Irona Van De Viking Z jumps to victory on Saut Hermès

While the new outdoor season has already started in most places, the French capital Paris was last weekend the setting for the 13th edition of The Saut Hermès, an exclusive show for both top riders from all over the world and for upcoming U25 talents.

During the 1.50m class on Sunday morning, the Belgian rider Pieter Devos secured a victory with his 10-year-old mare Irona van de Viking Z, a daughter of Iron Man van de Padenborre and Catango Z who was bred by Henk Dierendonck and with whom Devos already started his show on Friday with a 5th place during the 1.45m class. Devos and Irona of the Viking Z kept it clear in both the 1st and the 2nd phase and with a finishing time of 28.29 seconds they were almost a full second ahead of the competition.

Another striking combination in Paris was the French rider Roger Yves Bost with the 13-year-old grey stallion Cassius Clay VDV Z, a son of Calvino Z and Wolfgang who was bred by George Van De Velden and with whom Bost finished 3rd last month during the CSI3* GP of Oliva. Bost and Cassius Clay VDVD Z already jumped to an 8th place on Saturday during the 1.50m class and were among the 14 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off during the CSI5* GP on Sunday. They managed to keep it clear again in that jump-off and with this performance they secured a 6th place.

During the classes of the CSIU25 competition, the young Swiss rider Léon Pieyre managed to catch into the spotlights with the 12-year-old mare Verona V Z (Verdi TN x Cumano – B: Antoine & Stefaan Vermeire). The duo started their show on Friday with a 7th place during the 1.40m high opening class and the following days followed a 9th and a 4th place during two 1.45m classes.

Furthermore, the Irish rider Nano Healy was placed twice with the also 12-year-old mare OAK Grove's Americana (ex Anabelle Hero Z - Aganix du Seigneur Z x Heartbreaker - B: Stud Hero/Luc Henry). They immediately secured a nice 2nd place on Friday and they ended their show with a 7th place during the final on Sunday. During that final there was also a 5th place for vice-Belgian Champion Thibeau Spits with the 9-year-old stallion Calvino II de Nyze Z (Calvaro Z x Heartbreaker – B: Danny Nijs), who is also approved for Studbook Zangersheide.