Golfe de Saint-Tropez, Grimaud, France – June 29, 2019 – Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili won the €25,000 Small Grand Prix CSI 4* yesterday during the Hubside Jumping CSI 4*/2* at the Golfe de Saint Tropez in Grimaud, France.

Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili

At the start of the day, under the sun at the stables of the Golfe de Saint-Tropez, thirty-four combinations took to the start in the 1.45m challenge. Among them, twelve went clear in the first round, qualifying for the decisive phase.

First to have achieved the perfect course, the youngest of this competition, who won the opening race yesterday, Mégane Moissonnier (FRA) got things started in the tiebreaker with a penalty-free performance aboard Ussar des Bruyeres, timed in 40.14 seconds.

A stopwatch lowered by the two riders launched immediately after him. Denmark’s Andreas Schou (DEN) Quadrosson Ask and Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Venice Beach overtook the lead, registering clear runs in 39.84 seconds and 39.73 seconds respectively.

Jean-Luc Mourier (FRA) and Emeric Georges (FRA) , who were formidable in the finals at the clock and launched in pursuit of the leading trio, were coming off the track with eight and twelve penalty-points respectively.

Also in form since the beginning of the weekend, Alexis Deroubaix (FRA) and Top Class du Plessis and Spaniard Gonzalo Añon Suarez (ESP) and AD Amigo B each had four penalty-points.

Thus, it was necessary to wait for Guillaume Foutrier (FRA) and Tchin de la Tour (Chin Chin x Narcos II) to enter the ring to see the top of the classification jostled. With a time of 37.08 seconds, the French combination settled at the top of the provisional podium, with more than two seconds ahead of the Brazilian. Would he win? Not quite.

Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili

The United States of America had not said their last word. With her very own Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili, a 14-year-old gray Belgian Warmblood stallion (Berlin x Darco), Kristen Vanderveen (USA) managed to lower the mark flawlessly, registering the winning time in 36.35 seconds.

Guillaume Foutrier (FRA) would have to settle for second place.

Marie Pellegrin (SUI) and Valentino des Bleus (Flipper D’Elle*Hn* x Damien Roitel)  and Beat Mändli (SUI) and Vic des Cerisiers (Olympic d’Anguerny x Desir du Chateau) grabbed the third and fourth places thanks to their clear rounds, in 37.33 seconds and 38.03 seconds. A nice double for the Helvetian duo!

Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili

Winner’s Circle – Kristen Vanderveen 

“I am very happy to be here in Grimaud, my horse is very regular at the moment since he has only completed clear rounds during the last two weekend of competition.It is always interesting to go at the end of the dam but my horse is naturally fast so I planned everything I had to do before I entered the track and he realized everything perfectly.

Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili parading triumphantly at the Golfe de Saint-Tropez in Grimaud, France.