No fewer than fourteen combinations qualified for the jump-off of the 1.60m World Cup in Lyon. The French audience witnessed thrilling showjumping sport. Kendra Claricia Brinkop was the first to start. Together with the BWP stallion bred by Stal 't Paradijs, Replay van 't Paradijs (Bamako de Muze), she set the target with one rail down in 42.30 seconds.

Thibeau Spits followed at the start with the 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion, Impress-K van 't Kattenheye (Indoktro-K van 't Kattenheye, breeder: A. Strobbe & T. Raman). The pair put pressure on the competition with a clear round in 41.50 seconds.

A strong field followed, ultimately dropping Spits to sixth place. Riding Le Coultre de Muze (Presley Boy, breeder: Joris de Brabander), Julien Epaillard jumped to victory in front of his home crowd. Epaillard and the 15-year-old stallion finished clear in 38.17 seconds.

We always try to win

"I didn't follow the exact plan I had envisioned for this jump-off. I rode one stride more in the final line, but it turned out to be enough," Epaillard said afterwards. "I also won here in 2022, and it's great to win in front of a home crowd. When we start, it's to win. What I've certainly learned is that you always have to rely on a bit of luck as well."

Richard Vogel came quite close to the time set by the French winning duo. Together with Cloudio (Casall, breeder: H. Arendt), Vogel took second place ahead of Edouard Schmitz and the 14-year-old sBs gelding, Gamin van 't Naastveldhof (Chacco Chacco, breeder: P. de Heer).

Last to start were Ben Maher and the 12-year-old Point Break (Action-Breaker). The pair entered the arena with a slight delay and finished in fourth place. In the saddle of Party In De Hus (Kannan), Willem Greve jumped to fifth place!

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