Harold Boisset won the 1.45m CSI 4* Grand Prix with his faithful T’Obetty du Domaine. Frenchman Benoit Cernin, was also in great form and very much in view today, winning two speed classes: the 1.50m in the CSI 4* and the 1.45m in the CSI 2*.
On this lovely mild autumnal Saturday, the Marseillaise was heard on the Riviera thanks to the victory of Harold Boisset and his long-standing accomplice T’Obetty du Domaine. Out of the 37 contenders, 12 emerged unscathed over the track proposed by Grégory Bodo and went through to the jump-off. Amongst them, top riders in the discipline such as the France’s Simon Delestre, Kevin Staut, Benoit Cernin, the Belgian Grégory Wathelet and yesterday’s winner, the Colombian René Lopez Lizarazo. With the mountains and the Grimaud Chateau in the background, a thrilling moment of sport was about take place. In the end it was Harold Boisset, the rider from Montpellier, who recently won the 1.45m at the CSI 2* in Macon, who finished in ahead. “We’ve already done two rounds this weekend having 4 faults each time, which doesn’t happen often, so I thought it was time for a change,” laughed the rider. “The initial course was quite selective and tricky, especially the vertical at n°3 which, in addition to being white, was quite narrow and saw a lot of competitors faulting. However, she’s very respectful and in top form so everything want to plan. I’ve been riding her since she was a 4 year old, she’s 14 now, she’s a mare who’s won masses of classes in the past, especially speed ones. Today, I tried to slow the rhythm and not ask for as much from her, but she still performed just as well and was responsive, which is very satisfying!” Sweden invited itself onto the podium with Petronella Anderson, 2nd with Cassina Z, then, in 3rd place it was France again with Jean-Luc Mourier and his grey, with whom he won the CSI 2* Grand Prix in Megève, Captain Keen.
