Olivier Perreau (FRA) fulfilled a dream this afternoon as he guided his homebred 12-year-mare GL Events Dorai d’Aiguilly to victory after a thrilling jump-off in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ leg in Lyon (FRA), in which the host nation rose to the top.
With half of the eight athletes qualified for the jump-off representing France, the knowledgeable crowd was hopeful of a home victory, but few could have predicted the ‘Tricolore’ domination of the podium that ensued. Fellow Paris 2024 Olympic Bronze medal winning team-mates Perreau and Julien Epaillard spear headed the home charge, ably backed up by their nations rising star, the 26-year-old Antoine Ermann.
A strong fourteen-fence track with 17 jumping efforts and eight fences standing at 1.60m or higher, was presented to athletes by world renowned course designer Grégory Bodo (FRA). The combination mid way round the track accounted for the majority of faults with poles falling here 15 times as horses and athletes either lacked the power to clear the back bar of the oxer at part c, or flattened over the oxer at part a or vertical at b in their efforts to meet the final element with enough impulsion. Bodo’s track required athletes to think about not only clearing fences but where they could clinch a few milliseconds throughout as his time allowed proved challenging to achieve.
Wilma Hellström (SWE) and her ‘heart horse’ Cici BJN showed their rivals how to negotiate the course when producing a foot-perfect clear round over a second and a half inside the time from second draw. Further lulling the rest of the field into a false sense of security, Bertram Allen (IRL) was next into the ring with the ultra-impressive nine-year-old gelding Qonquest de Rigo and the pair effortlessly took out strides down the longer distances to deliver the second clear round in a quicker time again.
Spectators had to wait for fourteen further combinations however before the next faultless round was achieved. But it was worth their wait as it was France’s own young star Antoine Ermann aboard his homebred 10-year-old gelding Floyd des Pres who raised the roof when producing clear round number three and guaranteeing the host nations representation in the jump-off.
Paris 2024 Olympic Team Gold medallist Harry Charles (GBR) and Casquo Blue were next to book their place in the jump-off before Julien Epaillard, Olivier Perreau and Penelope Leprevost boosted France’s chances of victory when producing clear rounds number five, six and seven to the delight of an already electric crowd. Barbara Schnieper (SUI) was the only other athlete to answer all of Bodo’s questions when producing the eighth and final clear.
European Team Gold Medallists from Milan (ITA) 2023, Wilma Hellström and the one-eyed wonder horse Cici BJN opened proceedings in round two against the clock. Everything appeared to be going their way as they pulled off an impressive series of silky-smooth turns but when Hellström tried to take out a stride to the penultimate fence and the distance didn’t present itself, their chances of victory diminished with four faults recorded. Allen followed with a brilliant display of horsemanship and jumping, making full use of Qonquest de Rigo’s huge stride and endless scope whilst nurturing the talented young gelding around without pressure, undoubtedly with the future in mind. Their clear in 43.79 seconds set the standard.
Ermann followed, already living a dream scenario in reaching the jump-off here at what is his local event. He looked to be fractionally down on Allen’s time with three fences left to jump, but a beautifully executed tight turn back to the skinny vertical at fence nine saw him catch up and spurred on by the animated partisan crowd he galloped to the last to clinch the lead by just 0.11 seconds. When Charles faulted at the last just four athletes remained and three of those were representing the host nation.
Julien Epaillard is never to dismissed in a battle against the clock and despite being modest about his chances aboard the relatively new ride, the ten-year-old stallion Fringan de Vesquerie, he was not here to make up the numbers. In his customary economical style, he kept tight lines and an even pace without appearing to be in a hurry. A forward distance to the last fence saw him break the beam in 43.33 seconds and snatch the lead from his young compatriot.
With Lyon’s stadium already alight with the thrill provided by the preceding athletes, Olivier Perreau entered the arena. Feeding off the electric atmosphere he set sail around the track in determined fashion matching Epaillard almost stride for stride. As he galloped to the last the audience held their breath before all eyes turned to the clock as he broke the beam and looked up simultaneously before punching the air in disbelief. His time of 43.25 seconds had knocked the ‘King of Speed’ off the top of the podium and edged him into the lead by just 0.08 seconds. When the remaining two athletes faulted, it was confirmed that victory belonged to an emotional Olivier Perreau and his superstar homebred mare.
In a thrilling afternoon for French jumping enthusiasts, the remaining podium places were filled by Julien Epaillard and rising star Antoine Ermann with just 0.43 seconds splitting the three compatriots and Allen finished in fourth place just 0.54 seconds adrift of the winning time. Charles, Hellström and Leprevost took fifth, sixth and seventh places respectively with four faults apiece in the jump-off. Schnieper took eighth with eight faults whilst her compatriot Edouard Schmitz (Gamin van’t Naastveldhof) and last year’s victors Richard Vogel (GER) and United Touch S took ninth and tenth, with just their first-round time faults denying them a spot in the jump-off.
A delighted Antoine Ermann had said after the first round that it was ‘a childhood dream to ride in the big classes here’ and even more so ‘to jump clear in the World Cup’. “It doesn’t quite feel real, the weekend started well and today is just a dream come true! I’ve reached a new level lately- when you have a horse like that, it really helps!”
Epaillard, although not accustomed to the second step of the podium, was delighted his horse in what was his first World Cup: “He (Fringan de Vesquerie) doesn’t have much experience. I’ve tried to keep him fresh and no overdo it beforehand and it’s paid off- he was fantastic and the plan worked perfectly. He’s showing great potential!” he beamed before praising the event. “It was a perfect weekend. Huge congratulations to the organisers. Everything was perfect including the public!”
Olivier Perreau was visibly emotional after achieving what had been a goal of his for a long time- to win a 5* Grand Prix. To do it in Lyon, as a GL Events partner aboard his homebred mare was the icing on an already sensational cake. “I am so happy to win here. The mare is from my own breeding. Breeding is our main profession so this is just incredible. The World Cup series wasn’t actually my goal, but now I plan to do a few more shows until the end of the year and see where we are- what is the best plan for next season”
Athletes, spectators and delegates alike were full of praise for the show and it’s organisers. The future of this popular and historic event looks sure to be secure and to return even bigger and better for 2026 with a new hall already under construction.
After two legs of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League, Sanne Thijssen (NED) remains at the top of the standings on 22 points. Today’s win sees Olivier Perreau slot into second on 20 points ahead of Julien Epaillard and Yuri Mansur (BRA) who share third position on 17. Ben Maher (GBR), Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR) and Antoine Ermann share fifth place in the standings with 15 points apiece.
The series heads to Verona (ITA) next week for leg three on November 9 before Stuttgart (GER) hosts leg four on November 16 and A Coruña stages leg five on December 7. Stay tuned for all the action!
Full results here.
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