FEI LONGINES JUMPING WORLD CUPTM AT THE LONGINES EQUITA LYON, CONCOURS HIPPIQUE INTERNATIONAL

Extraordinary!!! Julien Epaillard is defying the laws of sport and rewriting the statistics book. After winning the Longines Grand Prix on Friday evening and the Equita Masters presented by Hermès Sellier on Saturday, the French rider won the Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM in Lyon this Sunday, riding his fabulous Caracole de la Roque. He succeeds the Swiss rider Martin Fuchs, world number two and winner of the last three world cup stages in Lyon.
Julien Epaillard has undoubtedly been the top rider in Lyon, winning all the classes in which he took part this weekend. Hailing from Normandy, and currently third in the Longines FEI world rankings, he confirmed his credentials and consolidated his current dominance on the circuit, with this sixty-eighth victory Department of the season.
While six couples had gone through to the jump-off, only four managed to complete a double clear round. French rider Penelope Leprevost set the tone with her dashing Bingo del Tondou and set the initial reference time of 38“89 (fourth). The Dutch rider Jur Vrieling and Long John Silver followed and didn’t let them keep the lead for long, clocking 37“97 on the finish line. Then, the fourth rider of the jump-off, Julien Epaillard, entered the arena, driven by the public and boosted by his recent successes. The audience held their breath until the finish, before being able to applaud the rider’s ultimate performance, having just lowered the reference time (34”88) by almost three seconds. Neither the Danish rider Andreas Schou on Darc de Lux, nor the Brazilian Marlon Modolo Zanotelli on VDL Edgar M could do better, although the latter took second place with a very fast time of 35’’61.
As regards the French riders, Simon Delestre and Cayman Jolly Jumper finished seventh, having picked up an unfortunate time penalty in the first round, while Kevin Staut and Scuderia 1918 Viking d’La Rousserie finished tenth, having picked up four points.
HSJ
Press release LONGINES EQUITA LYON
Photo opyright PSV / J. Morel