Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z.

© Marco Villanti pour HUBSIDE JUMPING

A victory for Daniel Deusser at the final Hubside Jumping show

Even good things must come to an end. After eleven weeks of competition in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the second season of international show jumping at the HUBSIDE JUMPING has drawn to a close. A season which was exceptional in every way and ended with the victory of Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z.

The atmosphere of the HUBSIDE JUMPING de Grimaud’s final Grand Prix today was full of emotion. The emotion of a truly exceptional season, which since June, has brought together the greatest European riders and those from outside Europe who have settled here. The emotion of riders who are now faced with an unknown situation, while the winter season seems doomed, with several leading events that have already been cancelled. The emotion of the farewell to high-level sport of France’s Thierry Rozier, one of the circuit’s most endearing riders.

As usual, Cédric Longis, the French course designer, built a demanding first round for the final Hubside.Store Grand Prix, but which completely respected the horses: over a third of the competitors had either a time fault or a pole down. Only eight combinations found the key to the track of the Parisian region’s course designer, including two former HUBSIDE JUMPING Grand Prix winners.

Argentina’s José Maria Larocca Jr, who was first to go in the jump-off with his wonderful Finn Lente, had the first double clear in an amazing time. The Netherlands’ Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof’s Dante also jumped clear, but were slower than the Argentinean. Belgium’s Gudrun Patteet, the only lady rider in the jump-off, was also slower and had a pole down with Sea Coast Pebbles Z. Over the past few weeks, we have become accustomed to riders with two wins in the HUBSIDE JUMPING’s Grands Prix: could France’s Nicolas Delmotte, who was fifth to go and already victorious in Grimaud in September, win for the second time in the Gulf of Saint Tropez’s ring? The rider from France's Nord department had every reason to believe so jumping clear with Urvoso du Roch in a slightly faster time than Larocca. However, Delmotte’s hopes were rapidly dashed as the following rider, the Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders and Dolinn, jumped clear and in a faster time. His fellow countryman, Maikel van der Vleuten and the exceptional Dana Blue, winners of two Grands Prix at the start of the season, knocked one pole down. Germany’s Daniel Desseur, a regular at the French Riviera show, but who hadn’t often taken centre stage until now, jumped clear with Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z, and pipped Smolders at the post. He went into the provisional lead and only the Olympic team gold medallist, France’s Kevin Staut could now stand in his way. Staut jumped clear but was thirty-six hundredths of a second slower and finished second. So Germany’s Daniel Desseur, the World number 3, was victorious at the HUBSIDE JUMPING for the first time this season.

Daniel Deusser (GER): “I’m really delighted with this victory in the HUBSIDE JUMPING’s CSI 4* Grand Prix and in particular with my horse, Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z. He had to take some time out at the beginning of the year and started competing again mid-season in small classes and then took part in the HUBSIDE JUMPING’s CSI 5* show a few weeks ago. Indeed he is recovering well and is getting better and better, to the extent that he was able to win the HUBSIDE JUMPING’s CSI 4* Grand Prix today! I’m really proud of him! The year has been very different and extremely difficult for all the riders, but thanks to the HUBSIDE JUMPING, we were able to enjoy a wonderful summer season. I don’t that it’s being presumptuous to extend my warmest thanks on behalf of all the riders to Sadri Fegaier and to the whole HUBSIDE JUMPING’s organising team. Thank you for keeping our sport alive and we all hope that we will be back here again next year.”This final Hubside.Store Grand Prix of the season was also the occasion to bid farewell to a French combination to whom the public is especially attached: Thierry Rozier, who is retiring from high-level competition, and his Venezia d’Ecaussinnes, who is now going to be a broodmare. For their last Grand Prix together, the combination had no poles down, but finished with a time fault. The rider from the Parisian region, who was very emotional during the ceremony organised before the prize giving, only managed to say one phrase between two sobs: “I just want to thank Venezia. It has been a wonderful adventure and now it’s over.”

Full results here.

This exceptional season of the HUBSIDE JUMPING 2020, which is now coming to a close, has also been a wonderful adventure. We look forward to seeing you in the spring!

Source: Hubside Jumping press release

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