PRESS RELEASE
FONTAINEBLEAU - PRINTEMPS DES SPORTS ÉQUESTRE
The time has finally arrived! Today, the first horses took to the arena of the Grand Parquet de Fontainebleau to start the fifth Printemps des Sports Équestres in fine style.
Britain's Charlotte Fry and her horse Ilegro won the CDI1* Prix St Georges sponsored by Les Jardins de Gally.Currently ranked fourth in the world, the British rider, who is also entered in the CDIO5*-NC with Glamourdale, made an ideal start to this week's competition. "This is only the second time Ilegro has taken part in an international competition, so everything is quite new for him. It's important for me to get him used to big, beautiful arenas like the one here at the Printemps des Sports Équestres. And he was absolutely fantastic today. He was a little intimidated by the environment at the start of our routine, but he gradually regained his usual confidence. I really think he will be my big star in the future!" said the rider, who is a regular at the event here in Fontainebleau, which she really enjoys. "I'm really excited to be here, and I can't wait to get out into the arena with Glamourdale for the FEI Nations Cup on Saturday!"
Winner Ilegro & Lottie Fry - ©PSV-J.Morel
The day's other two classes were reserved for five- and six-year-old horses. In the Prix du Grand Parquet, the French rider Justine Ludot and her impressive Le Noir 51 performed a really great routine, with a score of 83%. Although only five years old, the stallion showed great concentration and agility for his first outing in a top-level competition.
In the six-year-old category, the young gelding Paulo and the Dutch rider Marieke Cobben won the Prix De Sutter Naturally.