German rider Daniel Deusser won the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule, the grade finale of four exceptional days of spectacular sport at the Jumping International de La Baule – Officiel de France, beating Colombian Rene Lopez Lizarazo and many times medallist American Mclain Ward.
Once again the crowded stands at the François André stadium were buzzing up to the last minute and the last passage of the eight riders contesting the ride-off on the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule, an incredibly competitive event with seven of the world’s top ten and nine Olympic Gold medallists in the field of 50 riders. When German Daniel Deusser took to the tracks on Otello de Guldenboom, an 11-year-old BWP stallion, Colombian Rene Lopez Lizarazo, on his mare Londina, had just achieved the best time of 38’’36. The 61-year-old, who has been living in the Lorraine region of France for more than thirty years, was on the point of accomplishing the greatest victory of his career. However, Deusser, who has previously been world number one several times (and is currently No. 16), who won the World Cup final in 2014 and who has long been a pillar of the German team, once again rode a very smooth round to shave more than a second off the best time, to write his name on the role of honour for the Rolex Series, a circuit which brings together the seven leading riding events in the world. In so doing, he succeeded American Kent Farrington. “To be honest, I did not watch Rene’s ride-off,” explained the winner. “I was lucky enough to start the ride-off last. I drew up my plan after having seen Mclain’s round. I knew the right amounts of strides it would take. I’m really very happy with my horse because he did exactly what I wanted him to do. It’s a great day for me. Stephan Conter bought this horse three years ago because he was convinced about his potential. He had already won events but never at this level. It’s his first victory in a 5-star grand prix and all the team is very proud of it”.
The most French of Colombian riders finished in second place and was also very happy. “I have to admit that I prayed a lot for Daniel to knock off a bar,” he chuckled. “Seriously though, very well done to Daniel. I’m genuinely very happy with this mare, who just doesn’t stop making progress. For so many years, I’ve always received a warm welcome in La Baule, even when I wasn’t achieving good results. It’s almost a second home to me. It’s really heart-warming”.
Satisfaction was also the watchword for world number five and team Olympic Champion in 2004 and 2008, Mclain Ward, who finished third on Imperial HBF, the former horse of Tim Gredley. “I could have perhaps gained several tenths of a second but Daniel was too good today,” he explained. “I haven’t been riding Imperial for that long – it was just our third competition together. He’s shown that he is capable of great results, such as at the Nations Cup in Rome with a double clear round. As a result, this podium finish is a great joy, especially here in La Baule at a wonderful competition in front of outstanding crowds”.
The French clan was unable to put any of its ten duos into the ride-off and has therefore not yet found a successor to Nicolas Delmotte, the last Gallic winner, in 2021. World number nine Kevin Staut was the best placed French rider today, in tenth place.
During the morning, the CSI 1* Range Rover Grand Prix (1.35 metres with a ride-off) witnessed a very tough first leg, with only three duos qualifying for the ride-off. It was won by Swan Bourven, on Forever des Saules, ahead of Camille Fuzeau Thomas on Emingway CT, who also achieved a double clear round, and Camille Condé Ferreira on Holly Good Dorchival, who was the quickest but was penalised by one fault (though she made up for it be winning the HFI Challenge, for the best CSI 1* rider). “My horse is used to slightly higher fences, as demonstrated by our second place at the Pro1 Championship, but it’s the first time he has ridden on grass tracks,” said the 33-year-old rider who lives in Le Mans. “Even if it is ‘only’ a 1-star event, it’s still La Baule! What a great competition!” To begin the day, Marin de Surirey won the Emma Pâtisserie prize (1.20 metres with a ride-off), on Ankara de l’Aire.
A word from Pierre de Brissac, chairman of the Jumping international de La Baule
“The upshot of this edition is convincingly positive. The entire team has demonstrated its ability to make this competition last and grow. Everybody has pulled out all the stops and the best reward for us is the almost 50,000 people in the stands over the four days of events. It was a great sporting spectacle with the Barrière Nations Cup won by a magical Irish team and a fabulous Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule. For the La Baule Derby, Demeures de Campagne joined forces with us this year and there was a nice surprise with victory for Steve Guerdat. We are happy to put the spotlight on the riders, horses, grooms and our partners and I would like to thank them all. We have always tried to work to combine modernity and tradition but also bring about change while mixing it with continuity. We have invested plenty in our stables for the horses’ well-being and comfort, while the tracks have got better and better. In communications terms, we have never had as many members of the press as this year’s 122 accredited journalists, which goes to show just what passion and excitement there is for the Jumping international de La Baule”.
