Oliver Lazarus & Conbalthago PS Power to Victory in the €200,000 Grand Prix of Gijón CSI 4*

By Jumper News on 2025-09-02

Gijón, Spain – August 31, 2025 – The stands at Las Mestas were filled with anticipation on Sunday for the grand finale of the Gijón International Horse Show CSI 4* & CSI 2*. After five days of competition, the Gijón team had already decided on their favorites for the €200,000 Grand Prix of Gijón CSI 4* and the betting process thrilled equestrian fans. More than 12,000 people gathered around the ring to see if their bets were correct, but the first round course was very demanding, and their bets didn’t always deliver.

Fourteen combinations retired and one was eliminated during a very demanding first round marked by many knockdowns on a complicated course. Only five combinations were able to overcome the 17 efforts without penalties.

And the course slowed down many horses. One of the favorites, Rodrigo Almeida (POR) and Karonia L, who held such high hopes among the crowd had more than one down and retired. The first half kept the stands tense most of the time. Applause, sighs, cheers. The crowd was thrilled from the stands with the combinations on the track and the second round followed with anticipation.

Among those competing in the final round were some of the favorite riders, such as: John Whitaker (GBR), Julien Épaillard (FRA), and Pénélope Leprévost (FRA). Speed was the common denominator among the twelve participants in but no one was able to beat the South African based in the Netherlands, Oliver Lazarus (RSA), who stopped the timers in 43.32 seconds with Conbalthago PS.

“I watched this event on Eurosport when I was little, and today I’m happy to be here because I always dreamed of coming. Besides, my girlfriend—Paula Cortés—is from Asturias, and she always told me I had to come,” the rider explained after lifting the Gijón Grand Prix trophy.

Emanuele Camilli (ITA) and Chacco’s Girlstar came the closest, just over seven-tenths of a second slower. Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) & Iron Dames Dubai du Cedre delivered the only other clean scorecard of the 1.60m challenge, completing their second performance in 44.96 seconds.

Final Results – €200,000 Grand Prix of Gijón CSI 4*

1) Oliver Lazarus (RSA) & Conbalthago PS – 0 / 0 – 43.32

2) Emanuele Camilli (ITA) & Chacco’s Girlstar – 0 / 0 – 44.05

3) Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) & Iron Dames Dubai du Cedre – 0 / 0 – 44.96

FULL RESULTS

COURSE MAP

Source: Press Release (edited) from the Brussels Stephex Masters