CSI*** of Caen 2007

Pénélope Leprevost Looks After Her Curves

Caen, FR - Associated to her grey mare Karatina, the French rider Pénélope Leprevost (photo opposite) won the Prix Ménard Traiteur, the principal class of this first day of competition. Although vis-a-vis with 12 riders at the jump off, she knew how to control the power of its mare and preceded three couples among the favourites of which the winner of the Grand Prix of Caen 2006, Florian Angot with First de Launay*HN. In the first round of the Stallions Master class, the British rider Philipp Spivey won riding his Dutch mount Romanov II (x Heartbreaker).

The most important moment of the day was the second test, the Prix Ménard Traiteur. With 9000€, it was run on a course made up of twelve fences of 1m45 tall, at an average speed of 375 m/min. First true test for the Grand Prix of Sunday, this class saw ravelling 53 couples of which some favourites. Robert Breul and his good Iasco Mouche thus made three faults on the track, depriving them of jump off. Because, following the example of the Grand Prix, all the riders arriving at the end of the course without making fall a bar were qualified for a second round. They were 13, a rather significant number but where one did not note really a surprise.

Except perhaps the presence of three young and talented riders, the British Charlotte Platt, European team Champion (Auvers 2007), the Swiss Nadja Steiner, and the American Jenni Martin McAllister who were qualified for the jump off with much skill. After his victory in the Grand Prix of Birmingham (GBR) two weeks ago, Patrice Delaveau knows that he can count on his very good mare Katchina Mail to accelerate and take all the options. It was not sufficient since Florian Angot and its Olympic First de Launay*HN took 2 seconds in advance. But the one who finished 9th individual at the European Championships in Mannheim had been beaten by a woman, one of the greatest French female rider this year: Pénélope Leprevost. Riding her grey mare Karatina, the same with which she won the Grand Prix in Saint Lô two weeks ago (too!), Pénélope drew a perfect lap, taking all the risks she could. The Norman rider played with the time, and di dit in more than 1.5 second faster than Florian Angot. Event Jérôme Hurel, starting after, couldn’t do better.

For complete results go to http://www.jump-results.com/OPEN/caen07.htm.