Baldwin in HSBC Driving Seat at Haras du Pin

Britain’s Emily Baldwin spearheaded a competitive international field to win her first ever HSBC FEI World Cup™ event, at the inaugural Haras du Pin (FRA) CIC3*-W, the penultimate competition in the 2010 series.

Baldwin, 29, and her 14-year-old Dutch-bred Drivetime, are an experienced combination and are renowned for producing elegant, expressive Dressage tests, so it was no surprise to see them lead this phase. They slipped to fourth with a handful of Cross-Country time penalties, but then regained the top spot with a clear Jumping round to finish just 2.2 penalties ahead of Belgium’s Karin Donckers on Lamicell Charizard.

Baldwin and Drivetime, by Zuidhorn, are now heading for the Pau CCI4* (FRA) in November, the last of the five 2010 HSBC Classics™. “I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Baldwin. “It’s my biggest win to date. I have won a CIC3* before, but not an HSBC FEI World Cup event. My horse is quite a character in the stable yard anyway, and now he will be very pleased with himself!”

Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) finished third and best of the home side on Tatchou. Touzaint overtook long-time Cross-Country leader Fabrice Lucas (FRA) on Keep du Mesnil with a characteristically fast round inside the optimum time but hit two Jumping rails. Lucas, unfortunately, was one of five riders who had to withdraw before the final Jumping phase. Fifty-five completed the Cross-Country, with 48 clear rounds, seven of which were inside the optimum time.

An impressively large field of 59 started the competition, and the Dressage was of such a high standard that double-figure time penalties or Jumping rails down proved expensive: Paul Tapner (AUS) and Kilfinnie slipped from sixth to 13th with three rails down, Jean Teulere (FRA) and Matelot du Grand Val went from ninth to 22nd, and Lucinda Fredericks (AUS), fourth after Dressage on Prada, dropped to eventual 20th with 11.2 time penalties and two Jumping rails down.

All riders were united in praising the efforts of the Haras du Pin organising team, headed by the le Goupil family, and the excellent standard of the footing. Course-Designer Pierre le Goupil commented: “I designed the course to make riders concentrate. It’s nice to be back at Haras du Pin – it’s been a long time coming and we’ve all worked hard to make it happen.”

No-one managed to trouble the top of the HSBC FEI World Cup™ rankings table, and Michael Jung’s (GER) position at the head of affairs remains safe. However, Ruth Edge (GBR) made a meteoric rise from 24th place after Dressage on Carnaval Prince to sixth with one of only eight clear Jumping rounds, and this, added to sixth place at Chatsworth (GBR) back in May, has proved significant: she is now in 11th place on the points leaderboard.

John-Paul Sheffield (GBR), was the other main beneficiary, his 10th place at Haras du Pin on Crown Farm Consort added to fifth at Chatsworth moves him into equal 13th place with Frank Ostholt (GER).

With just one more event to run, Schenefeld (GER), next weekend, these riders will have an anxious wait to see if they can remain in the top 15 of the HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing rankings and therefore gain a share of the generous US$180,000 prize pot which will be presented during the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR).

Results
1 Emily Baldwin/Drivetime (GBR)40.0 + 5.6 + 0 = 45.6
2 Karin Donckers/Lamicell Charizard (BEL) 40.8 + 4 + 3 = 47.8
3 Nicolas Touzaint/Tatchou (FRA) 41.6 + 0 + 8 = 49.6
4 Donatien Schauly/Seculaire (FRA) 49.4 + 0 + 4 = 53.4
5 Regis Prud Hon/Debiut (FRA) 49.0 + 0.4 + 4 = 53.4
6 Ruth Edge/Carnaval Prince (GBR) 50.8 + 2.8 + 0 = 53.6
7 Eddy Sans/Kramique (FRA) 46.2 + 0 + 8 = 54.2
8 Pascal Leroy/Glenburny de Leou (FRA) 49.6 + 0.8 + 4 = 54.6
9 Arnaud Boiteau/Expo du Moulin (FRA) 52.2 + 2.4 + 0 = 54.6
10 John-Paul Sheffield/Crown Farm Consort (GBR) 53.8 + 4.4 + 0 = 58.2

Full results on http://www.legrandcomplet.com/