Oliva Nova, Spain – April 24, 2022 – The third and last week of Spring MET IV 2022 in Oliva Nova, Spain, concluded on Sunday with the €30,300 Grand Prix CSI 2*, presented by CHG (Construcciones Hispano Germanas S.A), as well as a Grand Prix in each of the youth categories; Children, Junior and Young Riders.
In the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix, 14 pairs out of the 50 horse-and-rider combinations at start cleared the first round and joined the deciding jump-off: Kristaps Neretnieks (LAT) on Tako Dilait (Tailormade Diarado’s Boy x Levantos I), Rocio Lazaro Alonso (ESP) on Infamia Del Amor 3 05 (Grand Rivage x Numero Uno), Sacha Beguin (BEL) on Elcup Van Beek II Z (Elvis Ter Putte x Armitage), Kevin Gonzalez de Zarate Fernandez (ESP) on Conthargos Rouge (Conthargos x Papillon Rouge), Anouk de Ruijter (NED) on Jones (Kannan x Numero Uno), Ismael Garcia Roque (ESP) on Halifax W (Plot Blue x Libero H), Borja Villalon Puras (ESP) on Nero van’T Prinsenveld (Toulon x Quadrillo), Xabier Zabaleta Susperregui (ESP) on Aragorne de Tel (Castronom Z de Hus x Roi des Elfes), Lieven Devos (BEL) on Inca’s Big Think (Think Big van TL x Lanciano), Jérôme Guery (BEL) on Eras Ste Hermelle (Vargas de Ste Hermelle x Andiamo Z), Antonio Mariñas Soto (ESP) on Expresso Minotiere (Tsunami de Hus x Cellebrio), Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) on Malibu de Muze (Nabab de Reve x Tornedo FCS) and Jordan Thompson (GBR) on Quidam B Z (Quasimodo Z x Ramiro Z), Antonio Matos Almeida (POR) on Calypso de Kamelia.
In the jump-off, Kevin Gonzalez de Zarate Fernandez (ESP) and Conthargos Rouge set the standard early on, mastering the difficult rollback to the penultimate double to stop the clock on 37.52 seconds – which left him in the lead for a long time.
But then came Jérôme Guery on the 12-year-old stallion Eras Ste Hermelle, and shaved nearly a second off on the leading time, taking home the win in 36.69 seconds.
Kevin de Zarate Fernandez (ESP) had to settle for the runner-up position aboard Conthargos Rouge, while Antonio Matos Almeida (POR) placed third aboard Calypso de Kamelia.
“That was a very good day for the family,” Guery said after his victory. “My son Mathieu won the junior Grand Prix, so we are very happy.”
Speaking of the jump-off, Guery said: “I knew I had to take risk, because Kevin Gonzalez De Zarate Fernandez was really fast. I know my horse has a really big stride, and from fence two to three I did one stride less. Sergio was still behind me and I knew he would try to beat me; I was a little bit lucky because he was faster but had one down.”
“I am really happy to have my horse back after an injury, he did not jump for six months. I came here for him to come back to the high level. He did a good job, he was third Friday and won today,” Guery said.
“I love to come to the MET,” Guery said about the venue in Oliva Nova. “This year, I have been here for 15 weeks. I can really improve my young horses and keep my good ones in shape here. We have everything here, the facilities are the best, and we have the beach as well. That is why, when I come with my young horses, I sometimes take Quel Homme with me, just for the beach. I think this is the best place for producing horses and doing the sport.”
Final Results – €30,300 CHG – Construcciones Hispano Germanas S.A Grand Prix CSI 2*
1) Jérôme Guery (BEL) & Eras Ste. Hermelle – 0 / 0 – 36.69
2) Kevin Gonzalez de Zarate (ESP) & Conthargos Rouge – 0 / 0 – 37.52
3) Antonio Matos Almeida (POR) & Calypso de Kamellia – 0 / 0 – 38.58
Source: Press Release from the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour
Photos: © MET / Hervé Bonnaud / www.1clicphoto.com
Categories: CSI 2*, English, Jumper News Belgie
