Press release from the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour

The third and last week of Spring MET I 2020 is underway, and on Wednesday it was time for the Young Horse Finals presented by Kingsland. 

Guillaume Foutrier and Pornic de Bornival Z (Peppermill x Flipper d'Elle*HN) won the 1.15m final for 5-year-olds with a double clear result in a time of 34.51 seconds. A total of nine horse-and-rider combinations cleared the first round, and joined the jump-off. Second place went to Derin Demirsoy (TUR) and Faline des Chaines (Contendro x Cento) with a time of 35.58, while Charlotte Spaas Levallois (FRA) and Bad Boy des Hurlevents Z (Boyfriend du Seigneur x Ogano Sitte) took the third spot with a time of 37.04. Diana Marsá Lafarge (ESP) and Sisko Demiralia (breeding unknown) placed fourth, while Denise Wilson (USA) with Pele Van Vlieringen (Ligie's Goldstar V.V x Lys de Darmen) took the fifth spot.  

As a new addition for the 2020 season, the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour has introduced a MET Young Horse Champions Trophy which is presented to the best young horse of each age group. Points were given out throughout the three weeks of competition during Spring MET I. In the 5-year-old category, Derin Demirsoy's Faline des Chaines – that placed second in the final – was presented with the trophy. "This is her first international show. She is probably one of the smartest horses I have ever ridden," Demirsoy said about his lovely grey mare. "She learns so quick, she is a great mare. I am very lucky to have her and to have the opportunity to build her up to the great future that awaits. I believe there is nothing she can't do – she even has a heart on her face. From the first moment I saw her in France, I fell in love," he smiled.  

Demirsoy, who is a familiar face at MET, was happy to see the young horses being rewarded in a new way. "The MET Young Horse Champions Trophy is great. It is a reward for consistency, which I think is very important in the modern-day sport. In any sport, it is more about consistency than one-night wonders. It is a great addition, and I was happy to see it. Me, my team and my horses, we love MET. Everyone in the team here does a great job. It is a great place to be and I would like to thank everyone who makes this all possible," Demirsoy said. 

In the 6-year-old final, which was set to 1.30m, ten pairs out of the 34 that started in the first round jumped clear and joined the deciding jump-off. In the end it was Matthew Sampson (GBR) and Expresso Minotier (Tsunami de Hus x breeding unknown) that took home the win with a double clear result in 30.44 seconds. Maxime Harmonies (BEL) and Tiara du Cache Pot Z (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Nabab de Reve) took the runner-up position with a time of 32.96,  while Marie Demonte (FRA) and Eau Vive de Belliard (Upsilon x Diamant de Semilly) placed third after stopping the clocks on 34.79. Miklos Tassilo Csillaghy (AUT) and Virgola Saura (Babalou de Ligny x Olympique London) took the fourth place, while Virginie Thonon (BEL) and Je Maintiendrai (I'm Special de Muze x Comme Il Faut) placed fifth.

The MET Young Horse Champions Trophy in the 6-year-old category went to Guillaume Foutrier's Elena Hope (Kannan*Gfe x Quick Star). 

In the 7-year-old final, a total of 52 pairs were lined up, twelve of them clearing the first round over a course set to 1.40m and joining the jump-off. Adam Grzegorzewski (POL) and Issem (Quality Time TN x Clinton) set the standard high early on, with Grzegorzewski taking full use of Issem's huge canter and leaving strides out all over the course. A double clear result in 34.43 seconds guaranteed them the win. "Issem has a huge stride and today's jump-off course was all about cantering, so for me it was perfect," the happy winner said afterwards. 

Alex Duffy (IRL) and MEC Look At Me (Luidam x Armstrong 11) were able to slot in between Grzegorzewski and his second horse for the jump-off – Stakata (Stanley x Embassy I ). With a time of 35.76 seconds, Duffy took the runner-up position – pushing Grzegorzewski on Stakata to third. "I have two really nice 7-year-olds, I think they are the best horses I have for this year," the Polish rider smiled. 

"I am happy they are performing well and they have learned a lot here. It is my first time here at MET, but I think I will start coming every year now. It is just incredible here! I am happy to see the best riders of the world here, and for my horses – that just turned seven, and are doing their first show as 7-year-olds, it is a great place to get them going," Grzegorzewski said.  

Neri Pieraccioni (ITA) and Nepal S (Kannan x Toulon) took the fourth place, while fifth went to Jonna Ekberg (SWE) and Noblesse du Palis (Baltic VDL x Indorado). 

In the 7-year-old category, Adam Grzegorzewski's Stakata won the MET Young Horse Champions Trophy. "For the owners, this is a super initiative," Grzegorzewski concluded.

Spring MET I continues until Sunday 2nd of February, concluding with a CSI3* Grand Prix.