Arnaud Boiteau and Quoriano ENE HN finished third in the CCI4* at Les Etoiles de Pau 2014
The French team lead the way on home soil at the first of the 2015 FEI Nation’s Cup Eventing series. Although Michael Jung holds the individual lead riding the horse he may be competing at Rolex Kentucky, La Biosthetique Sam, on a score of 34.1 the French dominate the top 10 places after dressage at Fontainebleau
France’s Thibaut Valette is not far behind Michael on a score of 35.2 in second place riding Qing Du Briot ENE HN however it is Arnaud Boiteau riding Quoriano ENE HN who is the top placed French team member in third (37.8). Arnaud is joined by his team members Karim Florent Laghouag, Gwendolen Fer and Helene Vattier in equal 9th, 13th and 16th places respectively to lead the teams competition on a total score of 123.90.
Australia is not far behind on a score of 125.8 with Paul Tapner pleased with Kilronan’s sub-40 score of 39.60 in fifth spot. Australia only has three team members so no discard score with Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo, the 2013 Australian International 3 Day Event 4* winners, in equal ninth and Kevin McNab on the young horse Casperelli in 14th
Tim Lips is also on a very talented young horse, Bayro, that we spoke to him about at Blenheim last year and they head the Netherlands’ team in fourth place individually while the team is currently lying in third on a total score of 131.10. Two other bronze medallists from Normandy join Tim on this team, Merel Blom riding Rumour Has It NOP (19th) and Andrew Heffernan riding Boleybawn Ace (17th) along with Theo Van De Vendel on Zidane (36th).
Great Britain may be currently lying fourth at the moment on a total score of 133.70 but there is not much in it. Izzy Taylor riding KBIS Briarlands Matilda leads the charge for Team GB in seventh place with Flora Harris and Nick Gauntlett (finally sporting the British flag!) in 15th and 23rd.
Michael Jung and FischerRocana FST in sixth and Andreas Dibowski riding FRH Butts Avedon, another German combination hoping to compete in Kentucky next month, round out the top 10 placings individually.
A Frenchman, Luc Chateau also leads the CIC2* after dressage riding the lovely Propriano De L'Ebat (36.2) with Paul Tapner in second place on Prince Mayo (36.9), a new ride for Paul, and Michael Jung in third on FischerTakinou (37.7)
The CIC1* classes have already completed the cross country phase with Belgium’s Laura Loge riding Lilly Maleen in the lead, having added nothing to her dressage score and France’s Nicolas Touzaint leading the CIC1*B
Tomorrow sees the cross country phase for the CICO3* class around the Pierre Michelet designed course
