Top five placing for Scarlina de Tiji Z in the CSIO5* GP of La Baule

There were busy days on French soil last weekend, as in addition to the ^7th leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Cannes, a second five-star competition took place with the Nations Cup of La Baule. One of the highlights of the weekend was, of course, the CSIO5* GP on Sunday afternoon, in which there was a top five finish for Swiss rider Pius Schwizer with the 10-year-old mare Scarlina de Tiji Z, the daughter of Hunter's Scendro and Kannan bred by Tim Van Tricht and Jill Smits of Tiji Stables.

Schwizer and Scarlina de Tiji Z already started their show in La Baule with a nice ^eighth place during the 1.50m class on Thursday and during the CSIO5* GP were one of 10 combinations to secure a place in the jump-off. As the last combination to start, they again managed to ensure a clear round and this performance earned them ^4th place in the standings.

But there was also a blue/yellow victory in La Baule, which was won by Dutch rider Lars Kersen with his likewise 10-year-old stallion Funky Fred Marienshof Z, a son of Fantomas de Muze and Libero H from the Marienshof Stables breeding farm. In the jump-off of the 1.50m main class on Saturday evening, Kersten and Funky Fred Marienshof Z finished in 42.14 seconds, giving them a small lead of 2 hundredths of a second over the competition.

Furthermore, American rider Kent Farrington was also one of the prize winners in this 1.50m class with the also already 10-year-old mare Toulayna, the daughter of Toulon and Parco who's breeder Jasper Doucé was born as Toulayna van het Bloesemhof Z. Farrington and Toulayna also managed to finish in 42.99 seconds, but also encountered a jumping fault which made it a ^6th place for the duo.

In the 1.50m class on Thursday, French rider Kevin Staut managed to secure a top ranking with his 11-year-old gelding Beau de Laubry Z, the son of Bisquet Balou C and Nabab de Rêve from the breeding farm of the Haelterman family of Haras de Laubry and whom he also managed to win a class at Piazza di Siena in Rome at the end of last month. In a class against the clock, Staut and Beau de Laubry Z kept all the bars in the reels and this time was good for^2nd place in the standings.

The 1.45m opening class on Thursday then saw Belgian rider Gregory Wathelet take the podium again with his 13-year-old mare Berline du Maillet Z, a breeding product of Laurent Thirion and Delphine Mambour who combined the blood of Berlin with that of Action-Breaker. In both the^1st and^2nd phases, Wathelet and Berline du Maillet Z provided a flawless performance, which earned them ^3rd place in the standings. For Wathelet's compatriot Wilm Vermeir, there was another ^8th place in this class with the 9-year-old mare Eytuka Of Two Notes Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Chin Chin - B: Toby Huys). They too could not be found with a fault.

Finally, two Zangersheide horses also jumped to a top 10 placing in the 1.45m class on Friday. There was a ^6th place for Pius Schwizer with the 11-year-old chestnut gelding Chelsea Z (Chellano Alpha Z x Cicero Z - B: Willy Sijbers) and a ^7th place for French rider Simon Delstre with the 9-year-old stallion Crack D'Aiguilly Z (Comme Il Faut x Nabab de Rêve - B: Olivier Perreau Earl Ecurie Perreau Et Fils).