Three winners for both HSBC FEI Classics^TM series and The stars of Pau. That is the way the exciting 2011 four-star event ends and how the
2012 edition begins.

Podium for CCI**** : WilliamFox Pitt (GBR), Andrew Nicholson (NZL), William again.

Podium for the Classics : Mary King (GBR), William Fox Pitt, Andrew Nicholson

Three big names of the three day eventing world who are the big winners, and a breathing competition, here is what we just lived in Pau. We have been expected it since the interesting provisional HSBC FEI Classics^TM series announced course to the victory between Mary King and William Fox-Pitt. Surprise and change of situation occurred the ones after the others as well as an obvious big suspense on the cross-country course yesterday. How huge was the show!

It has been a very busy week for William Fox-Pitt who warmly speaks about each of his three horses. “They are absolutely fantastic, but unfortunately, I never succeeded to ride without fault here, even with Osla who wins the Lion d’Angers when he was 6. He is a very good horse and his owners as well as those of Macchiato are really lucky. They are present and we had a very nice week here, all together. I know I have spectacular horses who have a nice future and I know how lucky I am.”

Andrew Nicholson, who is very happy of this performance, confesses that it has been easier for him as Piggy French, Mark Todd and Andreas Dibowski were not at Pau. “I saved points for the 2012 edition” he says during the final press  conference. As to involvement on the Olympics Games, he says that being at Pau allowed him to test Mr Cruise Control and he think he could ride him at London. Several riders did the same and took advantage of this last season event to test their horses.

As to the Queen May King, who is the big winner of the series, she is maybe the one who has lived the more important unexpected
performance three-day event. She carefully rode on the cross-country course with Imperial Cavalier and succeeded to gain the places she has lost with her dressage test. Then, thanks to a wonderful jumping test this afternoon, she ended the suspense and won after a hard competition. How happy she is! And how professional as well when she says that it is comfortable to be in such a series and to be supported by HSBC. “It’s a great feeling to be in an organization such as this one when you are competitors.” With the $150 000
prize, she has just won she thinks about buying a new laury.

We do not forget Clayton Fredericks and Christopher Burton who were fair competitors, and so do we for our French
riders who have been nice fighters as well. We think about Nicolas Touzaint, 5^th on the final Pau ranking with Hildago de l’Ile, about Jean Teulère, 14^th with Matelot du Grand Val, about Karim Florent-Laghouag with Chicago Van’t Zonnere, and about Astier Nicolas, with Jhakti du Janlie. They were among those who made beat the 50 000 visitors’ hearts all through the competition.

Here is a wink for Philippe Brun with Nectar la Charbonnière: it was the first time he finished a three-day event and won the
HSBC Training Bursary.

At last, we don’t forget the huge performance of the Spanish Sebastian Mateu on the cross cross-country course.

High emotions at Pau for the HSBC FEI Classics^TM final and the three-day event. Each riders succeeded in giving deep feelings of
joy. The 2011 season ends in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The high level of sport here puts Pau on the map!

Christopher Burton et Holstein Park Leilani - Crédit photo Marianne Delleci

It was an exciting and highly emotional day yesterday at Pau thanks to the 2-star and the 4-star Three-day event cross country tests, under the amazed crowd of 30 000 visitors. From the early sunny morning, visitors had lots of surprises as well as they saw a high sport level.  

An intense emotion on the 2 star cross test was palpable yesterday morning: on the 43 entered riders ; only 25 of them succeeded to be classified after the 3 300m course to be run in 6 mn. Finally, we have interesting results for the French competitiors: 7of them are among the 10 first and 14 of the 25 carry on competition which needs to be confirmed today, from 10 o’clock on the main arena for the jumping tests.

Intense afternoon as well on the 4 star cross-country tests. Under a bright sun, 68 competitors departed. Christopher Burton (AUS) carries on the first place on the provisional ranking with Holstein Park Leilani: he perfectly finished his course in 10 mn 24 s for 6 025 m. During the Press conference, the emerging rider explains he did not ride Newsprint who was not strong enough as he felt down some weeks ago at Burghley.

As to the other Australian, Clayton Fredericks, he made the wonderful demonstration that his Bendigo was good enough to run, here at Pau, his first 4 stars.

William Fox-Pitt’s three horses (GBR) are in the first of the provisional ranking (2^nd place for Oslo, 6th for LionHeart and 9th for Macchiato). Bilingual in French, the British rider explains how all the three of them were fairly good and answered to all his sollicitations. He hopes to be lucky enough to bring them to the Olympic games at London.

As to the Pau Course, William Fox-Pitt, it is difficult even on the easy fences. According to him, the three water jumps had changed and evolved a lot since few years, even if it seems that riders are used to the print of Pierre Michelet., the cross country designer. A true thing true: we held breath when William Fox-Pitt went trough the first lake when he put Macchiato and Oslo in the right way.

What is to be noted is some abondons surely linked to the evident challenges of this course. Some riders have been encouraged to protect their horses by keeping them in their boxes. Mary King (GBR) and appache Sauce who were 11th after the dressage tests, left the course after two refusals on the 4th and the 5th fences. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) on Henry Tankerville left the competition after the first water jump which presented difficulties for more than a rider. Andrew is 4th at the provisionnal ranking with his third horse, Armada.

The HSBC FEI Classics™ final round is obviously very exciting and tight. More than ever, suspense carries on and we shouldn’t forget
that Mary King is on the 10th place  with Imperial Cavalier. In case of equality, it will be William Fox Pitt the winner of the trophee as he gained points over less events than Mary King.

When Edouard  Legendre finished his cross country cross, her mum couldn’t control her tears of joy. We heard Edouard’s reactions after his « zero fault » performance.

« My horse has been fantastic and he jumped very high but very carefully. I wasn’t afraid, I had no apprehension and I had been attentive enough to allow him two breathers in strategic places. »

His bright smile pleased us. He explodes with joy : “Lanacan and I, it has been a long story since 4 years. We have a strong complicity, I know him perfectly and that is our force. Last year, I chose the longer options. I completely changed my strategy and I did well »

Edouard leaves the 48th place and is on the 12th on the provisonal ranking. A big progression after a not so good dressage test yesterday morning.

Paul Tapner et Kilronan

43 competitors were ready to face the cross country this morning from 9 am, while the morning fog was still present all over
Domaine de Sers in Pau.

There were a lot of difficulties on the course : 16 eliminations because of falls or refusals. The first water fence was the main problem for
several of the competitors in the 2 star course. 9 of the 16 eliminated riders were French. Amongst them, Gilles Pons didn’t make it with Oural Taleyrandie.  Antoine Le Pape and Oscar de Ravalet also had a refusal on the first jump into the water.

For Karin Donckers (BEL) with Fletcha Van’t Verahof, a 6 year old gelding son of World Champion Show jumper Vigo d’Arsouilles,
running in the 2 star competition for the first time, “the sun was blinding and the jumps from the shadow to the light were very difficult to manage.”

We wait for the views of Pascal Dubois, technical manager of the French equestrian federation (a video interview will be online at www.event-pau.fr this afternoon).

The Belgian olympic rider, 18^th position provisionally result with the horse which “as he is not very experienced and does not have enough balance in the Dressage for correct transitions”. A good performance by Paul Tapner keeps him in pole position for the moment, with Kilronan going very carefully but by managing to come back in the optimum time with 41,9 points.

Andrew Nicholson and Viscount George are just behind them in second position with 46,3 pts.

Since Pau is the land of both horses and Rugby we were also watching  New Zealand and daring to say that French “Equestrian Pack” has increased its position with a remarkable performance  in with particular Veronique Real and George Souillez are lying in the 5^th et 6^th position. Seven French amongst the 10 first riders of the competition and in total 25 riders let us hope there is a nice battle for the 2 star title.

Tomorrow morning, because of the low number of competitors still in the running, the jumping will start at 10 am. Strong emotions
will be felt this afternoon with the 4 star cross-country started at 12.45 pm.