Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ La Baule / FRA: Derby Meeting of Pays de la Loire
Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ La Baule / FRA
Derby Meeting of Pays de la Loire
French Michel Hécart won for the 3rd time the Derby Meeting of Pays de la Loire Saturday afternoon. After having won in 2006 and 2008 with That’s Life, it´s with Nokia de Brekka he took gold this year.
Roger Yves Bost / Nikyta d’Elle (FRA) © PSV Jean Morel
Even if it wasn’t run at maximum, the 21 obstacles course designed by Frédéric Cottier contained several catches, especially for those wanting to bet on speed to win. Numerous horses had difficulties on the bank downs, for example Olivier Guillon (FRA) eliminated after a refusal from Quedge Deenne getting down from the slope, or Dutch Jur Vrieling eliminated after a refusal on the no.9 plank followed by a fall from the rider. Some of them didn’t want to put a hoof in the water, like Exalto LS, ridden by Daniel Bluman (COL) and Fidel Castro vd Withoeve, Olivier Robert’s (FRA) 9 year old. The first was eliminated and the second dropped out.
From 19 couples in competition, Michel Hécart best dominated the course with his experienced Nokia de Brekka. After a fault early in the course on the no. 4 (spa) , the couple gave a demonstration in the arena, for the delight of the audience. Moreover, with a time of 143.92 seconds , the French has put pressure his opponents and took the lead.
Michel Hécart / Nokia de Brekka (FRA) © PSV Jean Morel
On the way to beat him, Italian Luca Maria Moneta, a specialist in this type of even , saw any chance of winning escape after two faults by his faithful Jesus de la Commune ( 17 years old ) on the oxer (No. 13 ) and the river (No. 14). the couple was 3rd .
At the end of the event, the only one who could do better than Michel Hécart and Nokia was the European champion, Roger Yves Bost , competing with Nikyta Her. Slower than the leaders of the provisional ranking, the couple was on their way for a clear round until the plank of no.19… With a time of 159.23 seconds Bosty and Nikita finally took the 2nd place.
THEY SAID
Michel Hécart (FRA) 1st: „It’s never good to go in first, even if it allowed me to put pressure on other. My horse is experienced, so I’m disappointed to make this kind of mistake in the beginning of a course. He misunderstood where he was supposed to jump and he hurt himslelf a little, so there was a small chance for him to touch a fence. It’s a beautiful course. It’s the same course as last year, even if the slopes were slightly smaller. It is good to have made some modifications, but it doesn’t need more because it must remain a Derby. „
Roger Yves Bost (FRA) 2nd: „It’s been ten years since I had not done the Derby and I really enjoyed it. The course wasn’t too high but we had to play against the clock; that’s good, it gives a beautiful show and the public loves it. The obstacle where I made a fault, I was a little worried about it because there was a false flat front. But I’m happy because my mare has returned to competition two months ago and she was not too tired leaving the arena. „
Luca Maria Moneta (ITA) 3rd: „I came to La Baule for the Derby I was 5th last year with Jesus, I’m now third, so I hope to win next year! My two mistakes after the triple, it’s because I didn’t take enough speed. It’s unfortunate because my horse has a lot of experience. He already competed in Derby meetings before. I think this is a very interesting event for riders; it helps to learn a lot on their horse. At home, I love working my horses on natural fences. I think it’s better for their physique and moral. „
30 ANS, THE BEAUTIFUL AGE
This year’s Derby Meeting of Pays de la Loire celebrates its 30th birthday. At the beginning of this essential event of the test Longines La Baule International Show Jumping , ther’se Jean -Claude Driancourt, President of The Derby Meeting of La Baule and Guy Charloux , Forissier Georges, Henri Rigaud and René Pasquier.
For one thing , the Derby Meetings of La Baule, „it’s a story of friendship“, says Jean -Claude Driancourt before telling the genesis of the concept now part of the furniture , so to speak. „We were in 1984. I chaired the Tennis Country Club, Guy Chardoux led the Polo Club, Georges Forissier headed the Yacht Club, Henri Rigaud was president of the Golf and René Pasquier organized the Horse Show of La Baule. Our PC was the bar of the mini -golf . We were all passionate about our respective sports and in love with La Baule. One day, I told them about a study on the reputations of seaside resorts and for each of our sports, La Baule came in 2nd position. It’s where we got the idea to call „Derby“ the biggest competition of our clubs. We high fived, I created the logo and the Derby Meetings were born with a slogan that remains : talents clash, lifestyle is shared.“
Jean- Claude Driancourt continues: „There was no marketing plan, but it was so successful that very soon , we created mini – derby meetings where all kids clubs of the bay competed. These are real local world championships for them!“ „Today , from the five founders, there is only me. This birthday is obviously dedicated to the memory of René Pasquier , and I add a very affectionate thought to his wife Catherine,“ inconcludes Jean-Claude Driancourt .
Accreditations, information, and program on: www.labaule-cheval.com
Quelle: Pressemitteilung

