Edited press release from Hubside Jumping

After eleven weeks of competition in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the second season of international showjumping at the Hubside Jumping came to a close on Sunday. A season which was exceptional in every way and ended with the victory of Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z (Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve x Mr. Blue).

The Hubside Jumping de Grimaud’s final Grand Prix was full of emotion. The emotion of a truly exceptional season, which since June has brought together some the greatest European riders and those from outside Europe who have settled in Grimaud. The emotion of riders who are now faced with an unknown situation, as the winter season seems doomed, with several high-profile events that have already been cancelled. The emotion of the farewell to high-level sport of France’s Thierry Rozier, one of the circuit’s most endearing riders.

As usual, Cédric Longis, the French course designer, built a demanding first round for the final Hubside.Store Grand Prix, but which completely respected the horses: Over a third of the competitors had either a time fault or a pole down. Only eight combinations found the key to the track of the Parisian region’s course designer, including two former Hubside Jumping Grand Prix winners.

Argentina’s José Maria Larocca Jr, who was first to go in the jump-off with his wonderful Finn Lente (Galliard de la Pomme x Colandro), had the first double clear in 40.01 seconds. The Netherlands’ Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof’s Dante (Canturano x Phin Phin) also jumped clear, but were slower than the Argentinean. Belgium’s Gudrun Patteet, the only lady rider in the jump-off, was also slower and had a pole down with Sea Coast Pebbles Z (Picasso x Flamenco de Semilly). France’s Nicolas Delmotte jumped clear with Urvoso du Roch (Nervoso x Grand d'Escla) in a slightly faster time than Larocca. However, Delmotte’s hopes were rapidly dashed as the following rider, the Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders and Dolinn (Cardento x Lux), jumped clear and in a faster time: 39.17 seconds. Smolder’s compatriot Maikel van der Vleuten and the exceptional Dana Blue (Mr. Blue x Hemmingway), winners of two Grands Prix at the start of the season, did not have luck on their side and knocked one pole down. 

Germany’s Daniel Desseur, a regular at the French Riviera show, jumped clear with Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z and pipped Smolders at the post with his time of 38.30 seconds. He went into the lead and only France’s Kevin Staut – Olympic team gold medallist – stood in his way of the victory. Staut jumped clear but was thirty-six hundredths of a second slower and finished second aboard Viking d'La Rousserie (Quaprice Bois Margot x Apache d'Adriers). 

“I’m really delighted with this victory in the Hubside Jumping’s CSI4* Grand Prix and in particular with my horse, Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z,” Deusser commented. “He had to take some time out at the beginning of the year and started competing again mid-season in small classes and then took part in the Hubside Jumping’s CSI5* show a few weeks ago. Indeed he is recovering well and is getting better and better, to the extent that he was able to win the CSI4* Grand Prix today! I’m really proud of him! The year has been very different and extremely difficult for all the riders, but thanks to the Hubside Jumping we were able to enjoy a wonderful summer season. I don’t think that it’s being presumptuous to extend my warmest thanks on behalf of all the riders here to Sadri Fegaier and to the whole Hubside Jumping’s organising team. Thank you for keeping our sport alive and we all hope that we will be back here again next year.”

This final Hubside.Store Grand Prix of the season was also the occasion to bid farewell to a French combination to whom the public is especially attached: Thierry Rozier, who is retiring from high-level competition, and his Venezia d’Ecaussinnes, who is now going to be a broodmare. For their last Grand Prix together, the combination had no poles down, but finished with a time fault. The rider from the Parisian region, who was very emotional during the ceremony organised before the prize giving, only managed to say one phrase between two sobs: “I just want to thank Venezia. It has been a wonderful adventure and now it’s over.”