Edited press release from Hubside Jumping

On this lovely mild autumnal Saturday, the Marseillaise was heard on the French Riviera as Harold Boisset (FRA) won the CSI4* 1.45m counting for the Longines Ranking and Benoit Cernin (FRA) the CSI4* 1.50m. 

Out of the 37 contenders in the 1.45m class, 12 jumped clear over the track set by Grégory Bodo and went through to the jump-off. Amongst them were top riders such as the host nation’s own Simon Delestre, Kevin Staut and Benoit Cernin, as well as Belgium’s Grégory Wathelet, and Friday's winner, the Colombian rider René Lopez Lizarazo. In the end, it was Harold Boisset and his long-time partner T'Obetty du Domaine (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Diams du Grasset) who finished ahead of the rest.

“We've already done two rounds this weekend having four faults each time, which doesn't happen often, so I thought it was time for a change,” laughed the rider. “The initial course was quite selective and tricky, especially the vertical at n°3 which, in addition to being white, was quite narrow and saw a lot of competitors faulting. However, she’s very respectful and in top form so everything went to plan. I've been riding her since she was a 4-year-old, she's 14 now, she's a mare who’s won masses of classes in the past, especially speed ones. Today, I tried to slow the rhythm and not ask for as much from her, but she still performed just as well and was responsive, which is very satisfying!”

Petronella Anderson (SWE) Cassina Z (Casado V'T Gelutt Z x Lux) finished second, while Jean-Luc Mourier (FRA) and Captain Keen (Windows vh Costersveld x Acord II) ended third. 

A little later the Marseillaise was heard again for Benoit Cernin. The Frenchman won the CSI4* 1.50m speed class with his promising Cookie de Vesvre, a 9-year-old gelding by Dollar Dela Pierre x Drakkar des Hutins. “It's only his second 1.50m, he did one in Valence, and won,” explained the rider from Saône-et-Loire. “I’m gradually entering him in classes over this height and at the moment it’s not proving to be a problem for him. He jumped really well, he wants to go, gives everything, maybe even too much sometimes, it’s complicated to do a schooling round with him because he always wants to win. When he was a 6-year-old, I didn't think he was capable of doing the 7-year-old classes and 1.40m tracks, finally he’s proved me wrong. He has real potential to reach the top and I’ve got a lot of hope for him.” 

Giampiero Garofalo (ITA) finished second with Cava (Cadensky x Clinton) and Paul Delforge (FRA) ended third with Terre du Banney (Crown Z x Olisco).