Golfe de Saint Tropez, Grimaud, France – June 28, 2019 – Pierre Marie Friant (FRA) and Urdy d’Astree won the €25,000 Jump-off Class CSI 4* last Friday during the Hubside Jumping CSI 4*/2* at the Golfe de St. Tropez in Grimaud, France.
Of the forty-seven pairs at the start of the Hubside Jumping CSI 4 * day event, at 1.50m, fifteen managed to qualify for the jump-off. Twelve finally entered the ring for the decisive round because Laurent Goffinet (FRA), Andreas Schou (DEN) and Mario Wilson Fernandes (POR) preferred not to leave their horses.
Despite an impeccable start in the contest, trailblazers Michel Robert (FRA), in the saddle of Emerette, was unfortunately to suffer penalty on the penultimate vertical on the course. With a time of 39.01 seconds, he would finally finish in eighth place.
Paolo Paini (ITA) and Konstop were the first to register a double clear. Finishing with a time of 43.23 seconds, being quickly imitated by his compatriot Emiliano Liberati (ITA) and Davarusa went after them, registering a time of 44.35 seconds, each finishing respectively in third and fourth places.
Following them, the riders rubbed against the delicate jump-off course proposed by course designer Gregory Bodo (FRA, failing to escape unscathed. Guillaume Roland Billecart (FRA) left the ring with a total of ten penalty-points, the following pairs, all had four penalty-points attributed to them.
Two female equestrians had qualified for the tiebreaker. Marie Pellegrin (SUI) and Valentino des Bleues had the first obstacled of the double down, still fast, nevertheless ensuring a place among the best thanks to a time of 38.82 seconds. They would finish in seventh place.
Halfway through the jump-off, Ann Carton-Grootjans (BEL) came to challenge for the win. With a time of 41.54 seconds, the Belgian rider and Kai Licha of Carmel (Prince van de Wolfsakker x Quidam de Revel) almost held on to the lead right to the end, eventually finishing in second place.
Pierre-Marie Friant (FRA) & Urdy d’Astree
Last to start during the decisive phase, Pierre-Marie Friant (FRA) finally gave the victory to France by riding a fast and perfect course aboard Urdy d’Astree, an eleven-year-old chestnut gelding (Bouffon Du Murier*Janssen x Pamphile), stopping the timers in 38.44 seconds.
Pierre-Marie Friant (FRA) & Urdy d’Astree
“I had the chance to go last in the tiebreaker, which allowed me to see that there was not a lot of penalties and the was not running very fast.” Urdy is naturally fast so I just tightened my curves, it’s finally a winner so it’s very good! We were already fifth in the event counting for the Longines Ranking yesterday and we will do the Grand Prix Sunday, hoping that everything goes well again! “commented the smiling horseman at the end of jump-off.
Pierre-Marie Friant (FRA) & Urdy d’Astree
For full results, please click here.
Source: Press release by Eloise Lepine / Blitzko Communication for Hubside Jumping
Photos: © Hubside Jumping / Marco Villanti
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Categories: CSI 4*
