From press release by International Jumping of Dinard
The Rolex Grand Prix, the highlight of the International Jumping de Dinard, brought together 46 star riders. Only six pairs, five of them French and one German, were clear in the first round set at 1.60m.
The victory went to Alexis Deroubaix and Timon d’Aure, one of three pairs in the jump-off selected for the French team heading for the European Championships in Rotterdam later this month. "This result boosts my confidence for the Europeans," Deroubaix said. "This time I put myself in condition since it is the last competition before Rotterdam. I think that during the season, I was sometimes a bit too relaxed, or too tense, but in a way I did not put enough pressure on myself. This morning, when I woke up, I was really motivated, and now I know how to do to put myself in the right conditions to win."
The second place went to Pénélope Leprevost and Vancouver de Lanlore, another couple heading for Rotterdam. "I am delighted with my horse, he is just flying. Even when I make mistakes, he makes up for it. I never doubted his qualities, from the very beginning I believed in him. I love him and he gives it back to me," she said.
German rider Daniel Deusser, who finished third with Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z, said while smiling: "He did everything right, but the rider was a little slow today. I wonder where I could have done one stride less, maybe before the double, or before the wall, or before the last fence, but at the last minute the distances were not right. I just had to hope for a second clear round."
Mathieu Billot and Quel Filou placed fourth, and were followed by Nicolas Delmotte and Urvoso du Roch and Max Thirouin with Utopie Villelongue.