French Team Triumphs at 4* Eventing Nations Cup of Le Pin

The French team simply achieved a feat by winning the FEI Eventing Nations Cup of Le Pin (FRA) for the 4th time in a row thanks to the exceptional performance of Thibault Vallette, Thomas Carlile, Christopher Six and Karim Laghouag. France also trusted the first five individual places, a result never seen before at the Grand Complet! After a close duel on the cross country test, Thomas Carlile finally lost to Thibault Vallette who won the individual gold.

The Grand Complet once again offered magnificent moments of sport. After a morning shower, the final test of the first FEI Eventing Nations Cup of the season was held in excellent conditions. The sun even appeared during the morning, as a sign to the French squad. Under the watchful eye of national trainer Thierry Touzaint, the French had the mission of not letting go and adding a fourth trophy to their record. One after the other, Karim Laghouag, Christopher Six, Thibault Vallette and finally Thomas Carlile signed courses without penalty over fences, while their opponents accumulated them. The Netherlands managed to limit the damage, which allowed them to double Britain and take a nice final 2nd place.

Individually, the French have made a real hit. See: Thibault Vallette wins, ahead of Thomas Carlile (2nd) and Gwendolen Fer (3rd). The woman based in Toulouse (south-west) was thrilled after her cross-country, and enjoyed the comeback in great shape of her horse Traumprinz. The beautiful bay had not competed since last October, when they finished 2nd in the CCI4*-S of Lignières (FRA).

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The statement of Lieutenant Colonel Thibault Vallette, double winner of the CCIO4*-S Coupe des Nations FEI of Le Pin

“Qing is a horse I know by heart,” Thibault Vallette said. “We took part together in many big events. We were hoping to go to Tokyo this year so we were obviously a little disappointed when we learned that there would be no Olympics. This victory is a great compensation. The horse is in good shape, that is what’s important. Winning individually is a bit of a icing on the cake. Running for the team is something I really like. This is the first Nations Cup we’ve been riding in a long time. It replaces the championship a little bit, to be able to exchange advices, to go up for each other. When you win as a team, it’s always a great moment to live and share. Le Pin is a competition that I really like and that suits Qing well. A demanding field, hilly, a real cross-country. The ground was perfect, as was the organization. Every means has been put in place to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible, and that is a real success.”

An overview of the French weekend with Michel Asseray, National Technical Director in charge of the eventing at the French Equestrian Federation:

“When we coach the French team, we always want to win. With this containment, we had lost a little our objectives without major tests. It was a little unsettling for the riders. This beautiful show is a good deadline that allows us to properly assess where we are. We decided to prepare ourselves well for this competition, which the riders did. Beyond the victory and the podiums, it was the way that was very interesting. The riders mastered their subject. Winning at the Grand Complet is no small feat. It’s a beautiful, hilly terrain. Beyond the technical questions of course designer Pierre Le Goupil who is a gifted. Satisfaction, that’s it: it’s very well built, very well ridden so it’s remotive. We’ve had a boost! Before, we were looking for goals. Now, we are all over motivated. Everyone talks about the upcoming calendar, everyone wants to come back in a month (for the national show, Editor’s note). We really needed these victories.

“There was a real field ot top riders and horses. The foreign riders who were there did not come to visit the stud. They are people with talent, horses, almost No. 1 for everyone, so we savour it. The next deadline is in September right here in Le Pin, then in October with three consecutive weekends in Lignières, Le Lion d’Angers and Pau. France has fought hard to maintain international competitions and we want to help French organizers as well as foreign riders. We’ll try to end the season like this. We are going to cross our fingers so that the Olympic Games can take place because when we see the result today, I am not going to say that we had an Olympic team but it was a nice team and it makes us want to go to Tokyo. And then there is emotion because we think of Thais (who died unexpectedly last year in Le Pin during the national show in September, Editor’s note), and this victory is for her.”

CCI3*-L Normandy Trophy: Tim Price, a happy boy

He belongs to the world’s elite (currently No. 2) and has long appreciated the green fields of the Haras national du Pin. Of course, Tim does not keep an excellent memory of the World Equestrian Games 2014 (where he had to give up) but he still loves the atmosphere of the Grand Complet where he always come back with pleasure. Coming with wife (Jonelle, bronze medallist at the London Olympics and formidable competitor) and child, he rode in this event a certain Happy Boy. The specialists will have recognized the 2019 WBFSH FEI Young Eventing Horse World Champion. Needless to say, at only 8 years old, Happy Boy already has its future all traced to the highest level. Somewhat unlucky in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup, Chris Burton (AUS) finished on a positive note by taking 2nd place with Leopard’s Action. Thomas Carlile (FRA) is once again on the podium, this time riding Cadet de Beliard.

Equistro “Best Cross country” Trophy: Cord Mysegaes (GER) with Dekorateurin Baumeister .

Tim Price & Happy Boy (photo: Les Garennes)

CCI3*-S Orne Council Trophy: Stéphane Landois under a lucky star

The resident of the Ecurie du Cerisier Bleu dominated this event from start to finish. He was able to resist the pressure put by his direct opponent, the French olympian Donatien Schauly, who had to settle for second place. Stéphane Landois was riding Chaman Dumontceau for only the second time, and confirmed his good partnership with the former partner of the late Thaïs Meheust, since he finished 3rd in the CCI3*-S de Jardy (FRA) at the beginning of July. The couple also won the Equistro Trophy by signing the best cross-country finish in 6’15” (for 6’17”). The insatiable Thomas Carlile (FRA) climbs one more time on the podium thanks to Darmagnac de Beliard. It should be noted that the Beliard Stud, owned by Gérard Brescon, thus sees two of his young products stand out internationally this weekend. Arianna Schivo (ITA) slid into a top 10 dominated by the French, finishing 7th riding Altesse de l’Ormeau.The event served as a support for the Top 7 circuit rewarding the best 7-year-old horses. Dgin du Pestel won under the saddle of Donatien Schauly ahead of Darmagnac de Beliard (T. Carlile) and Difda du Very (Raphaël Cochet).

Equistro “Best Cross country” Trophy: Stéphane Landois (FRA) & Chaman Dumontceau

CCI2*-L Technibelt Trophy: Nicolas Touzaint, a golden victory

The most crowned French rider still took a victory this weekend in the CCI2*-L. He was riding the horse owned by the Haras des Coudrettes, Absolut Gold HDC, which had not competed since August 2019 and a nice 10th place at the European Championships in individual. Needless to say that this CCI2*-L class was a very smooth recovery for the couple, which bodes well for the end of the season. The French double olympic medallist Astier Nicolas also returned to school with his top mount Alertamalib’Or. Away from the competition grounds since October 2018, the bay gelding seems to have regained all its means and will be highly long-awaited in the upcoming events. Same scenario for the couple 3rd today, Matthieu Vanlandeghem (FRA) and Trouble Fête*ENE HN, absent from the circuit since July 2018. Jonelle Price (NZL) finishes 4th and first foreign rider with Faerie Magnifico.

**CCI2*-S Zito Trophy:** Evelina Bertoli from start to finish

A Belgian horse and an Italian rider, it is the amazing duo that wins this first class of the weekend. Evelina Bertoli, 34, took part in her first international competition with Fidjy des Mélèzes, a 9-year-old Belgian mare. Trained and ridden first by a Belgian rider with whom she participated in the World Championship of young eventing horses two years ago, she made her baptism under the colors of the Italian army and it rather succeeded them. In the lead after the dressage, without any rail down at the show jumping, the couple ends its weekend with a cross country only penalized of 2.4 pts for time exceeded but without fault at the fences, synonym of final victory. Behind Evelina, the podium did not change after the cross country. Mathieu Chombart (FRA) and Big Boss Melo finished 2nd and best French rider, while Phoebe Locke (GBR) completed the trio ridning Clotaire de Ferivel. With 7 riders, France dominates the top 10 of this class.

Final results for all divisions CLICK HERE.