HAROLD BOISSET, THE MAN OF THE DAY !

Press release - 9th october 2021 This saturday at Grimaud, 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*.

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Harold Boisset and Benoit Cernin, success for France

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.

A little later the French Marseillaise was heard again for Benoit Cernin! The Frenchman won the CSI 4* - 1.50m speed class with his promising Cookie de Vesvre, a 9 year old gelding by Dollar Dela Pierre. “It's only his second 1.50m, he did one in Valence, and won”, explained the rider from Saône-et-Loire. “I’m gradually entering him in classes over this height and at the moment it’s not proving to be a problem for him. He jumped really well, he wants to go, gives everything, maybe even too much sometimes, it’s complicated to do a schooling round with him because he always wants to win. When he was a 6 year old I didn't think he was capable of doing the 7 year old classes and 1.40m tracks, finally he’s proved me wrong. He's real potential to reach the top and I’ve got a lots of hopes for him”. Italy’s Giampiero Garofalo was 2nd riding Cava and the France’s Paul Delforge finished 3rd with Terre du Banney.

In the CSI 2* speed class, Switzerland won thanks to Martin Fuchs and the very good Diva van het Cauterhof Z. “She’s only a 7 year old, so it's a pretty good class for her age,” explained the winner. She’s very talented! I really think in the future that she’ll take over from my top horses”. 6th to go out of the 51 starters, Fanny Skalli partnering Amitié des Douces held the lead for the major part of the class...until it was the turn of the World n°3, 45th to go. The Frenchwoman finally finished in 2nd place being beaten by 30 hundredths of a second. France’s Philippe Leoni was 3rd with James Bond du Bec.

Just before, Benoit Cernin was had already come under the spotlight. Riding another horse by Dollar Dela Pierre, the mare Bellatrix du Puy, he headed the 1.35m CSI 2* speed class. The rest of the podium was 100% French thanks to Nicolas Bost, 2nd with Django des Baleines and then Clément Frerejacques with Van Kilmor in 3rd place.

Since the start of the Hubside Fall Tour, 6 classes - 6 wins! Noa Verel and Balduin 35 seem determined to remain on the top step of the podium by winning yet again today in the 1.35m CSI 1* Grand Prix. “Objective achieved”, smiled the rider from France’s Rhône-Alps region. “In addition to jumping better each day, I feel that he really enjoys competing, and I think that's why he’s so generous.” Spain’s Iñigo Lopez De La Osa Franco was 2nd with Sultan de Beaufour and Belgium’s Dimme D'Haese with Empress Eh ZD'Haese finished 3rd

The last class of the day, the 1.15m CSI 1* Grand Prix was won by Mathilde Royer and Dyonisos d'Amaury. She was followed by Brazil’s Ana Eliza Aguiar Ramos riding Iris Imperio Egipcio and then Monaco’s Anastasia Nielsen with Donald de Bacon.

An exciting day of sport lies ahead tomorrow with THE rendezvous of the weekend, the CSI 4* Grand Prix which will see a confrontation between the best in the World.