HUBSIDE Jumping Holds First 5* Grand Prix as Competition Resumes
The eagerly awaited HUBSIDE Jumping de Grimaud played host to the first CSI 5* Grand Prix showjumping class in the world since competition resumed, with the crème de la crème of international horses and riders taking centre stage.
Two-thirds of the World Top 30 were present during week three of the HUBSIDE Jumping competition spectacular, ready to tackle the respected track set out by French course designer, Cédric Longis.
Current World number one, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, triumphed on board 2009 chestnut gelding, Victorio des Frotards, finishing ahead of the young French rider Edward Levy, and Sweden’s Peder Fredricson. Guerdat rode home with €50,000 of the €200,000 prize fund, with second and third-placed riders taking €40,000 and €30,000 respectively.
Forty-eight horse and rider combinations took part in the first five-star Grand Prix to be held in Europe since 23 February. Nine of them found the key to the clearing the first round of the course making it through to the jump-off, which took place under the shining sun of the French Riviera.
Scott Brash (GBR) and gelding, Hello Jefferson were casualties in the first round of Jumping finishing with 5 penalties on a time of 79.02. Team member, Holly Smith (GBR) and Denver rode one of the faster rounds with a time of 75.97, however, the pair accumulated 12 penalities.
Jump-off Suspense
The first rider to go in the jump-off was Italy’s Albert Zorzi with Cinsey. The pair had one pole down and given the prestigious list of riders to follow, his chance of finishing on the podium was slim.
True to form and immediately after, France’s Edward Levy riding Rebeca LS had the first double clear stopping the clock with a very fast time of 37:86. In doing so, he established the time to beat for several rounds.
His fellow countrymen, Titouan Schumacher had one pole down, and Kevin Staut rode a double clear. Unfortunately for Staut, his round pf 39.33 wasn’t quite fast enough to snatch first place from Levy.
Other riders tried and came close, but Levy’s time remained unbeaten. Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts and Niels Bruynseels were double clear as was Sweden’s Peder Fredricson, but Levy was still the fastest rider. Germany’s Daniel Deusser, World number 3, came into the ring but the threat he represented subsided when he knocked a pole down.
Steve Guerdat was the last rider to go in this jump-off. After riding a double clear, finishing thirteen-hundredths of a second faster than Levy in a time of 37:73, the Swedish rider commented;
The first round went really well. Victorio had already won the three 5-star Grands Prix classes in which he competed in earlier this year. I knew he could do it but despite this, there were a lot of unknowns in this Grand Prix, as I didn’t jump a lot with my horses during the lockdown.
“He jumped really well here during the first week of the HUBSIDE JUMPING and then he went home to France rest a bit last week. He jumped really well in the first big class on Thursday, but in the 1m50 class on Friday I felt he was a bit tired. So I wasn’t sure how we would do today. Apparently, the day off really did him good, because during the first round he jumped incredibly. I think that he has never jumped as well as that!
It’s always frustrating to be beaten by the last rider in the ring of course, but today it was the World number 1, so it’s a good consolation prize! There was line-up worthy of a championship in this Grand Prix and my mare was extraordinary.
The HUBSIDE JUMPING is held with the presence of the public, in accordance with the health guidelines in force in France. Admission to the show is free of charge. The next show will run from 9 to 12 July, featuring a CSI 4*, a CSI 2* and a CSI 1*.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
