Edited press release from Hubside Jumping

Last weekend, the Hubside Jumping on the French Riviera came to a close with the Star-Spangled Banner being played in Haras des Grillons de Grimaud’s big ring, honouring Jessica Springsteen’s victory in the CSI4* Grand Prix. An additional star and a few days later, her compatriot Kent Farrington – the current world number five – won with the aptly named Gazelle (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Indoctro), after a magnificent jump-off. 

The many spectators present for this second CSI5* Grand Prix of the 2021-season of the Hubside Jumping had to hold up with light rain and moderate winds. However, this didn’t prevent the thirty-eight riders who had entered this last class to take part in the final showdown. Germany’s Angelique Rüsen on Arac du Seigneur (Ogano Sitte x Rubens du Ri d'Asse) was the first to tackle the course of France’s Cédric Longis and had the first clear round. It was not until the tenth competitor – Marie Demonte with Vega de la Roche (Diamant de Semilly x Baloubet du Rouet) – that the second clear came, guaranteeing that there would be a jump-off.

The second French combination who managed to qualify for the jump-off was Mathieu Billot and Quel Filou 13 (Quidam's Rubin x Cascavelle), and they jumped the thirteen fences with remarkable ease. Belgium’s François Mathy Jr. with Uno de la Roque (Numero Uno x Kannan) and Switzerland’s Bryan Balsiger with Twentytwo des Biches (Mylord Carthago*HN x Kalor du Bocage) also sailed around the course and qualified for the jump- off. 

The sixth rider qualified for the jump-off was Italy’s Giulia Martinengo Marquet with Elzas (Diamant de Semilly x Cornet Obolensky), who finished two very successful weeks on the French Riviera with this Grand Prix. After Ireland’s Michael Duffy, who also qualified for the jump-off with Zilton SI Z (Zirocco Blue VDL x Indoctro), Nicolas Delmotte with Ilex VP (Diamant de Semilly x Darco), America’s Beezie Madden with Garant (Warrant x Verdi TN), Julien Epaillard with Usual Suspect d’Auge (Jarnac x Papillon Rouge) and Simon Delestre with Berlux Z (Berlin x Major de La Cour) also joined in to battle it out with America’s Kent Farrington on Gazelle – making it a total of twelve horse-and-rider combinations to go against the clock.

Angelica Rûsen and Marie Demonte, the first two riders, each had one pole down while Mathieu Billot and Quel Filou 13 were the first to jump double clear, but in a time which seemed beatable. Belgium’s François Mathy Jr didn’t improve on Billot’s performance and had one down, but Bryan Balsiger was successful and was faster by sixty hundredths of a second with Twentytwo des Biches. Italy’s Giulia Martinengo Marquet had a fall in the jump-off, but neither she or Elzas were hurt.

The second group of jump-off riders had the spectators on the edge of their seats. While Balsinger was the rider to beat, Ireland’s Michael Duffy also jumped double clear, but was slightly slower. Nicolas Delmotte was slightly faster though, by thirty hundredths of a second and went into the lead. Beezie Madden and Simon Delestre were also clear, but didn’t improve the leading time: The main threats for Delmotte were now represented by the last two riders to go – and Julien Epaillard shaved one and a half seconds off the time of his compatriot. 

America’s Kent Farrington then set off, and his performance lived up to expectations: For his first ever participation at Hubside Jumping, Farrington won the CSI5* Grand Prix. "It’s always great to win a 5* Grand Prix, like this one here near Saint-Tropez, for my first participation in the Hubside Jumping," Farrington said. "I went last in the jump-off and Julien Epaillard was in the lead. He is known for going really fast, so I had to give it my all." 

The Hubside Jumping Grimaud-Gulf of Saint-Tropez’s next event will be from 1 to 4 July with a CSI 4*, 2* and 1* show.