It was Kent Farrington's day at Jumping International Valence: First the American world no. one went to the top in the 1.45m Prix MMA/SFAM aboard Baltic Star (Bacardi x Chalan), then he took the top honors in the 1.60m Grand Prix Axeria/SFAM with Gazelle (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro). 

The Grand Prix counted a total of 44 riders, and 11 of them managed to produce clear rounds to move on to the jump-off. Farrington, well known as one of the fastest in the world, was not to be beat with his time of 35.32 seconds. A little over a second behind, in 36.40, followed Ireland's Shane Breen – victorious in Saturday's big class – this time riding Laith (Lord Z x Weinberg). Canada's Eric Lamaze finished third with Coco Bongo (Caretino x Calido), after stopping the clock at 37.01 seconds.

Brazil's Yuri Mansur on Babylotte (Dollar du Murier x Concorde) and Great Britain's John Whitaker on Crumley (Cassus x As di Villagana) finished fourth and fifth, also both double clear. 

“I think at the end of the course I really used my horse’s strength; she can keep running through the turns and never has to break. So, I went wide to the penultimate vertical with speed and on the outside, and I was able to go fast on the last line without ever breaking her canter. I think that’s where I caught him,” said Farrington about his winning jump-off against Shane Breen.

“When I jumped the vertical at the end of the arena, before the turn, I took a little bit of care and right there thought that I was wide from the fence. I knew I had left the door open for the following riders and obviously, the world number one closed it!” said runner-up Breen.

The Irish rider still had a great weekend, and won the Rider of the Show-award with a Mercedes-Benz convertible as a bonus. 

Source: Press release from Agence RB Presse // Text © World of Showjumping // Photo © Agence RB Presse / J.Rodrigues