End clap for the International Jumping of Bourg-en-Bresse! To end the weekend, what could be better than the CSI4* Grand Prix. Fifty pairs at the start, seven at the jump-off. And at the end, the great victory of Luxembourg, represented by Victor Bettendorf and MR. Tac, just ahead of France who completed the podium with Juliette Faligot and Arqana from Riverland and Benoit Cernin and Deuxcatsix from Eglefin.

A difficult route awaited the qualified riders for the 4* Grand Prix of the City of Bourg-en-Bresse. Faithful to his winding courses, the course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral was no exception to the rule with once again a technical course, made up of several half-turns where each of the gripping efforts was likely to cause a fault. From the start, the chronometer of 65 seconds poses as many problems as the course to the riders. Cédric Hurel will be the first to go back in time with his incredible Fantasio Floreval Z, but the duo is unfortunately penalized by four points. You will have to wait for the eleventh start, with the Luxembourger Victor Bettendorf with MR.Tac to see the first clear round in time. After him, the faults are linked, and one wonders if a new rider will succeed in joining him for the second round before the break, placed after twenty-five starters. And the answer is yes, and it’s fun! In effect, Morgan Bordat is the first to offer the perfect route to France, associated with Uma. It is followed in stride by Grégory Cottard and Bibicijust before the break.

Faced with the difficulties of the first, the following try to climb the tighter course between one and two, before gaining time. The equation works for the stopwatch but the without fail hard to arrive : 10 points for Steve Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme, 12 for Grégory Wathelet and Argentina de la Marchette, just like Philippe Rozier and Dessenger, 13 points for Reynald Angot and his Untouchable Gips HDC with whom he won Friday’s major event. Habs Alexis Deroubaix fell victim to Aldo du Plessis after obstacle number four. He was tempted to take some exams. We send him all our best wishes for a good recovery.

Faced with faults and the course, they will be eight to make the choice to stop : Luis Ferreira (POR), Julien Gonin, Nicolas Deseuzes, Mathieu Billot, Cyril Bouvard, Grégory Rulquin, Pius Schwizer (SUI) and Mak Macauley (IRL). Four couples will join our first three selected with perfect courses after the break: Dominique Hendrickx/Floris TN, Juliette Faligot/Arqana de Riverland, Benoit Cernin/Deuxcatsix D’Eglefin and Gudrun Patteet/Sea Coast Guinness. Missed act for Nicolas Delmotte and its promising Citatin du Chatellier, very fast on the track (62.68”) but with a bar on the vertical number 11, placed after a roll-back from the 10.

Victor Bettendorf from start to finish

Once again, the Grand Prix makes full house in Bourg-en-Bresse, with a very invested public, holding its breath at each obstacle, and ready to support the riders in the face of this ultimate confrontation. And as always, lots of turnsthat Victor Bettendorffirst starter, flown over with the art and the way with MR. tock. To try to catch up its 33.29”, you have to turn short, which the following will try to do. After a refusal on the last obstacle that he demolishes, Morgan Bordat prefers to leave it at that with Uma. Gregory Cottard on his side also tries everything for everything but gets four dots with Bibici, just like Gudrun Patteet and Sea Coast Guinness. The Belgians Dominique Hendrickx and Floris TN approach but without success and leave the track in 35.31”. Then comes Juliette Faligot and his heart mare Arqana de Riverland. Worn by the public of Bourg-en-Bresse, the gray and her rider flying over obstacles. They won’t be fast enough today, 34.27” but consumes second place and the trophy for best rider ! ” I looked at the first starters I found it really difficult, the time was really short, everyone then took the option to turn in front for the second which I did. The mare is naturally fast and she jumped magnificently all over the course, she gave herself well. »

Last to face the barrage, Benoit Cernin also does not allow to pass below 34 secondsbut climbs on the third step of the podium with Deuxcatsix d’Eglefin, ensuring the victory of the Luxembourg rider. The latter could not resist the urge to take a first lap of honor at the end of Benoit’s course, just before the prize giving.

” I was leaving in one so I tried to do a good turn and then wait for others to do less well. The course was quite difficult because the time was very short. I’m lucky to have a pretty fast horse. And in the jump-off you have to take risks sometimes it passes and sometimes not. I love this horse, he is starting to make very regular courses. He’s a freak, he’s respectful, he has means, he has everything to win. I won the first 4* event this weekend, then afterwards I had some good runs with four points that were a bit unlucky, so I’m quite happy to win the last one. explains the rider after his ride.

The rider based at Haras de la Roque in Normandy signed his first victory in a 4* Grand Prix today.

Full results, HERE.