Press release La Baule – Three months to go before the equestrian events at the Rio Olympic Games! Before all eyes turn to Brazil, it is actually in Loire Atlantique that the Jumping enthousiasts will have a foretaste of Olympism. And with good reason! From 12th to 15th May, the François André stadium will host the unique Officiel de France and five star show of the week end, the CSIO5* of La Baule… with the best riders and horses in the world on the starting list, and exciting times on the program.
CSIO5* – Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Longines: on the way to Rio!
The team competition, Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Longines, will have a look of Olympic rehearsal. 95 days away from the real team event in Rio, the 8 nations in the running in La Baule (Germany, Belgium, Brazil, France, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Switzerland, USA) will do their best to draw attention and take the upper hand over their opponents in front of the head coaches looking to build their ideal team.
Friday 13th May at 2 pm, 1m60 class, two rounds.
CSIO5* – Derby of the Pays de la Loire Region: legendary and unique!
Janou Lefèbvre is the only rider who won the mythical Derby of La Baule three times (1963, 1969, 1971). In 1971, with Rocket, she even clinched victory in the Derby then in the Grand Prix that she won 4 times (1962, 1971, 1974, 1975). Over the past 53 years, like Janou Lefèbvre, only the top jumping riders succeeded in this mythical class combining traditionnal and natural fences. Second highlight of the week end, the Derby of the Pays de la Loire Region is one of a kind, being the only Derby in a CSIO5* in the world.
Saturday 14th May at 1pm, 1m45 class, A rules against the clock without jump off.
CSIO5* – Grand Prix Longines of La Baule: the apotheosis
In 2015, the young Irish prodigy Bertram Allen won the Grand Prix Longines of La Baule with Romanov. Grande finale of the 4 days of competition, the Grand Prix Longines of La Baule brings together every year a lot more stars than its label. Olympic, World, European champions, World Cup winners… all of them dream of clinching victory there.
Sunday 15th May at 1pm, 1m60 class, A rules against the clock with jump off.
CSI U25 – FFE Top20 Young Talents AC Print : revelation in La Baule
The French Federation chose its Officiel de France to launch a brand new sports project open to young jumping riders, aged 18 to 25. The 10 best French and international new talents will compete face to face in three innovative classes. A great opportunity to reveal the rising stars…
Thursday 12th May at 9am (1m40), Friday 13th May at 8am (1m40), Saturday 14th May at 6.45pm (1m45)
CSI1*: VIP and amateurs on the starting list
The Amateur riders would never miss a chance to compete in La Baule. For them, win in one of the CSI1* classes means get a feel if high level sport. Qualifier, mini Derby, Grand Prix … the CSI1* has everything of a great moment of sport. With 50 experienced amateur riders, this competition is in full swing, every year, in front of an enthousiastic public. Among the VIPs competing, Guillaume Canet, Julien Courbet and his daughter Lola, Cassandra Foret, and for the first time Benjamin Castaldi.
Thursday 12th May at 10.15am (1m10) and 11.50am (1m20), Friday 13th May at 9.15am (1m15) and 6.1Opm (1m25), Saturday 14th May at 8.30am (1m20) and 10.40am (1m20), Sunday 15th May at 8am (1m15–1m20) and 4.40pm (1m30-1m35).
Longines Jumping International of La Baule: key figures
15 nations, 138 riders, 274 horses, 360 boxes, 19 classes, 607 000 € of global prize money, 35 000 spectators during the 4 days, 16 000 m2 for the grass arena, (2 football fields), 90 exhibitor booths, 100 countries broadcasting TV, 120h of TV programms broadcasted in the world, 4,06 millions TV viewers for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Longines…
CSIO5* Officiel de France : 8 classes, 68 riders, 90 horses
CSI1* : 8 classes, 50 riders, 64 horses
CSI U25 : 3 classes, 20 riders, 20 horses
Source: Press release La Baule
