Astier Nicolas - 2019 CCI4*-S winner and Scottish Champion at Blair Castle International
It may be in French (surely this is exactly the time to be brushing up on your French with Paris 2024 now just around the corner) but we LOVE this video documentary put together by Astier Nicolas’ PR team about his time at the Land Rover Blair Castle International in August
Here’s a little overview for those of you not yet fluent in French …………..
After the disappointment of having to withdraw from the French squad nominated for Tokyo 2020 in early July, Astier decided to re-group and head to the Land Rover Blair Castle International in August. His Tokyo nominated horse, the 10-year-old grey Babylon De Gamma had incurred just a slight sprain and was back in full work, so Astier returned to Blair Castle to defend their 2019 CCI4*-S win and the ‘exotic’ title of Scottish National Champion
Along with Babylon De Gamma, Astier took the 11-year-old gelding Alertamalib’Or, also competing in the CCI4*-S and Diese Cot Chat, an eight-year-old grey mare, competing in the CCI3*-S
Astier was joined on the trip to Blair Castle by his father Paul, and Aliette Forien, co-owners of Babylon De Gamma, and of course his groom Louella Le Moigne
Babylon De Gamma did not quite replicate his winning 2019 performance but came very close, finishing second to the World Champion, Ros Canter
“He is much stronger and better than he was two years ago” said Astier, who was disappointed with the judges’ dressage marks but made up for it by blitzing around the difficult terrain of hilly Blair Castle to be the only combination to finish on their dressage score
Alertamalib’Or was slightly ahead of his stable mate in the dressage but unfortunately took a tumble on cross country, putting them out of the competition, but both horse and rider were fine. Diese Cot Chat had a green moment on cross country, resulting in 20 penalties for 37th place in the CCI3*-L but, at the end of the day, it was a good event for Team Nicolas.
Or, as Astier says “On est content” (“We’re happy”)
Sit back and enjoy ………….
