Calida Z on CSI2* GP podium in St. Tropez

Last weekend, not only the three-star competition took centre stage at the Gassin Polo Club in St. Tropez, but the two-star competition also attracted plenty of attention. In this, too, there was success for our blue/yellow colours during the Grand Prix with a podium place for American rider Paris Sellon and the 8-year-old mare Calida Z, a daughter of Cornet Obolensky and Carthago Z bred in the Netherlands by J.R.J. Evenhuis and L.G. Morsink. On Sunday morning, Sellon and Calida Z were among the 13 combinations that got through the basic round of the CSI2* GP unscathed, securing a ticket for the jump-off. In it, they once again managed to leave all the rails untouched and their finishing time of 40.07 seconds earned them a great 3rd place in the standings.

Also in the top 10 of this CSI2* GP we saw French rider Philippe Rozier with the 9-year-old grey stallion Corsini Vd Keihill Z, a son of Cornet Obolensky and Cassini I, also bred in the Netherlands. Rozier and Corsini Vd Keihill Z were already in strong form the day before with a^2nd place in the 1.45m class and during the Grand Prix, Rozier led Peter Bakkers' breeding product to a creditable ^7th place in the standings.

The 1.40m Big Tour on Thursday also saw Liechtenstein rider Jennifer Hochstaedter and her 13-year-old gelding Tinka's Hero Z, the breeding product of Vincent Jourdan and Luc Henry combining the blood of Tinka's Boy with that of Caretino, also take^2nd place. In this class against the clock, Hochstaedter and Tinka's Hero Z could not find a fault and ended up about half a second short of victory.

Finally, French rider Sebastien Le Louarn also had a strong weekend with the 14-year-old grey gelding Wouest de Cantraie Z, a son of Winningmood van de Arenberg and Calvin Z, bred by Philippe Poppe. Le Louarn and Wouest de Cantraie Z competed three times in a 1.35m class and managed to post great results with a ^4th, ^6th and ^8th place.