Niels Bruynseels (BEL) and Gancia de Muze (Malito de Reve x Nimmerdor) raced to the top in Friday’s CSI5* 1.55m six-horse jump-off at Hubside Jumping in Grimaud, France. With his time of 37.18 second, Bruynseels was way ahead of runners-up Alberto Zorzi (ITA) and Ulane de Coquerie (L’Arc de Triomphe x unknown) in 38.93 seconds.
Third place went to Penelope Leprevost (FRA) with Vancouver de Lanlore (Toulon x Le Tot de Semilly), followed by Steve Guerdat (SUI) with Albführen’s Maddox (Cohiba 1198 x Maraton) and Scott Brash (GBR) with Hello Shelby (Stolzenberg x For Pleasure).
"Gancia de Muze has a lot of experience,” Bruynseels said. “She does not need to do to many classes, as she already knows what she has to do. Over the past weeks, she has already showed that here in Grimaud and today as well over this delicate course. She was brilliant in the jump-off.”
“I think we will stay here for the next three weeks of competition,” Bruynseels continued. “There are no words to explain what people are doing here for the sport in this very special time. It's amazing and I want to say a big thank you to everyone involved to make it all happen."
Earlier during the evening Daniel Deusser (GER) and Jasmien vd Bisschop (Larino x Chin Chin) won the 1.50m Longines Ranking class ahead of Gregory Wathelet (BEL) with Indago (Concorde x Nimmerdor). Third place went to Olivier Robert (FRA) with Eros (Querlybet Hero x Forever), fourth place to Mathieu Billot (FRA) with Lagavulin 2 (Ludwigs AS x Stakkato Gold) and fifth place to Eduardo Pereira De Menezes (BRA) with H5 Elvaro (Calvaro F.C. x Heartbreaker).