The St. Tropez Pirates assaulting the Riviera
Press Release | Showjumping – It’s started! The first hooves have left their mark on the sand at the 2017 Longines Global Champions Tour of Cannes. High point of the day, the 5*CSI classes have prompted amazement and thrills in the City of Festivals. 6.15pm, the riders are concentrated, the public is waiting in eager anticipation: the Jumping of Cannes has started!
Second to go, Simon Delestre (FRA) set the tempo leaving all the poles in place with his bouncy Hermès Ryan. He was rapidly overtaken by Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and Caruschka 2, who held onto the top slot for a lengthy period in the 1.45m FFE French Tour Trophy. Right to the end, Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Cristallo A LM, his small bay who has a tally of 32 international victories to his name led us to believe we had the winner in front of us, shaving 4 seconds off the time…. But unfortunately it was not to be, a fault at the very last jump deprived him of adding yet another win to his impressive total. Finally victory went to Robert Smith for Great Britain, brilliantly piloting Ilton. Philip Houston (GER) and Bassem Mohammed (QAT) completed the line-up, riding respectively Loewenherz and Tamira IV. In seventh position, Philippe Rozier was the best placed French rider.
Time for tactics with the first round of the Global Champions League (GCL) which commenced at 9pm, a new format for a class reputed for the electric atmosphere that emanates from all around the ring. Eighteen teams in the starting blocks with the aim of trying to accumulate as many points as possible. Third in the provisional placings after the Hamburg stage, The St Tropez Pirates have taken a firm hold here, imposing themselves thanks to a superb clear round by Jérôme Guéry (BEL). It was the Doha Fursan Qatar (Sheikh Ali Al Thani and Bassem Mohammed) and the London Knights (Ben Maher and Emily Moffitt) who joined them at the prize giving.
On the side of the 1*CSI, in bright sunshine, it was the Massey Ferguson Trophy (1.10m) that opened proceedings. Out of the 25 starters, seven jumped clear. A regular on the circuit, Imogen Beecroft (GBR) associated with her aptly named Untouchable took command of the class in a time of 32.03 seconds, in front of Patricia Bardon Planchat (FRA) partnering Quadrille de la Cour (32.11 seconds) and Sabine Maitrot Charmasson (FRA) on Baeleen Quid (34.27 seconds).
Next and continuing the 1*CSI, was the Direction des Sports de la Ville of Cannes Trophy, standing at 1.25m, where it was the turn of France to take control, thanks to local rider Mélanie Lemoine Jondet and Amiral de Roqueline. The long-time leader Florian Rizk (FRA) was relegated to second position with Tom Boy, followed by Jacqueline Felber (ISR) and A Touch Of Grey.
At 1.45pm, the boldest took the start in the big class of the day in the 1*CSI. Standing at 1.35m, the Urban Heritage Trophy went into the hands of the favourite, Ignace Philips, riding for Belgium with the well named Dream di San Patrignano. Certainly at ease here on the Cannes Croisette, as already last year he scored three victories amongst his six placings! Double success for the American Cloé Hymowitz, who was second and third in the class teamed with Fineman and Viva Colombia. The course certainly suited the family as her younger sister, Lilli Hymowitz, found herself in seventh position with Verdi III. Final competitor to be called to the prize-giving ceremony was the French actor, Guillaume Canet, eighth on his regular ride Babeche.
On Friday 9th of June, the competition will start at 10:AM with the Cannes Riviera Trohpy standing at 1.15 m (1*CSI) and will reach its peak at 8:30PM with the Constance le Prince Maurice | Office du Tourisme de l’Île Maurice | Air Mauritius 5*CSI standing at 1.45/1.50 m and qualifying for the future International Show Jumping of Mauritius.
Source: Press Release
