Text © World of Showjumping
Belgium's Gregory Wathelet and Iron Man van de Padenborre (Darco x Chin Chin) won Saturday afternoon's CSI5* 1.55m Le Saut Hermès at the 2022-edition of Saut Hermès in Paris.
The ten best female and male riders from Friday’s Prix Hermès Sellier were qualified for this class, which was jumped over two rounds, both against the clock with no jump-off. The final placings were according to the scores from both rounds, while the time of the second round was decisive for the order.
With a double clear and a time of 42.69 seconds in the last round, Wathelet pushed Germany's Christian Ahlmann on Mandato van de Neerheide (Emerald x Pommeau du Heup) to runner-up position – with only 0.15 seconds separating the two. Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander and Catenda (Casall x Contender) took the third place with a double clear result in 50.44 seconds, while one down in the second round secured a fourth place finish for Sweden's Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli on Kalinka van de Nachtengaele (Epleaser van't Heike x Cicero Z). With four faults in the first round, home hero Simon Delestre on Cayman Jolly Jumper (Hickstead x Quaprice Boimargot Quincy) finished fifth.
"It was a big class," Wathelet told World of Showjumping after his win at Grand Palais Éphémère. "I think the course desinger only wanted a few clear rounds, but the track was still fair. The second round was of course fast, as always. Iron Man was super today, he jumped with power. Normally, this is not the easiest place for him, because it is a small indoor. However, I had a super feeling already in the first round; he seemed to really enjoy himself today. In the second round, I was lucky to be after Christian and I saw he was really fast. I was thinking to take risks, but maybe not so much – but then I saw Christian's round and knew that if I wanted to win, I had to take more risk than I had planned. I was a bit lucky on fence number one, but Iron Man really played the game with me, it was a good win."
"We are not used to having a crowd anymore," Wathelet said about the event in Paris where tickets have been sold out. "Here in Paris we always have a nice atmosphere, and it is nice to win with a public like this. I am not saying that it helps you to ride faster, but for sure you enjoy winning more."