Edited press release from Hubside Jumping

France’s Olivier Perreau and GL events Venizia d’Aiguilly (Diamant de Semilly x Quick Star) ensured that suspense was at a high until the very end of Sunday’s CSI5* 1.60m Hubside Store Grand Prix at Hubside Jumping de Valence. 

The course designed by France’s Cedric Longis promised some great sport. Number 10 which was a vertical, the first element of the double, number 12, and above all number 11 which was a plank, cost the riders dearly and were undoubtedly decisive in the class. Thirty-five combinations were competing in the Grand Prix, and eventually eleven moved on to the jump-off after producing clear rounds. 

There wasn’t a clear round until the eleventh combination came into the ring, and after that a string of clears followed. Grégory Cottard and his great mare Bibici (Norman Pre Noir x Nelfo du Mesnil), a combination which will be representing France at the upcoming European Championships, proved that it was possible. Ten more horse-and-riders combinations followed with clear rounds, and five nations were in the running for the win: France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Belgium.

Grégory Cottard on his grey mare had the difficult task of going first in the jump-off. They were not for the faint-hearted, took a lot of risks and finished clear, in a time of 37.25 – forcing the riders to come to go very, very fast. It seemed impossible to improve on the time to beat, but that was without counting on Rhône Alpes’ Olivier Perreau and GL events Venezia d’Aiguilly who did just that – finishing in 36.92. It was a French trio on top, with Simon Delestre and Hermès Ryan (Hugo Gesmeray x Ryon d'Anzex) in third, with a time of 38.41.

“This is my first CSI5* Grand Prix victory,” Perreau said. “I saw Grégory Cottard’s round, which was already very fast, then Simon’s one, which was just as quick. I had all this in mind when I was last to go and so I pulled out all the stops. It was an advantage for me to go last, especially concerning the distances I chose. I knew where I had to go fast if I wanted to win. There were eleven of us in the jump-off, so we were all going to be placed. If I wanted to win, I had to give it my all. GL events Venizia d’Aiguilly was fantastic and I’m delighted."

"I would really like to thank Sadri Fegaier and his whole team," Perreau continued. "We were also lucky to have a great audience, which is very positive. I would also like to thank and congratulate Cédric Longis, who built some great tracks throughout the weekend.  He’s a really modern course designer. He is really talented because his tracks are designed with the horses in mind."