An Irish Touch as Cian O’Connor Thrives in the FFE Generali Prize CSIO 5* at La Baule

By Jumper News on 2026-06-11

La Baule, France — June 11, 2026 — The first jumps, the first gallops, and the first thrills. This Thursday, the François André Stadium welcomed the world’s top riders for the opening of the four-day 2026 Longines Jumping International de La Baule – Officiel de France. Under a beautiful blue sky, Ireland’s Cian O’Connor (IRL), world No. 32, proved the fastest in the €35,000 FFE Generali Prize CSIO 5* (1.50m speed class), a qualifying event for the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule.

**Cian O’Connor** (IRL) & **Genghis Khan**

Riding Genghis Khan (formerly Gengis Kann de Londé), a 10-year-old Selle Français bay gelding (Kannan x Diamant de Semilly) previously ridden by Frenchman Emeric George until 2024, O’Connor claimed victory.“It always gives you confidence to win a major class on the first day of a show,” said the Irish rider, bronze medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games and European Team Champion in 2017. “I’ve been coming to La Baule for many years, and it’s always a pleasure. Genghis Khan is a French-bred horse, and it’s fantastic for his breeders to see him return to France and, even better, to see him win here. He will compete again in the Saur Prize on Saturday. On Friday, with the Irish team, we will try to defend our title in the Barrière Nations Cup. Beyond the possibility of achieving a double victory, and with the World Championships only two months away, it is also very important for all teams to compete on an arena like this one, which is very similar to Aachen.”

**Kevin Staut** (FRA) & **Féline de Hus HDC**

By just four hundredths of a second, he edged out France’s 2016 Olympic champion Kevin Staut (FRA) and Féline de Hus HDC.

**Erynn Ballard** (CAN) & **De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa**

Starting near the end of the class, Canada’s Erynn Ballard (CAN), riding De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa, pushed Julien Épaillard (FRA) and Le Coultre de Muze (formerly ridden by Philippe Rozier) off the podium.