Gudrun Patteet (BEL) and Sea Coast Monalisa Van’T Paradijs (Bamako de Muze x Emerald) took the top honours in Sunday's CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix at Hubside Jumping in Grimaud.
A total of 12 horse-and-rider combinations delivered double clears, with the jump-off being a race against the clock. Patteet crossed the finish line in 32.11 seconds, slightly ahead of home-rider Julien Epaillard (FRA) with Usual Suspect d’Auge (Jarnac x Papillon Rouge) that stopped the clock at 32.36 to take the runner-up position.
“It was a proper Grand Prix, perfect technically and absolutely not easier due to these months with a break. It also had a short time allowed. When I walked the course, I wondered what I was going to be able to do with such a field of riders and a track like this,” Patteet commented after her win. “I immediately understood that the jump-off would be very fast with riders like Julien Epaillard in it. My mare Sea Coast Monalisa Van’T Paradijs is only eight years old and did her first CSI2* Grand Prix. I know she can be very, very fast. So I gave everything, because I know she can do it.”
Third place went to Robin Muhr (ISR) with Vino Z (Vigo d’Arsouilles Stx x Darco) ahead of Jos Verlooy (BEL) with Varoune (Verdi x Cordalme) and Marcus Ehning (GER) with Stargold (Stakkato Gold x Lord Weingard).