Paris, France – March 17, 2023 – For the second consecutive year, it is in the Grand Palais Éphémère arena, the future venue for the Paris Olympics 2024 based at the Champ-de-Mars opposite the Eiffel Tower, that the competition got underway at the 2023 Saut Hermès. Three events made up the program for this opening day, all of them created by the same duo of course designers that will be responsible for the Olympic Games courses at 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Spaniard Santiago Varela Ullastres (ESP) and his French assistant Grégory Bodo (FRA). On Friday monrning, Victor Bettendorf (LUX) claimed victory in the €26,200 Grand Palais Prize CSI 5*.
The €26,200 Grand Palais Prize CSI 5* kicked off the thirteenth edition of the Saut Hermès for the CSI 5* riders this Friday, March 17. Forty-six horse and rider pairings took the start of this event run in two phases with jumps set at 1.45m in the Grand Palais Éphémère arena. Riding Big Star des Forêts (Untouchable x Voltaire Pref), Bettendorf was the fastest of the twenty riders who jumped clear rounds within the time limit, timed in 27.08 seconds at the end of the second phase. Quite the performance for this young pairing which was only formed at the start of the year.
Three other horse and rider pairings made the finish inside the time of twenty-eight seconds. Frenchman Olivier Perreau (FRA) secured second place on GL Events Dolce Deceuninck (Toulon x Cartier van de Heffinck), completing the second phase in 27.34 seconds.
Ranked thirty-ninth in the world, Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) completing the top trio on Prinz 1293 (Perigueux x Escudo 19), registering no penalties in 27.36 seconds at the end of the phase two.
Winner’s Circle – Victor Bettendorf (LUX)
“I’m veryhappy, beamed the rider with a world ranking of thirty-five. I had a few doubts, as it was our first indoor competition together, but she’s a fantastic competitor. She’s great! I’m hoping to qualify for Saturday’s Saut Hermès with her.”
Final Results – €26,200 Grand Palais Prize CSI 5*
1) Victor Bettendorf (LUX) & Big Star des Forets – 0 / 0 – 27.08
2) Olivier Perreau (FRA) & GL Events Dolce Deceuninck – 0 / 0 – 27.34
3) Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) & Prinz 1293 – 0 / 0 – 27.36
Source: Press Release (edited) Saut Hermès
Photos: © Saut Hermès / Christophe Tanière
Categories: CSI 5*, English, Jumper News France
