fri 01.04.2011
D-6: A wonderful anniversary line-up
Several riders with European, World and Olympic titles will be among those competing at the 20th anniversary edition of the CCI** of Compiègne. Unbeatable for more than three years, the German rider Michael Jung, who has just won the CICO*** of Fontainebleau, is the competition's favourite.
20 candles. The current World and European Champions will be taking part in the event. A new trophy for 8-year-old horses. A cross-country course that has been modified so that habits won't set in. The new edition of the CCI** in Picardy is set to live up to its reputation. On Thursday morning, at the beginning of the dressage test, the start list will feature about one hundred rider and horse pairs including 35 French ones.
The top ranking riders…
The Grand Parc Equestrian Stadium can pride itself on welcoming famous riders every year. Michael Jung and La Biosthétique Sam FBW the winners of the CCI** in 2009, won the world title in October 2010! The best German rider currently will return to one of his favourite events with three horses, including Weidezaunprofi's River of Joy, with which he won the competition last year. Competing alongside him will be some other accomplished riders, starting with another World Champion, Jean Teulère. In particular he has entered Matelot du Grand Val with which he forms one of the nine rider and horse pairs included in Group 1 of the French Equestrian Federation (FFE). The current European Champion, Great Britain’s Kristina Cook, will be present with a young eight year old horse, De Novo News.
Karin Donckers (Belgium) will once again attempt to put a spanner in the works for Michael Jung and the eventing "legend", New Zealand’s Mark Todd (two-time Olympic Champion) will also be competing..
Lastly, Nicolas Touzaint, Karim Florent Laghouag and Eddy Sans (the only rider from Picardy), all of whom are members of Group 1 of the FFE, should also be present for this 20th edition.
…And the hopefuls
The 8-year old horses, of which some were ranked during the World Championships for 7-year-old horses in 2010, will represent almost 15% of those competing. The competitors are all aware that Compiègne in an ideal ground for preparing major events. In order to take part in their development, for the first time, Compiègne Équestre will be setting up a ranking specifically for them.
The hopeful women riders will also be taking part, with around twenty of them between 18 and 25 years of age. Sweden and Switzerland will represent the youngest nations of the CCI**. Let us not forget that just behind the 3 best riders on the 2010 podium there were 4 riders who were all under 26 years of age!
