Malin Baryard-Johnsson & H&M Indiana Marvel in €300,000 LGCT Grand Prix of Saint Tropez CSI 5*

By Jumper News on 22 22America/Sao_Paulo May 22America/Sao_Paulo 2022

Ramatuelle, Saint Tropez, France – May 21, 2022 – Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana claimed a sensation second Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win following a breathtaking jump-off in the €300,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Ramatuelle – Saint Tropez CSI 5*. The fight for the 2022 title has intensified after Pieter Devos‘ (BEL) double clear sees him regain the overall ranking lead.

Just like in 2019 in Saint Tropez, Pieter Devos (BEL) takes the coveted leader’s armband as the championship race heads to Hamburgy, where he now leads with 110 points overall, Young talent Gilles Thomas (BEL) sits just behind in second with 101 points while long-time leader Ludger Beerbaum and his trainee Christian Kukuk (GER) both have a total of 99 points each so far.

**Malin Baryard-Johnsson** (SWE) & **H&M Indiana**

A delighted Malin spoke of her special horse; “I am so proud, I am so happy, H&M Indiana is just amazing. Every win is emotional but having everyone here today behind me makes me even happier, if that’s possible! I had to take risks because the ones before me were really fast but I had my really good coach with me, Marlon Zanotelli (BRA), who was there with me in Rome as when I won and he really pushed me. And we did it.”

**Harrie Smolders** (NED) and **Malin Baryard-Johnsson** (SWE)

Talking about her qualification for the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix, she smiled: “I would like to win a few more but I am really happy there are already three girls qualified for the Super Grand Prix out of five, which is a great number.”

The first event of the season on the French Riviera delivered a dazzling Mediterranean experience for spectators and fans watching live around the world. Situtated meters from the famous Pampleonne Beach at Ramtuelle / Saint-Tropez, the event was an exhilarating mix of top sport and Riviera lifestyle with global brands from Longines to Bentley, Dolce & Gabbana and Hermès on site. The lively atmosphere in the stylish hospitality and cocktai lounges around the sand arena created a unique atmosphere with a cool Saint Tropez vibe.

It was a LGCT Grand Prix with top riders from start to finish, delivering a supreme display to show jumping fans worldwide. Gregory Bodo‘s (FRA) testing course demanded perfection and no room for error with a challenging Longines triple combination, plus a tricky double taht fell at the lightest of touches.

But there were success stories as the clear round mounted up with 12 world-class combinations making it through to the intense jump-off.

First to light up in the jump-off, Jeanne Sadran (FRA), in her first-ever LGCT Grand Prix jump-off, was swift over the early part of the course but it started to get a bit sticky and the pair finished with 16 penalty-points overall.

Next up, Pieter Devos (BEL) fighting for the championship lead, a golden ticket to Prague and the win. He was clear and quick with Mom’s Toupie de La Roque, throwing down the gauntlet in 36.77 seconds.

Then, one after the other, the lead kept changing by fractions of a second. Jérôme Guéry (BEL) and Grupo Prom Diego were superbly fast, stopping the clock in 36.08 seconds. They didn’t stay in the lead for long as his compatriot, Abdel Said (BEL) punched the air and let out a huge cheer revving the crowd up as he crossed the finish line in 35.62 seconds.

**Spencer Smith** (USA) & **Theodore Manciais**

Just when spectators didn’t think it could get any faster, temperatures soared when Spencer Smith (USA) and hs 2021 LGCT Grand Prix of Samorin winning horse, Theodore Manciais, shifted up a gear with fantastic tight turns to make up time, throwing everything at the last line to claim the lead for now in 35.35 seconds.

Both Niels Bruynseels (BEL) and Christian Ahlmann (GER) each had two rails down, collecting 8 penalty-points and pushing them down the order.

A danger to Smith’s lead, Harrie Smolders (NED) and Monaco set off to a flying start. They made up the ground in between, propelling them into the lead in 35.09 seconds, but a win was not guaranteed with some of the biggest names in the sport still to go.

Christian Kukuk (GER) and Checker had an agonizing fault at the first fence, immediately putting him out of contention for the win and handing the lead in the championship to Devos.

Attempting to make it back-to-back Swedish winners in Saint Tropez, Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) took on the challenge with a lightning-fast start to the jump-off with H&M Indiana. They hit the accelerator to go flat out to the last, leaving spectatores on the edge of their seats as to whether they’d clear it. Showing their scope and talent, they galloped clear in 34.71 seconds to whoops of sheer delight from the whole H&M team and owners.

It was clear from the start that Annika Axelsson (SWE) was opting for a steady double clear on Cleo Z, ruling herself out of contention for the win but collecting valuable prize money.

Kevin Staut (FRA) was unbalanced with a spook early on in the course, costing them vital seconds and they delivered a clear as all eyes were on the clock but it wasn’t enough as it stopped in 36.82 and the home hero finished outside the top 5.

So, it was Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) who sparkled in Saint-Tropez and earned her place in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix. The thrilling championship race now heads to Hamburg, Germany, for the sixth leg of the season.