Press Release - LE PRINTEMPS DES SPORTS ÉQUESTRES – CDIO 5*-NC
Under the sun and blue skies in Fontainebleau, the Printemps des Sports Équestres rounded off its week of dressage and para-dressage competitions. And what a finale! In the Grand Prix Freestyle of the CDIO5* competition, sponsored by the Île-de-France Region, Belgium's Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus won the test with a total score of 91.855%. After breaking their personal best in the Grand Prix yesterday, they also improved on their freestyle record today and dominated their main rivals in the event. Second place went to Britain's Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale, who also delighted the crowd with their "Glamourdale Airlines" freestyle routine. They scored 88.225%. Germany's Frederic Wandres and his Olympic horse Bluetooth OLD took the third place on the podium, with 81.085%. The best French rider, Pauline Basquin, finished in seventh place with a score of 77.015%.
Winner Zonik Plus & Justin Verboomen - ©PSV-J.Morel
What they said:
Justin Verboomen (BEL), with Zonik Plus, winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle Région Île-de-France:
"Fontainebleau is an absolutely exceptional setting. I was really looking forward to riding with Zonik in an outdoor event because I felt that he would want to put on a show in this environment. For our return to outdoor action this week, we performed the two best routines of our career. I'm just so happy! Before the test, I always try to stay really focused on what I need to do, but at the end of the test when you leave the arena and during the prize ceremony, it's great to see all the people supporting you."
Charlotte Fry (GBR), with Glamourdale, second in the Grand Prix Freestyle Région Île-de-France:
"I'm really happy! Glamourdale was incredible both today and yesterday. I had a fantastic time over these two days. We ride in the most incredible arena here, and it reminded me a lot of Paris. It was amazing. We've been coming to Fontainebleau every year since it started, because the atmosphere here is excellent and the horses are happy. We really enjoy coming back every year!"
Frederic Wandres (GER), with Bluetooth OLD, third in the Grand Prix Freestyle Région Île-de-France:
"I'm very honoured to be here. I was really happy yesterday after the Grand Prix and I'm also very pleased with our freestyle test. Today, I wasn't quite in tune with the music, so that's something I'll have to improve for the next competitions, but it's a good start to the outdoor season. Monica (Theodorescu) and I had been planning to come here to Fontainebleau for a long time and I think it was a really good idea. I think we threw our hat into the ring for the team this summer."
Raphaël Saleh (FRA), President of the Ground Jury for the CDIO5*-NC at the Printemps des Sports Équestres:
"It's been a fantastic competition. Really top, top level sport! Thank you to all the riders, who showed us what great riding really is. You can see that they are capable of putting in great performances while respecting their horses, in total harmony. I'd like to take my hat off to them, because they rode really well. The setting here is just fantastic. What more can you say, the riders are delighted. Thank you to Sylvie Robert and to the Federation for helping us to organise competitions like this in France. It is extremely important for the sport. It's a great showcase."
Jean Morel (FRA), Manager of the French Dressage Team:
"I would like to thank GL events and the French Equestrian Federation for bringing together all the competition sponsors and all the age categories. The para-dressage riders also gained more experience this weekend. Managing to bring together the whole French dressage family in a setting like this is quite exceptional. It's not something you see everywhere. As far as the French team is concerned, we saw some great performances in the CDI3* competition, and no doubt some of the horses will soon be in the French team. That was also one of our goals at this competition. Our riders are getting back to their best. Bertrand Liegard's mare was forced to take a short break after her last competition, so she's only been back for a fortnight. Pauline Basquin is becoming increasingly confident. If she hadn't missed her pirouettes and made a small mistake at the end, I think she would have been on the podium. Alexandre Ayache is improving a lot. I was talking about that with the President of the Ground Jury. We are just going to keep moving forward calmly. Alizée Roussel had a few little problems with her horse's temperament, but things have already improved between yesterday and today. This morning, the horse was better, so I think we'll continue training the horses we have. Our objective is August. We can't compete in every event, so we're just going to try and take part in the ones that are most important to us."