The stage is set for this weekend's event at Les Etoiles De Pau CCI4* and CIC2* where around 76 riders will compete for the CCI4* title including last years winner Andrew Nicholson. This year Andrew has three horses entered; Cruise Control (who finished 7th last year), Quimbo and Viscount George as does William Fox-Pitt who is riding Neuf De Coeurs, Seacookie and Cool Mountain.
Chris and Underdiscussion at Pau last year
Australia is represented by Chris Burton on Tempranillo , Murray Lamperd with Under the Clocks while Lucinda Fredericks is riding Flying Finish. Chris will be hoping to finish his season on a good note before jumping on a plane in November and heading back to Australia. Chris and Tempranillo have enjoyed some good results lately which include their win at Hartpury CIC3* which was followed a run at the South of England where they produced a score of 21.8 in the dressage and sensibly chose to go for a steady cross country run looking towards Pau.
What a year it has been for Murray Lamperd. This time last year Murray and Under the Clocks were bound for Adelaide CCI4*, where they finished third, and since then Murray’s world has been a whirlwind of travelling with Ninja to Badminton, Luhmuhlen and Aachan, to mention just a few of the events the pair have competed at. Now Murray lines up for his last big test of the year before coming home once more.
The course at Pau is well known for being very flat, which is understandable as the event is held at a racetrack, but over the years various course designers have made full use of earth moving equipment building mounds and ditches with subsequent fences on them, over them or to either side of them. As you can see above this year’s course designer, Pierre Michelet, who is also the course designer for the 2014 WEG, looks to have made good use of those hills and hollows.
Take a look at the trot up area and new main arena that will very shortly see smart riders, together with their horses, as they kick off the event at the first trop up.
Libby Law is at Les Etoiles De Pau with her trusty camera and will be running round the event capturing all the best moments – so keep a check out on our galleries to see how our Aussie riders are going.
