Julien Epaillard opened up the five-star competitions at the Longines Masters of Paris with a home win in Thursday's 1.45m Absolu Trophy.
Riding the 12-year-old gelding Quatrin de la Roque LM (Quick Star x Kannan), the French speed phenomenon showed off with a blistering fast round and left his nearest rival Simon Delestre almost ten seconds behind with Sultan du Chateau (Kannan x Galoubet A). Third place went to the rider with the last clear round of the class; Ireland's Denis Lynch on Ho Go van de Padenborre (Darco x Chin Chin).
Unusual for a speed class, France's leading lady rider Penelope Leprevost finished fourth with a time penalty on Vagabond de la Pomme (Vigo D Arsouilles Stx x For Pleasure) while Canada's Kara Chad ended fifth on Gin Tonic v. Haagakkers (Labor's Vdl Indorado x Saros van het Gestelhof) with two time penalties.
Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Tiffany Van Halle