Maxime Livio and Qalao des Mers
Maxime Livio has twice been the ‘bridesmaid’ at a CCI4* - he was second at Les Etoiles de Pau in 2013 on Cathar De Gamel and second at Luhmuhlen in 2016 but he has finally won one of the big events and it was a special win on home soil riding Qalao des Mers
“When I was second in Luhmuhlen there was a beautiful atmosphere but of course all the people are for the German riders but here they are supporting us, the French riders. Yesterday on the cross country I could hear ‘Go Max, go Max!’ all around the course and today, when I jumped the last fence everyone was so happy for me and the French team so it’s very good”
29 year old Maxime, who trained at L’Ecole Nationale d’Equitation de Saumur and now runs his own stable, Ecurie Maxime Livio near Saumur, finished both of those events with a clear jumping round and he finished in the same style in Pau.
The show jumping course designed by Yann Royant and held on the large all-weather arena featured 13 jumps and 16 difficulties and was built up to the maximum height of 1.30 metres. Although none of the obstacles really stood out in terms of technical difficulty, the triple combination which required a specific stride line didn’t give the horses much time to regain their composure, and the final strait in five short strides alongside the tribunes, spelt the demise of some riders who were aiming for the highest-ranking places.
Michael Jung and FischerRocana
Michael Jung jumped out of order on the third placed Fischertakinou, pulling one rail and easing the pressure on Maxime who had no such problem but expected Michael that would jump clear on his leading horse, Fischerrocana. However, as soon as Fisherrocana faulted on the verticals at Fence 10 and 12, the crowd knew that once again the victory would go to the French. Last year it was victory for Astier Nicolas (who went on to become the Rio Olympic team gold medallist and individual silver medallist) and when Michael Jung faulted this year, it was victory for Maxime Livio
Michael finished second on Fischertakinou (52.1) and third on Fischerrocana (52.2) with Britain’s Nicola Wilson in fourth place on One Two Many (54.4), having also picked up eight jumping faults. Britain appears to have a new shining light in part time farrier Alexander Bragg who moved into fifth place with a clear jumping round on Zagreb; this pair has performed well in all three phases here and must have turned some heads among the British talent spotters
Nicola Wilson and One Two Many
Only two riders in the competition finished on their dressage score – the winner and Ireland’s Camilla Speirs riding Portersize Just a Jiff. This little Irish Sport Horse always steals hearts and he produced a foot-perfect round in the final phase, one of just seven combinations to jump clear on Sunday. This combination rose from 32nd after the dressage to 11th place after Saturday’s cross country phase and eventually finished in sixth place on 55.7.
Ireland had some impressive results on cross country day here at Pau with seven Irish combinations to jumping clear around the track and young Cathal Daniels riding Rioghan Rua finishing in 12th place overall (61.1) at their first CCI4*.
New Zealand’s Jock Paget and Clifton Signature (above) finished seventh with two rails in the showjumping again proving costly for the Kiwi eventer, finishing on 56 penalty points and dropping from fourth after the cross country phase.
Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo
Australia’s fortunes were left with Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo, who finished in 11th place with one of the few clear rounds when Western Australia’s Sonja Johnson sadly withdrew her striking chestnut thoroughbred Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison before the second horse inspection. Roo Fox’s Fleet Street was also withdrawn and two more were eliminated at the final veterinary inspection on Sunday morning – Cracker Jack, who lay in sixth place with Boyd Martin (USA), and Cooley Blue Flame, 35th with Katie O’Sullivan (IRL)
So Les Etoiles De Pau remains the only CCI4* to elude Michael Jung but he has declared that he will “be back to win next year!”
CCI2*
Maxime Livio added to his win in the CCI4* with a second place in the CCI2* at Pau that was won by Aurelien Leroy. Aurelien sealed the win with a clear show jumping round on a final score of 41.9, to the applause of the French crowd and enthusiastic congratulations by the French staff as he left the arena.
In second place after the dressage test and in the lead after the cross-country, Aurelien’s nine year old gelding Boyjoyce Chavannais has been in excellent shape over the entire weekend. Maxime Livio finished second on Tina de la Fieffe and Karim Florent Laghouag rounded off the all-French podium with Vendéen des Bois, a “highly promising” young seven year old gelding according to his rider.
Final Results CCI4* and CCI2* here
