Julien Gonin Gallops for the Gold on Opening Day at the Jumping International de Dinard CSI 5*

By Jumper News on 2024-07-19

Dinard, France – July 18, 2024 – French rider Julien Gonin (FRA) won the Prix du Conseil Départemental d’Ille-et-Vilaine, the main classe on the first day of Jumping International de Dinard. It was a great opening to the competition, with the great champions already in attendance and determined to shine on Sunday in the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de Dinard, the final classe of the competition.

The sun couldn’t have missed it! On Thursday, the Jumping International de Dinard opened under blue skies on the magnificent Val Porée arena. The €28,200 Prix du Conseil Départemental d’Ille-et-Vilaine CSI 5* (1.45m in two phases) was won by Julien Gonin (FRA) and was the main event on the first day of the CSI 5*, a stage in the Rolex Series, which brings together six CSI and CSIO 5* classes (La Baule, Dinard, Rome, Brussels, Dublin and Wellington).

***Julien Gonin*** (FRA) & **Valou du Lys**

On the splendid grass course that had been perfectly prepared for weeks by the town’s gardeners, and on a course designed by Jean-François Morand (FRA) for many years, the Frenchman took advantage of the great action of Valou du Lys, a 15-year-old Selle Français mare, to set the reference time.

“I’m obviously delighted with this win, which kicks off the competition really well,’ says the winner of the day. I was in Sweden last weekend, at the CSIO in Falsterbo, where the conditions weren’t easy with heavy ground. So I set out with the idea of doing an easy course on the way there and in the end the mare had a blast and was there for me. She’s got a lot of experience now, so it’s not complicated for her. She’s a tall mare and on a large arena like Dinard, it’s ideal and enjoyable. The conditions are really great, it’s a real treat.”

He was ahead of American McLain Ward (world #15), double Olympic team champion (2004 and 2008) and world champion, also by team (2018), riding First Lady at Dinard.

**Roger-Yves Bost** (FRA) & **Ballerine du Vilpion**

The Rio Olympic team champion, Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), riding Ballerine du Vilpion, completed the podium.

Sweden’s world number 1 Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) finished just off the podium with Glamour Girl, tied with Belgium’s Pieter Devos (BEL) on Jarina J. Conor Swail and the French Edward Levy were faster, but a fault relegated them to 28th and 29th place.