They came close in yesterday's Speed Challenge, but today it lasted all the way for Leopold van Asten and VDL Groep Miss Untouchable (Chacco-Blue x Aldatus) in the CSI5* Salon du Cheval/Ceneca Trophy at the Longines Masters of Paris.
The 1.50m class had 24 riders in it, and nine of them jumped clear over the first-round track to move on to the jump-off. There it was the Dutch rider and the 10-year-old mare that were the fastest to stop the clock at 32.05 seconds – by far the quickest time of the competition.
Two home riders finished in second and third, much to the delight of the home crowds: Alexandra Paillot on Polias de Blondel (Desir du Chateau x Souviens Toi III) were runners-up with their time of 34.17, while Nicolas Delmotte and Urvoso du Roch (Nervoso SF x Grand d'Escla) took third after crossing the finish line in 34.51 seconds.
Van Asten's compatriot Maikel van der Vleuten ended fourth on VDL Groep Arera C (Indoctro x Voltaire), while Germany's Daniel Deusser was fifth on Tobago Z (Tangelo v. Zuuthoeve x Mr Blue).
Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Tiffany Van Halle