Grimaud, France – April 21, 2019 – Patrice Delaveau (FRA) rode to the head of the class on Sunday afternoon in the €100,000 Hubside Spring Tour Grand Prix CSI 4*, besting a field of 50 riders at the renovated, former home of the Ecurie du Golfe de Saint-Tropez.

The top-class field, which included competitors from nearly 20 nations around the globe, proved to be a surmountable task for the two-time French Olympian, who piloted the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Aquila HDC, to victory in front of a jubilant French home crowd.

“When Steve Guerdat took the lead, I heard some people saying, ‘It’s done, he has won,’ but I wanted to do my best to go faster. The ground was perfect and the jump-off was well designed—I had to try!” Delaveau said after the class. “Aquila is always very fast, brave, and he gave me everything this time again.”

Set among the rolling hills of the picturesque commune of Grimaud on the French Riviera, the event was witnessed by an enthusiastic audience, which packed in along the rails of the white, tented arena for a closer view of the action.

The 75-second time allowed on course designers Colombo Andrea, Cedric Longis, Landi Matteo, and Pascal Wiethe’s straight forward, 1.55m first-round track played a significant role for a number of riders, four of whom finished clear with a single time fault. Fifteen competitors moved on to try their luck on the thrilling, eight- obstacle jump-off track, which included a double, two rollback turns, and a nail-biting gallop home to a wide,final oxer.

Third to go in the order, French Olympic team gold medalist Philippe Rozier (FRA) took the early lead, cruising through the timers on a time of 38.78 seconds with Cristallo A LM. Rozier’s time held until Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and H5 Chaganus found an extra gear on the final gallop home, leaving out a stride to the last oxer to stop the clock at 38.23. Five riders later in the order, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (SUI) proved why he’s #1 in the world with a tidy, first rollback turn, which earned him the lead with Flair on a seemingly unbeatable time of 38.04 seconds.

Patrice Delaveau (FRA) & Aquila HDC

It all came down to Delaveau, second to last to go in the order, who used Aquila’s considerable experience and sizeable stride to find the leave-out distance to the final oxer, while shaving seconds off Guerdat’s time with two, flawless rollback turns.

This is the first victory in nearly a year for Delaveau and Aquila HDC, who previously won the  Grand Prix Longines at La Baule, France last May. The pair, which began competing together in 2017, has also earned wins in the Longines Masters of Hong Kong CSI 5* and Jumping International de Dinard CSI 5*, France.

Patrice Delaveau (FRA) & Aquila HDC during the awards ceremony

“Aquila was simply amazing,” Delaveau said of his partner. “He has been injured and didn’t jump during a few months last year. He came back in the ring in February in Royan, France, and then in Deauville. He is definitely back! He has a strong mind and he is full of skills. He is a real champion.”

The action continues next week during the second leg of the Hubside Spring Tour, taking place 24-28 of April, 2019.

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release from Eloise Lepine / Blitzko Communication for Hubside Jumping

Photos: © Hubside Jumping / Marco Villanti