The enthusiasm of the spectators had already made the grandstands shake when they witnessed Julian Epaillard’s fabulous round with Cristallo A LM in the early rounds of the speed class. It was difficult to imagine how it could be possible to go any faster, but a two second penalty for a rail down left the way open for another rider.
Julian Epaillard and Cristallo A LM. PC: Sportfot
“You really needed to have experienced horses to jump the sheep pen clear,” said Julien, who won the Absolu Trophy yesterday. “When they enter the combination, the horses have no idea where they are going. I have been riding Cristallo for a few years now and we know each other off by heart so I think I had the advantage of experience today. And he came up to scratch as usual. He rarely disappoints me and he is a pleasure to ride.”
“I thought that my rail down was going to cost me dearly but in the end it didn’t make a difference to the result. I am very pleased with my second place.”
Three horses later, the Olympic champion and Elky van het Indihof HDC — the Belgian Warmblood daughter of Toulon whose big-hearted nature was praised by her rider — stepped into the breach to be cheered on by the raucous audience.
The leader of the French team reproached himself “for having ridden the first part of the course badly.” Does that mean he could do even better next time? Having said that, there was one rider who was capable of worrying him: McLain Ward.
The Olympic silver medalist, who was cheered on by the extremely sporting audience, made tight turns, accelerated and jumped clear – and managed to finish in third place. “To go faster than Kevin, I would have had to do better … on the whole course,” stated the rider after his round.
Mclain Ward and Malou. PC: Sportfot
It is worth highlighting the great performance of Niels Bruynseels, who was very fast and one of only three riders to have jumped clear, remaining in the lead for a long time and only dethroned from the podium at the very end of the class.
Niels Bruynseels and Angel van T Hof. PC: Sportfot
“The course was very technical; the sheep pen was not the only difficult part,” said Kevin Staut. “In fact it was a speed class for Grand Prix horses. I take my hat off to Uliano Vezzani who succeeded in creating a thrilling and spectacular competition.”
Style and speed brought a day of sport and glamour, interspersed by magnificent victories, to a perfect end. It started out with young Paloma de Crozals winning the Institut Esthederm Trophy and then finishing second behind Belgium’s Christophe De Brabander, who is not much older himself, in the Free Lance Trophy.
Olivier Guillon, the former world silver medalist with the French team, was winner of the Direct Matin Trophy. Zoe Conter of Belgium, European junior team champion and individual bronze medalist won the Miasuki Trophy where she beat out stiff competition by Harrie Smoulders and Reed Kessler to nab the win.
“I would like to thank the audience who are always present, in good times and not so good ones, and who always support us,” Said Kevin Staut to close the day. “It is a real pleasure to ride here before you. The French riders have their heart set on succeeding in all the classes. There are two more days to go: we will have to rise to the occasion!” This was illustrated by the spontaneous Marseillaise which burst out in the middle of the DJ set concert.
