Photo: Sportfot.

For the first highlight of the CSI 4* at the HUBSIDE JUMPING in VALENCIA, the flawless waltz kept the public enthralled in a summer atmosphere. And it was the driver Jean-Luc Mourier, very fit on his faithful Captain Keen, who won in front of a great competition.

They were twenty-seven to take the start of the major event of the day, rated at 1.45m, under an azure sky. Designed by the course manager Grégory Bodo, recently returned from Tokyo where he had gone as assistant to the course manager in charge of the show jumping events, the course allowed the riders of the CSI 4* to take the temperature of the competition and start the competition smoothly.

Nice start with the Frenchman Nicolas Delmotte, saddled on the young and promising Citadin du Château, signatories of a clear course in a time of 63’37. All that remained was to do as well, but faster, to claim victory. In their wake, despite a fine clear lap, the Frenchman Julien Gonin on Caprice de Guinfard did not succeed, unlike the Frenchwoman Marie Demonte and Manchester, the third couple to take the start and imposing on the competition a new time to beat with a stopwatch of 62’93. Throughout the event, the numerous clear rounds have continued to follow one another, offering a nice game of musical chairs on the classification side. It took all the know-how of Habs Simon Delestre and Chesall Zimequest to once again change the provisional leadership of the event by crossing the finish line in 61’57. The dice seemed to have been cast. But that was without counting on the ultra-fast driver Jean-Luc Mourier, already winner of an event at the start of the afternoon in the CSI 2*. This time perched on Captain Keen, the Rhônalpin won in 60’46.

Full results here.

Daniel Koroloff – E-mail: daniel@blizko-communication.com