the tiny chestnut Thoroughbred Parkiarrup Illicit Liais.

There were two high-profile departures from the leaderboard. Laura Collett (GBR), eighth after Dressage on Palmero 4, had the bad luck to fall two fences from home at the colourful Artists’ Palette upright fence and Tim Price (NZL), 11th on Xavier Faer, was unshipped when getting an awkward jump in over the log at the last water complex (fence 22a).

Kirsty Johnston, ninth after Dressage on Opposition Detective, had an early run-out at fence 4 when the horse took a strong hold over the preceding drop and ran past the corner.

Karin Donckers (BEL), fifth after Dressage on Fletcha van’t Verahof, is now in 16th place after incurring 13.2 time penalties.

The tight time meant there were big gains to be made on the scoreboard. Among those to leap up the order were Camilla Speirs (IRL) on the diminutive Portersize Just A Jiff and Nicola Wilson (GBR) on Annie Clover, up from joint 32nd after Dressage to 11th and 12th, respectively.

Pierre Michelet had makes full use of the compact site at Pau, which takes in the racecourse, and had produced what riders considered a more technical track than last year. It rode well, and there were 35 clear rounds and 39 finishers from the 48 Cross Country starters.

There’s live action on FEI TV (cross country and jumping) at www.feitv.org and live results on www.worldsporttiming.com.

Full results: www.event-pau.fr

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Kate Green

Les 4 Etoiles de Pau Media Contact:

Véronique Triffaux
servicedepresse@centaure-production.fr
T +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
M +33 (0)6 80 03 18 44

FEI Media Contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Jung Takes Control after Dressage at Pau

Michael Jung (GER) and FischerTakinou. (Trevor Holt/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 14 October 2016 – Newly crowned Olympic champion Michael Jung has given himself a great chance of winning one of very few major competitions to elude him this far, the French premier event of Les 4 Etoiles de Pau (FRA), opening leg of the new FEI Classics™ season for 2015/16.

The Ground Jury, Wayne Quarles (USA), Christina Klingspor (SWE) and Alain James (FRA), awarded the only sub-40 mark, 39.3, for his performance on FischerTakinou. The nine-year-old, by Jaguar Mail, is competing in his first CCI4*, but he showed his brilliance when easily taking the European title in difficult rainy conditions at Blair Castle (GBR) last year, and the weather at Pau has been wet.

Jung explained that the chestnut gelding missed the Olympics due to a tick infection. “He is a very talented horse and always good in the dressage – he concentrates just as well whether he is at home or at a competition,” commented the world number one.

Jung is also in fourth place on the genuine mare FischerRocana FST, a dual Kentucky winner, and will take some beating as he aims to get a head start on the new FEI Classics™ leaderboard again.

German riders have headed the sought-after FEI Classics™ rankings for the last two years; Ingrid Klimke’s Pau victory in 2014 contributed to her success in 2015 before Jung took over in 2016 in the lucrative series that links the world’s six CCI4*s.

British rider Alexander Bragg, who works part time as a farrier, has produced the test of a lifetime to lie second amid distinguished company; he scored the excellent mark of 43.0 penalties on the 12-year-old Dutch-bred Zagreb, a horse he has produced from one-star level.

The pair made their CCI4* debut at Burghley but were eliminated on the Cross Country. “My main aim was an accurate test, so I am pretty happy right now!” said Bragg, 35. “Zagreb is improving on the flat all the time and is more composed in his flying changes.”

Fellow Brit Nicola Wilson, a regular visitor to the popular French event with its racecourse setting, friendly atmosphere and beautiful Pyrenean backdrop, is third on One Two Many on 43.6.

The veteran Belgian rider Karin Donckers is fifth on Fletcha van’t Verahof, only 0.1 penalty ahead of New Zealander Jock Paget, sixth on Clifton Signature. Maxime Livio (FRA) is the highest placed of the home riders in seventh on Qalao des Mers.

Two British riders hold eighth and ninth places: Laura Collett (GBR), a member of the winning British team at the FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing final at Boekelo (NED) last weekend, riding Palmero, and Kirsty Johnston, who makes her Pau debut aboard Opposition Detective, yet another CCI4* sired by the famous Fleetwater Opposition, the stallion her father stands.

Tim Price (NZL), the runner-up in 2015, is in 11th place on CCI4* first timer Xavier Faer, last year’s winner, Astier Nicolas (FRA), is poised in 12th place on Molokai and experienced Cross Country rider Kristina Gifford is not far off the pace on Billy The Red and Calvino ll, currently holding 13th and 14th places.

Christopher Burton (AUS) starts the Cross Country action Saturday when he is first out on course at 1300 hours (local time); the recent Burghley winner will be hoping for one of master designer Pierre Michelet’s influential tracks as he scored the disappointing mark of 60.3 on the 17-year-old Australian Thoroughbred TS Jamaimo and is lying well down the order in 44th place out of the 49 starters.

Lower-placed Dressage competitors shouldn’t be disheartened; riders are viewing the Olympic designer’s Pau track as a challenging test, full of twists, turns and changes of camber, plus the reappearance of the carved fish that proved so influential at the 2014 World Equestrian Games at Haras du Pin.

A thrilling day’s sport is assured, and there is live coverage on FEI TV (cross country and jumping) at www.feitv.org and live results on www.worldsporttiming.com.

Full results: www.event-pau.fr

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Kate Green

Les 4 Etoiles de Pau Media Contact:

Véronique Triffaux
servicedepresse@centaure-production.fr
T +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
M +33 (0)6 80 03 18 44

FEI Media Contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Can Olympic Champion Michael Jung Claim French Season-Opener at Pau?

Astier Nicolas (FRA), Olympic team gold and individual silver medalist at Rio 2016 and last year’s winner at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau. (Trevor Holt/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 12 October 2016 – Les 4 Etoiles de Pau (FRA), first leg of the FEI Classics™, is the only CCI4* in the northern hemisphere to have eluded double Olympic champion Michael Jung, who has had the most extraordinary run of success over his career to date.

The clear winner of the overall FEI Classics™ title for 2015/16 with victories at Kentucky (USA) and Badminton (GBR), Jung was second last year at Pau on fischerRocana FST. He returns again this weekend with the lovely 11-year-old mare, with proven 4* form with two victories at Kentucky. He also brings his double European gold medal ride fischerTakinou and will be looking to get a head start on the FEI Classics™ 2016/17 leaderboard.

The FEI Classics™ series links the elite 4* fixtures on the international Eventing calendar, with points accumulated across the six events – Pau (FRA), Adelaide (AUS), Kentucky (USA), Badminton (GBR), Luhmühlen (GER), and Burghley (GBR).

Jung is the sole German at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau in an international field in which 13 nations are represented. Competition starts 13 October with the horse inspection at 09.00 CET, with the Dressage phase starting at 09.00 CET on Friday 14 October.

Last year Astier Nicolas, a member of the French gold medal team at the Rio Olympic Games and individual silver medalist, and sixth place overall in last season’s FEI Classics™, thrilled the home crowd by winning at Pau on Piaf de B’neville.

This year he rides Molokai, heading a strong French squad that includes his Rio team mate Karim Florent Laghouag on Punch de l’Esques, Maxime Livio (Qalao des Mers) and regular FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing rider Caroline Chadelat (Kadessia).

Britain and New Zealand have traditionally enjoyed success at Pau and the two squads this year are headed by riders who had to sit on the sidelines at the Rio Olympic Games.

Tina Cook (GBR), travelling reserve for the British team in Rio and double bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics, brings Billy the Red and Calvino. Jock Paget (NZL), who had to withdraw Clifton Lush in Rio with an injury, was runner-up at Pau in 2012 and rides the exciting prospect Clifton Signature.

Fellow New Zealander Tim Price, second to Jung in the 2015/16 FEI Classics™ standings and third at Pau 2015, brings the 10-year-old British-bred Xavier Faer to Pau for the horse’s first 4* outing.

Fellow antipodean, Australia’s Christopher Burton, Burghley 2016 winner and fifth in the 2015/16 FEI Classics™, brings his Adelaide 2013 winning ride TS Jamaimo.

The starting line-up also features a strong contingent from Ireland, plus riders from Italy, Belgium, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and the USA.

The FEI Classics™ 2016/2017 season looks set to get off to a thrilling start at the premier French event where everyone is waiting to see what Olympic course designer Pierre Michelet has in store.

Live coverage on FEI TV (cross country and jumping) at www.feitv.org and live results on www.event-pau.fr.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Kate Green

Les 4 Etoiles de Pau Media Contact:

Véronique Triffaux
servicedepresse@centaure-production.fr
T +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
M +33 (0)6 80 03 18 44

FEI Media Contact:

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

French Joy as Astier Nicolas Wins First CCI4*

Astier Nicolas (FRA), riding Piaf de B’neville thrills the French crowd with his first CCI4* win on home ground at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau, first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016 season. (Trevor Holt/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 25 October, 2015 – Astier Nicolas (FRA) had an excited French crowd on the edges of their seats as he scored his first ever CCI4* win in fantastic style at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau (FRA), opening leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016.

With the hopes of his home country resting on his shoulders and Pau’s Jumping course proving as influential as ever, Nicolas, who was third after Cross Country, rode a skillful clear round on Piaf de B’neville in the Jumping arena.

This put serious pressure on 19-year-old Emily King (GBR) and Olympic, world and European number one Michael Jung (GER), who was down to one horse after withdrawing the overnight leader Halunke FBW at the final Horse Inspection, and, to Nicolas’s evident disbelief, they each had a fence down.

King dropped from second to fourth on Brookleigh, but it was a brave effort at her first CCI4*, and Jung, who has made very few mistakes this year, slipped from first to second on fischerRocana, losing the win by just 0.9 penalty, after the mare hit the third fence.

Tim Price (NZL) and the Dutch-bred Wesko, a reliable horse in the final phase, having started his career in a Jumping yard, rose from fourth to third with an immaculate clear round.

Astier Nicolas is the first French rider to win the CCI4* at Pau since Nicolas Touzaint in 2007 and, to make it even more special, the city of Pau is his home, although he is a familiar face on the British circuit, having been based there for a while.

“I wasn’t at all nervous because I had two riders in front of me and didn’t think I would win,” said Nicolas. “It’s very special to win my first CCI4* in France.”

The French crowd had even more to cheer about when two of the seven clear rounds came from Karim Florent Laghouag (FRA), who rose from eighth to fifth place on the lovely black stallion Entebbe de Hus and from 14th to seventh on Punch de l’Esques.

The young German rider Claas Hermann Romeike, watched anxiously by his Olympic gold medalist father, Hinrich, also kept a cool head, jumping clear on Cato 60 to rise seven places to sixth at only his second CCI4*.

Tim Lips (NED) slipped five places to 11th when Bayro incurred 12 Jumping faults and Andreas Dibowski (GER) was lucky to only drop two places to 12th when FRH Butts Avedon had four fences down. Paul Tapner (AUS) also departed from the top 10, falling from seventh to 17 with an unfortunate six rails down on Indian Mill.

As well as the sad departure of Halunke FBW from the Horse Inspection, Bill Levett (AUS) also withdrew Shannondale Titan, 10th after Cross country. Thirty-three horses completed the competition.

The FEI Classics™ 2015/2016 season has started in style with a thrilling contest. Next, the action moves to the southern hemisphere for the Adelaide International 3 Day Event (AUS) on 19-22 November.

About the Les 4 Etoiles de Pau winner

Astier Nicolas (FRA), 26, is the youngest CCI4* winner this year. He represented France at Pony, Junior and Young Rider level and won an individual silver medal in the Young Rider Europeans at Waregem (BEL) in 2009. His previous best CCI4* result was sixth at Pau in 2012 on Jhakti du Janlie.

Riding Piaf de B’neville, he won the u25 CCI3* at Bramham (GBR) in 2012 and was a member of France’s senior bronze medal team at the 2013 FEI European Eventing Championship in Malmö (SWE).

The combination finished runner up at Saumur CCI3* this year. He was also recently second in the young horse CIC3* at Blenheim and ninth at Boekelo CCI3* (NED) on Spes Addit’Or.

Nicolas is from Pau in France but has been based for some years in Gloucestershire in Great Britain, where he came to study for a degree in equine management at the West of England University at Hartpury College.

Piaf de B’neville is a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Cap de B’neville.

See full leaderboard here: http://bit.ly/1PP9nNx.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing.

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Kate Green

Les 4 Etoiles de Pau Media Contact:

Véronique Triffaux
servicedepresse@centaure-production.fr
T +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
M +33 (0)6 80 03 18 44

FEI Media Contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 787 506 145

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Michael Jung Has Another Perfect Day

Michael Jung (GER) gave a masterclass in Cross Country at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau (FRA), opening leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016, today and remains in first and second places on Halunke FBW and fischerRocana FST (pictured). (Trevor Holt/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 24 October, 2015 – Michael Jung (GER) gave a masterclass in Cross Country riding at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau (FRA), opening leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016, and remains in first and second places on Halunke FBW and fischerRocana FST.

However, tomorrow’s Jumping phase promises to be a thriller as he does not have a Jumping fence in hand over CCI4* first-timer Emily King (GBR), who is still in third place on Brookleigh, or France’s Astier Nicolas, fourth on Piaf de B’neville.

The top 10 has changed little after Dressage with 28 clear rounds from the 47 Cross Country starters, 15 of them inside the optimum time.

Pierre Michelet’s track was shorter by 24 seconds than last year and the time allowed of 11 minutes 38 seconds proved easily achievable on the good footing; several riders enjoyed the luxury of being able to take the long option at the last complex at fence 27 and still finish comfortably inside the time.

Jung’s first round on fischerRocana FST was sheer poetry; the Olympic and triple European champion rides the mare with the lightest of contact and has an extraordinary eye for distances, flying the fences spectacularly with hardly a pull on the reins.

He had to work a bit harder on Halunke FBW; the white-faced black gelding had some time off after winning the European title in 2013 and is a heavier type to steer, but although his name means “rascal”, the 11-year-old proved perfectly well-mannered at his first CCI4* and finished just one second over the optimum time.

Emily King’s performance was also a joy to watch, as the teenager, visibly concentrating hard on the job in hand, maintained a perfect rhythm throughout and took all the direct routes to finish six seconds inside the optimum time.

She will find herself under severe pressure tomorrow, but the 19-year-old has spent time training with British Olympic gold medalist Ben Maher and is well capable of a good performance in the Jumping arena.

“I’m so pleased; I’ve never had such a good round on the horse, so it was great timing for it to happen here,” said a delighted King. “My plan was to keep attacking on a forward stride and he listened to me all the way and felt so happy. The Jumping is probably our weakest phase, but I will just have to keep Ben’s words ringing in my ear!”

Neither King nor Astier Nicolas have a Jumping fence in hand over Tim Price (NZL), who had a typically smooth round on Wesko to remain in fifth place. Popular French rider Karim Florent Loughouag incurred just two time penalties on the stallion Entebbe de Hus, allowing Tim Lips (NED) on Concrex Bayro and Paul Tapner (AUS) on Indian Mill to rise a place each to sixth and seventh respectively.

American rider Jennie Brannigan, ninth after Dressage, was eliminated for a dramatic horse fall with Cambalda at the racecourse hedge (fence 15). Her departure allowed Bill Levett (AUS) to move up a place to ninth on Shannondale Titan and last year’s runners-up, Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon, to come up into the top 10.

Pathfinder Sarah Bullimore (GBR) set the tone for a good day with a double clear on Valentino V, and she is now in 12th place behind Sir Mark Todd, who produced a masterful round on NZB Campino, 11th.

However, Bullimore’s day deteriorated with a frustrating run-out on Reve de Rouet at 27b, a brush fence on an acute turn, and she was stopped on course and eliminated after Lilly Corinne got the flag between her front legs on the narrow “bunch of grapes”, fence 21.

Lucy Wiegersma (GBR) had the day’s strangest misfortune. She was going well on Mr Chunky when jumping too far to the left into the final water complex at 24; the gelding, unable to make the sharp right-hand turn in time to the bounce up over a fish-shaped fence, took off over the boundary railings and fell in the much deeper water on the other side, leaving Wiegersma wading in chest-high water.

To find out what happens tomorrow, tune into FEI TV at 14.30 local time for what promises to be a thrilling Jumping finale.

Watch the entire FEI Classics™ at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau live on www.feitv.org.

See live results on www.event-pau.fr.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing.

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Kate Green

Les 4 Etoiles de Pau Media Contact:

Véronique Triffaux
servicedepresse@centaure-production.fr
T +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
M +33 (0)6 80 03 18 44

FEI Media Contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 787 506 145

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Michael Jung Strikes Out in Front at Pau

Michael Jung (GER) gets off to a good start at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau, first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016 season, where he is in first and second place after Dressage (pictured here with Halunke FBW). (Trevor Holt/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 23 October, 2015 – Michael Jung (GER) has made a great start in the CCI4* at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau, first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016, and is in first and second places after Dressage, with his two horses split by just one penalty.

Pau is one of very few major events that the Olympic champion has yet to win, but he looks to have two excellent chances: he heads the field of 49 on his 2013 European champion, Halunke FBW, an 11-year-old black gelding by Heraldik, and is second on the mare fischerRocana, winner of Kentucky in April.

Both horses, which Jung had brought with him on his “French tour” – he won the six-year-old CIC1* at Le Lion d’Angers (FRA) last weekend – were among the quartet to score below 40.

In contrast to Jung’s mighty record, 19-year-old Emily King (GBR), a member of Britain’s gold medal-winning Young Rider team this year, is competing at her first CCI4*.

The teenager has made quite an impression already and currently holds third place in this stellar field with the brilliant mark of 38.3 on the German-bred Brookleigh, a 13-year-old gelding previously ridden by Clayton Fredericks (AUS). The pair were recently second behind Sir Mark Todd (NZL) and NZB Campino at Ballindenisk CIC3* (IRL).

“I’ve been to Pau lots of times with Mum [Mary King, the 2011 FEI Classics™ winner] and have dreamed of riding here,” said King. “It’s such a lovely, friendly event and I feel very lucky to be here.”

She added: “The Cross Country is quite different to some of the major tracks in England. It’s nice and bold and challenging, but also more twisting and technical. I’m excited about it!”

The home side has plenty to cheer about with Astier Nicolas (FRA) in fourth place on the 12-year-old Piaf de B’neville with the good score of 38.5 and Karim Florent Laghouag (FRA) in sixth place on the 10-year-old black stallion Entebbe de Hus with a mark of 40.6.

The accomplished New Zealand combination of Tim Price and Wesko, Luhmühlen winners in 2014 and Kentucky runners-up behind Jung this year, is fifth on 40.0 penalties. Price’s wife Jonelle is 19th on Faerie Dianimo on 47.7.

Six nations are represented in the top 10: Tim Lips (NED) is seventh on Concrex Bayro, Paul Tapner is the highest-placed Australian in eighth on Indian Mill and Jennie Brannigan is best of the American riders in ninth on Cambalda.

“Indian Mill is in the best form ever, so I’m confident,” said Tapner. “I will be disappointed if he doesn’t finish the Cross Country within the optimum time. I think there are quite a few potential problem fences out there, but there is no one fence that I’m stressed about.”

Mark Todd (NZL), currently well in touch in 14th place on NZB Campino with a good mark of 43.3, predicts that the water complexes will be influential. “The course looks good with a lot of forward distances,” he said.

“The last water complex could be quite a big effort. There’s a big drop in and a bounce out of it. And I think the two corners in the preceding water are big. There are lots of places where riders could be caught out.”

First on course tomorrow is Britain’s Sarah Bullimore with Valentino V at 14.00 local time.

Watch the entire FEI Classics™ at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau live on www.feitv.org.

See live results on www.event-pau.fr.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Kate Green

Les 4 Etoiles de Pau Media Contact:

Véronique Triffaux
servicedepresse@centaure-production.fr
T +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
M +33 (0)6 80 03 18 44

FEI Media Contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 787 506 145

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Can Jung Conquer Pau as Well?

Michael Jung (GER), reigning Olympic and European champion, is aiming to add Les 4 Etoiles de Pau, first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016 season, to his trophy cupboard (he is pictured here at the Burghley leg, which he won, of the 2014/2015 series). (Trevor Meeks/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 21 October, 2015 – Michael Jung (GER) is in the French Pyrenees to see if he can add the CCI4* at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau, first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2015/2016 – which unites the world’s top six four-star Eventing competitions – to his trophy cupboard.

Jung, the reigning Olympic and European champion and runner-up to Ingrid Klimke (GER) in last year’s series, has won at Kentucky (USA) and Burghley (GBR) this year, and is a previous victor at Luhmühlen (GER), as well as being a Badminton (GBR) runner-up.

His best result at France’s premier event so far is a third place in 2012, but German riders have a good record here, winning four out of eight times since the CCI4* began in 2007.

He is bringing the brilliant mare fischerRocana, his Kentucky winner and the horse on which he had a rare Cross Country mistake – an early fall in the water at Burghley last month. His other mount, Halunke FBW, the 2013 European champion, has been saved especially for Pau as it is thought Pierre Michelet’s (FRA) flat racecourse track will suit the 11-year-old German Württemberger gelding.

Sir Mark Todd had won his first CCI4* – Badminton in 1980 – before Jung was even born. New Zealand’s double Olympic champion has been in fine form this season and has an obvious chance to win at Pau on the 13-year-old German-bred NZB Campino, winner of two CIC3*s this year.

Todd’s compatriots have plenty of CCI4* form between them, especially former world and Olympic champion Blyth Tait, who has followed his old team mate out of retirement. Tait, who has never competed at Pau before, rides Bear Necessity V.

Eventing’s ‘power couple’, Tim and Jonelle Price (NZL), are also sure to make an impact. Tim has his Kentucky runner-up Wesko and has picked up a new ride on Julie Tew’s (GBR) Lord of the Owls, while Jonelle will be seeking her first CCI4* win. She has a great chance on the talented little grey mare Faerie Dianimo, fourth here in 2014 and second at Luhmühlen this year.

There hasn’t been a French winner since Nicolas Touzaint in 2007, so expectations will be high for the in-form Astier Nicolas, who rides Piaf de B’neville and the well-named Quickly du Buguet, plus former world champion Jean Teulere with the experienced Matelot du Grand Val.

Other competitors to watch include the 2010 winner Andreas Dibowski (GER), who rides FRH Butts Avedon, and Lucy Wiegersma (GBR), who will soon celebrate her marriage to Irish team rider Padraig McCarthy – she rides Mr Chunky.

Germany’s Claas Hermann Romeike (Cato 60), the son of 2008 Olympic champion Hinrich Romeike, and Britain’s Emily King (Brookleigh), daughter of the 2011 FEI Classics champion, Mary King, also make their débuts at Pau.

Ten nations will be represented and around 50 horses are expected to start in what promises to be a thrilling competition.

Watch the entire FEI Classics™ at Les 4 Etoiles de Pau live on www.feitv.org.

See live results on www.event-pau.fr.

Use hashtags #FEIClassics #Eventing

See FEI Classics™ hub: www.fei.org/fei/events/fei-classics.

By Kate Green

Les 4 Etoiles de Pau Media Contact:

Véronique Triffaux
servicedepresse@centaure-production.fr
T +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
M +33 (0)6 80 03 18 44

FEI Media Contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 787 506 145

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46