04 October '23
Thibault Palm and Diana du Plevau Z win the CSI2* GP of Fontainebleau
© Thibault Palm
While a lot of attention went to the final of the Nations Cup in Barcelona in recent days, it was also a very busy weekend on French soil with the three-star competition of Haras de Gassin in St. Tropez on the one hand and a two-star competition in Fontainebleau on the other. In Fontainebleau, there was a blue/yellow victory in the CSI2* GP thanks to the Belgian rider Thibault Palm and the 8-year-old mare Diana du Plevau Z, a daughter of Dieu Merci Van T&L and Kashmir Van Schuttershof who was bred by Thibault's father Marc Palm. The basic round during this CSI2* GP proved to be a difficult task, because Palm and Diana du Pleavau Z were one of only 3 combinations that managed to remain clear. In that jump-off they were the only combination who stayed clear again and with this performance they added this CSI2* GP to their list of honors.
In 3rd place we also saw a Z horse with the French lady rider Isabele Strom and the 14-year-old gelding Berlinbreaker M Z, a son of Berlin and Heartbreaker who was bred by Alfons Van Baelen and with whom Strom already finished 4th during the 1.45m class on Friday. Strom and Berlinbreaker M Z also managed to remain clear in the basic round, but Strom decided not start in the jump-off again .
The 5th place during this CSI2* GP went to the Belgian rider Lauren Thirion with the 9-year-old chestnut mare I'Am Star du Long Chene Z, a daughter of I Am Moerhoeve's Ster and Ohio van de Padenborre who was bred by Eddy De Desmecht. Thirion and I Am Star du Long Chene Z also kept all the poles in the cups in the basic round, but ran into 2 penalty points for time.
During the 1.45m class on Saturday, the French rider Titouan Schumacher secured a podium place with the 9-year-old gelding Azote Brimbelles Z, a son of Amadeus and Toulon who was bred by Haras des Brimbelles and also the full brother of Atome Z, with whom Schumacher also achieved a lot of successes already. In a class against the clock, Schumacher and Azote Brimbelles Z managed to reach the finish in 69.01 seconds and this performance earned them a 3rd place in the rankings.
Furthermore, during this 1.45m class there was also a 5th place for the French rider Nicolas Bost with the 11-year-old gray gelding Hilfiger van 't Ameldonk Z (Horion de Libersart x Casall – B: Ameldonk BVBA) and a 7th place for his compatriot. Gilles Willmann with the 8-year-old gelding Sting Hero Z (Stetter x Echo van 't Spieveld – B: Luc Henry & Gerry Marron).