Saturday's main class at the beautiful CSI5* Saut Hermès in Paris was the Les Saut Hermès, a 1.60m competition in pairs over two rounds. The ten best male riders and the ten best female riders from Friday's qualifier could take part, and the pairs were drawn – adding extra excitement. Out of the ten pairs starting over the challenging 1.60m course – set by Frank Rothenberger – only the best five pairs were to come back to the second round over a different, shortened track. 

Petronella Andersson (SWE) on the 9-year-old gelding Ivoor van't Paradijs (Quadrillo x Indoctro) together with Christian Ahlmann (GER) on the 14-year-old stallion Colorit (Coriano x Capitol) took a surprising win with their four team points in a time of 79,98 seconds. "It was fun – I enjoy doing these classes every now and then," Christian Ahlmann said after the win. "The pressure is totally different as soon as you are not riding all alone, and I think it was a surprising win because no one probably expected Rolf to have one down," Ahlmann commented.

Juulia Jyläs (FIN) on the wonderful 9-year-old mare Courage T Z (Calvino Z x Espri) together with Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) on the 11-year-old mare H&M Legend of Love (Landzauber x Corgraf) placed second with their four team points in a time of 84,43 seconds. Margaux Bost (FRA) on the 11-year-old stallion As de Papignies (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Ahorn Z) and world number one Daniel Deusser (GER) on the 14-year-old gelding Clintop 2 (Clinton I x Calvaro Z) took the third place with their four team points in the time of 86,51 seconds. 

The first five star class of the day, the Prix GL Events – a 1.50m competition against the clock kept at the audience at the edge of their seats. Julien Epaillard (FRA) on the 13-year-old gelding Cristallo A LM (Casall x Corofino I) took the top honours with his time of 59,28 seconds. Daniel Deusser (GER) on the 13-year-old mare Equita van't Zorgvliet (Cassini I x Darco) placed second with a time of 60,51 seconds and Simon Delestre (FRA) on the lovely 12-year-old gelding Hermes Ryan (Hugo Gesmeray x Ryon d'Anzex) took the third place with a time of 61,30 seconds. 

The Les Talents Hermès, a 1.45m class with one jump-off for the U25 riders, saw Evelina Tovek (SWE) on the 13-year-old mare Quiara M (Quidam's Rubin x Carthago) and Emanuele Bianchi (ITA) on the 13-year-old mare Zycalin W (Berlin x Carthago) share the win with the same time in the jump-off: 40.44 seconds. Yesterday's winner, Jessie Drea (GBR) on the 12-year-old stallion Mullaghdrin Touch The Stars (Touchdown x Irco Mena), took the third place with a time of 40,84 seconds in the jump-off. 

Text and picture © World of Showjumping by Nanna Nieminen