Oliva Nova, Valencia, Spain – March 29, 2026 – France’s 2024 Olympic team bronze medallist Julien Epaillard (FRA) and the 9-year-old gelding Hard’Rock Queen HJD (Lauterbach x Coolcorran Cool Diamond) won the €57,000 Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort Grand Prix CSI 3* – 1.50m on Sunday at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova in Spain, where the third part of Spring MET 2026 concluded.
 
Stopping the clock on 32.78 seconds in a jump-off between twelve horse-and-rider combinations, the current world number eight took the win ahead of Antoine Ermann (FRA) and Floyd des Pres (Vigo Cece x Papillon Rouge) in second in 33.88, while Jan Vinckier (BEL) with Diadem Melloni (Diamant de Semilly x Con Air) completed the podium in third with a time of 35.26.
 
“The course was nice, it was not very big, but a delicate 1.50m and technical to ride,” Epaillard said about the track set by Christian Wiegand (GER).

Speaking about his winning ride, the 9-year-old gelding Hard’Rock Queen HJD – owned by Celine Baron – Epaillard said: “Alain Bourdon competed him last year at 1.45m level. This winter, he called me because he thinks this one is a good horse, and he wanted to do something together. I took him here in February, and this was his first three-star Grand Prix. He jumped super today. He is young and green, but I feel that he is super careful and has a lot of scope. He is easy to ride, he just needs a little bit more experience. I think he is a Grand Prix horse and maybe a championship horse as well.”

“I like to come here,” Epaillard, a regular in Oliva Nova, said about the venue. “I think they do a good job; you have classes at every level, the conditions are very nice, and the ground is super. The fence material is good, so the horses gain experience.”
 
Clem McMahon (IRL) on Carneyhaugh Unison (Cornet Obolensky x Don Juan de La Bouverie) finished fourth when crossing the finish line in 35.65 seconds, followed by Caroline Rehoff Pedersen (DEN) aboard Polonis L (Le Blue Diamond van’T Ruytershof x Andiamo) in fifth in 35.70.
 
Spring MET 2026 continues with the fourth and final part of the tour in April, as the action at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova resumes on April 7th.

Final Results – €57,000 Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort Grand Prix CSI 3* – 1.50m

1) Julien Epaillard (FRA) & Hard’Rock Queen HJD – 0 / 0 – 32.78

2) Antoine Ermann (FRA) & Floyd des Pres – 0 / 0 – 33.88

3) Jan Vinckier (BEL) & Diadem Melloni – 0 / 0 – 35.26

Source: Press Release from Mediterranean Equestrian Tour

Photos: © MET / Hervé Bonnaud / http://www.1clicphoto.com

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