Just as the tennis is playing its Internationals in Roland Garros, it's in Compiègne, France, that the world's elite will illustrate during the Internationaux de Dressage. And what an event in the Picardie region for this 5th edition which welcomes this year the first CDI4* of France! 200 competitors, 260 horses, representing 22 nations, compete in 7 levels of competition until Sunday.
33 Combinations, that entered in the Prix St Georges (CDI2*), inaugurated yesterday afternoon the arena A, of the Grand Parc equestrian stadium. An opening test that saw the Belgium rider Jeroen Devroe win victory with a mark of 72.588% associated with Aaron, a KWPN of 10 years old. He came in front the French rider Stéphanie Brieussel / Swing de Hus (71.667%) who came second. Christoph Koschel (GER) /Sissy 417 ended the podium (70.877%).
A tour of the horizon with Raphaël SALEH, President of the ground jury: “Compiègne is an important selection leg for some of the nations”
“We are very pleased because it's the first time that the city of Compiègne welcomes a CDI4* event. We will be able to witness performances of the best level with 3 Grand Prix: CDI 4*, CDI3* and CDIU25 (under 25 years old). For this first Grand Prix CDIU25, we welcome 13 riders.”
The rising stars side of the discipline: “Compiègne has always been one of those competitions that puts forward young talent. At the beginning, we started with a CDI Ponies, CDI Juniors and a CDI Young Riders and they are still here today.”
His role as president of the ground jury: “My role is quite diverse. Upstream, considering I'm often led to be judge abroad, I meet judges, riders, trainers and team coaches to try and entice them to come to Compiègne. During the event, I select about twenty judges who will participate on the site of which 8 judges of 5* level, representative for the riders, as the judges will also participate to most of the different European Championships this year too. Then, I have to distribute the judges in the different tests to judge the whole of the riders”.
Compiègne, a leg closer to the Euro 2015: “Compiègne is an important selection leg for some nations. We have many couple from Switzerland but also Belgium and Dutch riders who are here to qualify for the Young Riders, Juniors and Ponies European Championships.”