From start to finish, over three days of competition in Basel, Switzerland, Jullien Epaillard took the lead in the Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup and never let it go.
Over four rounds of jumping, he and his homebred Donatello D’Auge dropped only a single rail in the electric atmosphere of the St. Jakobshalle arena, giving France its first victory in the indoor championship since 2004. It was doubly sweet for the French because their Kevin Staut on Visconti du Telman also earned a place on the podium, finishing third behind Great Britain’s Ben Maher, the runner-up with Point Break. Ben did a great job competing despite a broken foot after a non-horse related accident last month.
Ben Maher, Julien Epaillard and Kevin Staut.
“My horse was amazing this week,” said Julien, who competed Donny in a hackamore, but brought him back in a bridle for the prize-giving.
“He jumped everything super today. I feel him already the first round a little bit tired. He always wants to help me. He was maybe more fresh for the second round. The round was very difficult. I was maybe a little bit lucky,” Julien said, his accent adding to the charm of his broad smile.
Julien Epaillard and Donatello D’Auge on the way to victory. (Photo French Equestrian Federation)
The winner admitted losing his concentration as he headed for the last line of three fences. He thought, “I’m close, I’m close,” which distracted him.
“I come too deep to the double,” and down went a pole at the first element of the shamrock combination.
“I think if I helped him a little bit more, I can (could have) jump a clear but it’s okay. In any case, it’s okay like this. It’s a dream for the staff and the family. We work every day for this. A lot of people are around this performance and thanks to everybody.”
Sunday’s course B.
Julien took a chance by declining to compete in the jump-off on in the second segment on Friday. He hoped the math of the complicated World Cup standings formula would keep him in first place without having to tire his horse in another round, and he was right.
Gerard Lechat, the course designer, said he started working on his plans for the routes six weeks ago.
Then “I change every day,” he said, admitting to some nervousness in laying out his first championship. But he despite his worries, he did a fabulous job.
The jumps were interesting and eye-catching, including a triple combination featuring cherry blossoms and a “cheese” wall (naturally, it was Switzerland).
A jubiliant Julien wins the Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals.
The best American, in eighth place overall, was Katie Dinan, appropriately riding a horse bred in the U.S, Out of the Blue SCF.
“You don’t see that so often. It makes it a really special way to be representing the country, and showing U.S. breeding,” observed Katie, the star of the final day, as the only rider to go fault-free over both rounds. That made her the winner of phase three and moved her up from fifteenth place after Friday’s second segment of the competition.
Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF. (Shannon Brinkman photo/courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
Her Belgian warmblood by Verdi TN was bred by Lisa Lourie of Spy Coast Farm in Kentucky and developed until she was nine by Irish rider Shane Sweetnam, who works with Spy Coast. Katie bought the beautiful grey at the end of her 9-year-old year.
“I can’t believe it, I’m so happy,” said the rider, who is trained by 2007 Cup winner, Beat Mändli of Switzerland.
“Bridie is just amazing,” Katie said, using the mare’s nickname.
“I’m totally obsessed with her. I hope she knows that. She has a lot of personality. She’s actually a warm and fuzzy sweet horse. She definitely sets her own schedule and does whatever she wants.”
Katie noted the mare, “loves going out in the field. I take her on a lot of trail rides. That’s probably her favorite thing. She’s super brave and has so much range.”
Bridie can jump in a grass field or a small indoor arena like Basel, Katie noted.
“She’s so smart. She just gets it and adapts.You realize the more you do this, sport horses and partnerships like this don’t come around every day.”
The USA’s Lillie Keenan, tied for third going into the last day, wound up eleventh overall. She was fault-free aboard Kick On in Sunday’s first round, but dropped three rails in the second round.
The other U.S. riders on the last day also had problems. Kristen Vanderveen was clear in the first round with Bull Run’s Jireh, but toppled three fences in the second to end the show in nineteenth place. Caitlin Campbell and Castlefield Cornelious were clean in the first round but she fell off at the third fence to wind up twentieth overall.
Alessandra Volpi was the other U.S. rider to qualify for the top 25, but she withdrew Gipsy Love after she was a bit sore Sunday morning following a heel grab earlier in the week. She was third on the second day of competition.
“I’m so proud of her amazing effort in Basel,” said Alessandra.
U.S. Coach Robert Ridland observed, “We had some really great results this week in Basel, and a few of our younger combinations really stepped up and showed off some class riding.
“I was really impressed today in the first round when all four of our combinations laid down clear rounds. For Katie to finish the way she did with Out of the Blue SCF was very impressive, considering none of the other combinations in the whole class delivered two consecutive clear rounds today.”
Click on this link for overall results from the Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final
Click here for results from Sunday’s final round
click here for results from Sunday’s first round
click this link for standings after Sunday’s first round
click here for standings after Friday’s round
