On Friday evening, the dressage riders made way for the show-jumpers at the Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International in the International Arena at Eurexpo. Germany’s Richard Vogel, who won last year’s Longines FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix here in Lyon, took first place in the Longines Grand Prix of the CSI 5*-W competition, riding the Selle Français Gangster Montdésir.
An atmosphere that gives you wings
The course laid out by the French course designer, Grégory Bodo, had plenty to keep the 49 entries that started the Longines Grand Prix on their toes. After the first leg, 11 pairs had managed to complete a clear round on a course comprising 13 obstacles and 16 jumping efforts.
France’s Jeanne Sadran and her explosive Dexter de Kerglenn were the first to ride in the jump-off, repeating their first-round performance in 42.96 seconds. In the end, they would finish fifth in the class. The rider from Toulouse had managed to keep the lead until Richard Vogel and his nine-year-old bay, Gangster Montdésir, moved into first place. The couple, who have been putting in a great string of performances since they started working together in September, were competing in their first Grand Prix at 1.60m. But that did not stop the reigning European champion from taking every risk to cross the finish line in 38.78 without touching a single bar.
No-one managed to improve on their impressive performance. Even the world number 2 Ben Maher (GBR) with Enjeu de Grisien had to be content with second place (0 / 39.73). Third place on the podium went to Gerrit Nieberg and his pinto Ping Pong van de Lentamel, who recorded a double clear round in 41.13 seconds.
“Gangster and I have not been together very long,” said Vogel. “This is only our third competition together. Even though he’s still fairly inexperienced, I had planned to make tight turns in this jump-off. I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting him to turn so well!
“Gangster is incredible. He is only nine years old, but he wins at least one class at every competition. He won in the 1.45m and 1.50m classes during the first two competitions we took part in together and here, today, he won his first Grand Prix at 1.60m. I don’t think you could hope for much more than that.
“Every time I push him, he finds the perfect answer. We have very high expectations for this horse and I really hope he has a great future.
“Lyon is always a wonderful competition, both for us as riders and for the horses, of course. The conditions are ideal, which makes it easier to perform well. When you enter this arena, the atmosphere is so amazing, it gives you extra motivation. It kind of gives us wings.”
~ with files from Eloïse Lepine
Results here.
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