From August 16th to 26th, the Jumping International de Valence will roll out the red carpet to international showjumping stars. The French Olympic Champions and four other former gold medallists, the world mo. 1, the reigning individual European Champion and the reigning individual world reserve champion are, among others, the headliners of the fantastic line-up of riders. 

The quality of a competition depends on the quality of its actors. And those who will be performing on the magnificent arena of Haras des Grillons, starting on August 16th, are outstanding, especially the world Top 10 riders including the full podium: Dutchman Harrie Smolders, solid no. 1 since May, Sweden’s European Champion Peder Fredricsson, no. 2, and 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze from Canada, who is making a spectacular comeback. The 2014 World Cup winner and Rio Olympic bronze medallist, Daniel Deusser of Germany (no. 6), one of Rio’s four gold musketeers, the French rider Kevin Staut (no. 9) and the winner of the 2017 Grand Prix of Valence, USA's Kent Farrington (no. 10), are the three other members of the Top 10 who will be at the start of the Jumping International de Valence.

To complete the picture, the Jumping International de Valence will also host France’s gold medal winning team of Rio: In addition to Kevin Staut, Roger-Yves Bost, Philippe Rozier and Pénélope Leprévost, who has returned to the highest level with her new horses, will all be present. Not to forget Simon Delestre, former world no. 1 and bronze medallist at the 2015 European Championships, and Patrice Delaveau, double reigning world reserve champion who recently shone at the Dinard CSI5*.

The Jumping International de Valence has become one of the foremost and world-famous equestrian destinations. Swiss rider Steve Guerdat, Olympic Champion in London in 2012, pointed out last week in the daily newspaper L’Equipe the particular significance he assigns to the quality of an international show jumping competition: technical conditions, competition schedule, public, mediatisation, in short, its sporting value. The attendance of the Swiss rider attests that the event of Haras des Grillons has obviously ticked all the boxes! Other Olympic Champions, in addition to our French and Lamaze, will join Guerdat in Valence: Great Britain’s Scott Brash and United States’ Laura Kraut.

Each of the entered riders has a prestigious prize list and many of them will be there from the first weekend for the CSI4*, like Eric Lamaze, the legendary Michael and John Whitaker, the Belgian rider Jos Verloy, the Americans already mentioned, and also the «Boss»’s daughter, Jessica Springsteen, currently taking the centre stage on the international circuit.

The riders of the Haras des Grillons will not miss the opportunity to offer the public a great show of performance, namely France’s Sadri Fegaier - creator and organizer of the Jumping International de Valence - and Colombia’s Carlos Lopez, who will complete his preparation for the World Equestrian Games with Admara. They will have a huge advantage with them: the public, increasing every year at the Haras des Grillons and will certainly not miss this high-level sport event as soon as this prestigious riders’ list is unveiled!