Gudrun Patteet and Sea Coast Chica V.V. Z win the CSI2* GP of Valence

Last weekend we were able to enjoy the second week of the Equestrian Cup in Valence, France. The CSI2* GP on Sunday received a blue/yellow victory thanks to the Belgian lady rider Gudrun Patteet and her 8-year-old mare Sea Coast Chica V.V. Z, a daughter of Comme Il Faut and Chacco Blue who was bred by Evelyne and Colin Van Vreckom and with whom Patteet jumped to a 2nd place during the four-star competition of Ascona, Switzerland, in September. Patteet and Sea Coast Chica V.V. Z were one of the 10 combinations that remained clear in the basic round during the CSI2* GP and so qualified for the jump-off. They managed to stop the clock in 37.53 seconds, which gave them a lead of more than half a second over the competition.

But we also got a Zangersheide horse in 3rd place and Patteet's compatriot Evelyne Putters took care of this with the 12-year-old grey gelding Nabeau van het Migroveld Z, a son of Nabab de Rêve and Taran de la Pomme who was bred by William De Winne. Putters and Nabeau van het Migroveld Z also remained clear in the jump-off and finished in 39.02 seconds.

Earlier on Sunday there was also a 1.40m class on the program for the CSI2* competition and the French lady rider Chloe Michellier jumped to victory with the 11-year-old mare Calandula Z (Calgary du Seigneur x Garanco – B: Vorselmans & Geurts). Michellier and Calandula Z, who also finished 4th in the 1.30m class on Thursday, finished in the 2nd phase in 27.93 seconds and so beated the competition.

Who also managed to win a class in Valence was the French rider Jean Luc Mourier with the 11-year-old stallion Expert DK Z (Eldorado van de Zeshoek TN x Balou du Rouet – B: Stal de Krochten). On Friday they became the winners of the CSI2* 1.35m class where they had a lead of more than 2 full seconds ahead of the competition with a clear 2nd phase in 30.82 seconds. His compatriot Sadri Fegaier took 4th place in this class with the 10-year-old mare Chelana de Lazerou Z, a daughter of HH Conrad Z and Indorado who was bred in France by Peter Van De Peer Gaec De Lazerou. Two days later they confirmed that good form with a 9th place during a 1.45m class.

Another striking combination was the French rider Olivier Perreau with the 9-year-old stallion Calypso Des Joanins Z, a breeding product of Stephane Monier who combined the blood of Clearway with that of Chellano Z. Perreau and Calypso Des Joanins Z started their show on Thursday with a 6th place during the 1.50m class and on Saturday they secured a 4th place during the 1.45m high Longines Ranking class.

However, during the 1.50m class on Thursday we also saw two Zangersheide horses on the podium. The 2nd place went to the French lady rider Alexa Ferrer with the 12-year-old mare Naiade d'Elsendam Z (Nabab de Rêve x Quattro B – B: François Verhulst). In both the 1st and the 2nd phase, Ferrer and Naiade d'Elsendam Z stayed clear and in that 2nd phase they reached the finish in 29.83 seconds. The Belgian rider Thibeau Spits followed her in 3rd place with the 9-year-old stallion Calvino II de Nyze Z (Calvaro F.C. x Heartbreaker – FB: Danny Nijs). They also stayed clear twice, but this in a time of 33.18 seconds. Finally, during the 1.45m class on Friday, Spits also managed to achieve a 3rd place with the 8-year-old stallion Impress-K Van 't Kattenheye Z (Indoktro-K Van 't Kattenheye x Vagabond de la Pomme – B: Tony Raman & Mieke Strobbe). Here too, all the poles stayed in the cups twice.