THEY SAID …
Sunday9 may 2004 - 23:00
Jean-Maurice Bonneau (French showjumping Chef d’Equipe)
"A few small negative points for Tlaloc M. I do not feel
he is ready – following his major fall in Vigo, as I did
not find this couple ahead this weekend. He has not come back
to his best form. A 12-fault round is not acceptable from an Olympic
perspective. Dollar du Murier must recover his range, in confidence.
A nice surprise, on the other hand, from Ephèbe For Ever
and Christian Hermon; I hesitated for a long time to select them
for La Baule, I made the right decision. They responded well.
One should not waste time refining a selection after each competition.
Those who will go to Athens will simply be the combinations in
form at that time.”
Kévin Babington (IRL), winner of the Grand Prix
of the Town of La Baule
"I watched the round of Michel (Robert) from the starting
list. I decided to base my round on his, but with broader turns
and taking out a stride in the last line. It is the first time
that I’ve tried to push on with Carling King because even
as a 13-year-old "grandpa", he takes hold of the bit
and is very hard to hold. He seemed good in the paddock so I tempted
fate without being sure of anything, because I went ahead of Beerbaum
and Robert. And it paid off! It’s the first time that I’ve
come to La Baule. I was impressed by the public, the facilities
and the organization of the competition. Everything is great.”
Kévin is currently based in the United States and is aiming
at selection for the Olympic Games in Athens. The couple will
remain in Europe until this event.
Michel Robert (FRA), 2nd in the Grand Prix of the Town
of La Baule
“My tactic was to be without fault and to go very fast without
getting into the red zone. With Galet d’Auzay it is difficult
to go very fast with complete safety. I am very happy with the
technical maturity of the horse.”
Michel Robert became the new leader in the Figaro Magazine Trophy
at the end of the first round of the Samsung Super League in La
Baule.
Wim Schroder (NED), 3rd in the Grand Prix of the Town
of La Baule
"I am delighted with my third place and the competition in
general. Why is my horse called Berlin? My sponsor (Eurocommerce)
who works in the real estate and the renting of office space looked
for a way to christen its stable. He decided to give all the horses
the names of world capitals.”
Olaf Petersen (International Course Designer)
"In my courses, I pose questions for the horses and for the
riders to answer, and they must understand my writing. A Grand
Prix is a scenario which must resemble a good detective novel.
It is necessary to read it and follow it to the last line of the
last obstacle. The course which I will make in Athens will be
less difficult because the rider entries will be more heteroclite.
Here, they are all at the top.”