VICTORY FOR NOHLAN VALLAT

Today was the flagship event for the pony riders at the Longines Equita Lyon International Equestrian Competition: the CWD Grand Prix of the FEI Jumping Ponies' Trophy, with obstacles at 1.35m. After the stage in Herning, Lyon was the second event on the circuit in which riders could try and qualify for the final in Mechelen at the end of December.

Jean-François Gourdin designed a course with eleven obstacles, including a triple and a double, for the star ponies and riders competing in the event.

Twenty-five couples started the class and nine managed to qualify for the jump-off.

Germany, Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway all had the credentials to win the class... And the suspense lasted until the end, when the last rider out, the Frenchman Nohlan Vallat, managed to seal victory in 32''15 with Daenerys d'Hurl'vent, just edging out the Dutch rider Siebe Leemans and Noriego vd Riloo (32''51). Belgium's Laure Tijskens and Navayo took the final place on the podium with a double clear round in 33'98. 

"I'm delighted with this win, which comes on top of yesterday's, especially as it was my horse's first indoor win. I've been riding Daenerys for almost three years now. She jumped really well and behaved very well. I couldn't have wished for anything better. My main objective was to get a clear round in the jump-off, and go as fast as possible," said the winner of the day. The French national pony coach, Olivier Bost, was also delighted and hailed the victory of this young rider from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: "They are the reigning European Team Champions, so we knew they had a chance in this Grand Prix. We are really happy for Nohlan and the rest of his family." 

1. Nohlan Vallat (FRA) and Daenerys d’Hurl’vent 0 + 0 in 32’’15


2. Siebe Leemans (NED) and Noriego vd Riloo 0 + 0 in 32’’51


3. Laure Tijskens (BEL) and Navayo 0 + 0 in 33’’98