The realisation sinks in - Thibaut Fournier wins the CCI4* at Pau at his first attempt
The leader board was changing even before the final phase of the CCI4* at Les Etoiles de Pau began with three withdrawals before the second inspection. While Bettina Hoy’s Designer 10 was out of contention for a podium finish, the withdrawal of third placed Izzy Taylor on Be Touchable and Andreas Ostholt’s So Is Et, eighth after the cross country, left the door open for others to move up
After losing one third of the field on Saturday (21 of 59 starters retired or were eliminated on course) and three before the show jumping, 34 combinations completed the competition, with Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Fernhill Frankie, who were 15th after cross country, sadly being eliminated in the final phase
Australia’s Ryan Wood was one of those to move up and he will be flying back to the USA with a Top 10 European 4* finish under his belt. Ryan and Woodstock Bennett had just one rail down in the show jumping to finish on a score of 43.3 and take eighth place overall, moving up from 36th after the dressage
Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett
Only six combinations produced a clear show jumping round within the time allowed and five of those were from British riders with Gemma Tattersall and Tom Crisp impressively managing to do it twice each. David Doel may not have had the best day on cross country but he and Chap added nothing in the final phase while the USA’s Kim Severson also jumped a double clear on Cooley Cross Border
However, Tom Crisp made the biggest jump up the leader board thanks to his fast, clear round riding Liberty and Glory on Saturday, followed by a double clear on Sunday. The 11 year old mare, home bred by Tom’s wife Sophie, recovered from a fractured skull in 2017 to have her first CCI4* start at Luhmuhlen earlier this year and although her dressage score of 37.8 left her in 54th place after the dressage phase, she added only 3.6 time penalties on cross country to finish in sixth place. Tom’s second horse, Carpa Du Buisson finished in 13th and the whole experience at Pau left him on a high for the end of the season, saying on his Facebook page
“So, boyhood dreams can be realised with my first top ten placing at 4*. I’ve been close a number of times over the years, but success really is that - failure after defeat, again and again, without losing enthusiasm! At times it can be all too easy to lose heart and sight of those goals, but days like today really do make it worthwhile.
The little firecracker that is Liberty and Glory jumped her socks off to produce a double clear, climbing a whopping 48 places and finishing 6th. Huge thanks for all the support this week and for those who have stuck with me through the good and bad bits. A great finish to 2018 for all the team and looking forward to even more happy and successful times with you all in the future”
Gemma and Pamero 4
Gemma Tattersall also showed her prowess in the show jumping phase with both Pamero 4 and Santiago Bay jumping clear for 23rd and second places while her team mate Ros Canter had two rails down riding Zenshera to drop into fifth place. There had been much talk about the possibility of Ros taking the World Number One spot if she had finished in the top three but it wasn’t to be; however no doubt we will see this talented young lady on top of the FEI Rankings soon
Just finally on the British riders, a quick mention for Trish Pytches riding CES Ballycar Chip who finished in 27th place. This pair incurred no jumping penalties, just time penalties on cross country and show jumping, but the tremendous thing about this performance is that 61 year old Trish last rode around a 4* course at Burghley in 1981 which warms the cockles of our heart ….. Well done Trish!
Thibaut and Siniani De Lathus
But the most heart-warming story from Pau is of course that of the winner, the young French rider Thibaut Fournier. Thibaut and his 13 year old gelding Siniani De Lathus had a rail in hand and they used it early in the course but then kept their cool to jump clear around the rest of the course.
Thibaut could not contain the emotion and exultation, jumping off his horse for a huge hug in the arena – watch the winning ride and Thibaut’s reaction in the video below from 1:54:00
The French also had a third place to celebrate with another young rider, Clara Loiseau and her 14 year old gelding Wont Wait finishing on the podium in the CCI4*, also at their first 4*.
Clara Loiseau and Wont Wait
Clara had led the CIC2* on Frans Hals after the dressage but it was Gireg Le Coz riding Aisprit De La Loge that took the honours in this class, finishing ahead of Astier Nicolas on Arpege Du Mancel and Igor Jamain, making it a thoroughly French affair
Felicitations! Gireg Le Coz and Aisprit De La Loge
