Karin Donckers and Lamicell Charizard Photo: Pauline Chevalier
The World Cup CIC 3* cross-country course looked inviting and the going good across the course at Haras le Pin. The weather provided every option today with cool and gusty weather to start followed by sunny, warm spells and finishing with rain. For the spectators it was a case of jackets on and off as they walked around the course designed by Pierre Le Goupil. During the final morning dressage session, Britain’s Emily Baldwin riding the experienced Drivetime had replaced Michael Jung as the dressage leader on a score of 42.2 and Karin Donckers riding Lamicell Charizard joined Michael in equal second place on a score of 43.5 to make the cross-country battle even more exciting.
Sam Griffiths and Real Dancer Photo: Pauline Chevalier
This event has been held here for the past three years and the venue will host the cross-country phase of the 2014 FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games so it is not surprising that many top competitors are visiting this year, especially as the Olympic Games have made many riders change their usual calendar. Pierre Le Goupil had built a challenging course with some serious questions at the water, as Sam Griffiths points out in the video below. Sam was the third rider out on course and was an early clear round with 8 time faults to finish in 14th place on Real Dancer. His second horse, Paulank Brockagh, went later in the afternoon but luckily he missed the downpour of rain that the last few riders, including the leader and 2010 winner, Emily Baldwin, had to ride through. Sam heads into the showjumping tomorrow in 11th place on Paulank Brockagh to jump what is expected to be a tough showjumping course
An early victim on course was fifth-placed Pippa Funnell riding Or Noir de la Loge when they fell at fence 15. It was announced that New Zealander Alice Montgomery had had a problem at the water resulting in elimination but this was obviously overturned as she finished the day in 10th place with clear jumping and only 1.6 time faults. The course is beautifully laid out on undulating ground with vantage points for viewing large sections of the course and from where I was standing, Michael Jung made it look easy on his eight-year-old horse Halunke FBW to finish in second place today (46.3) behind Belgium’s Karin Donckers riding Lamicell Charizard (45.1). Nicholas Touzaint of France on another horse for sale, Neptune de Sartene (pictured below), is in third spot with a score of 46.9.
All three riders thought the course pretty tough, especially for younger horses. Nicholas commented that his horse, Neptune, was very fit, having been prepared as the reserve horse for the Olympics but he still found the quick succession of fences at fences 18 and 19 and the final few fences demanding for the horse and this was certainly an area where many riders had problems. Karin commented on the 15abc combination which seemed to confuse each of her three horses “or maybe it was me that was confused” she added with a laugh.
Michael Jung was very happy with Halunke and thinks he is going to be a very strong horse in the future. The only area he had some hesitation was at the water, but he still thought it was a tough course, saying that, although it looks fairly flat terrain, it is actually a course which winds up and down the hills making it very demanding for the horse, as you can see in the above video of Michael and Halunke.
The commentary throughout the afternoon was excellent, keeping the crowd updated and entertained in both English and French and a great PA system ensured you could hear the commentary throughout the venue; a simple thing you would think but one which so many events still struggle to provide.
Tomorrow we’ll see how demanding the course has been and if it will have any impact on the outcome of the CIC 3* World Cup showjumping which takes place in the afternoon.
