After Steve Guerdat’s standout performance in the 1.50m Derby earlier in the day, it was Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam who claimed top honors in this evening’s 1.50m highlight event at La Baule. The Irish rider blazed to victory in the French coastal town aboard Gilona AO (by Zavall VDL), edging out the competition by mere fractions of a second.
Sweetnam and the 14-year-old KWPN mare Gilona AO delivered a lightning-fast jump-off round, stopping the clock at 36.28 seconds. Their time narrowly beat that of Abdel Said, who had posted a strong 36.56 seconds with his 9-year-old Calvaro (by Cascadello), ultimately securing second place.
Switzerland’s Nadja Peter Steiner took third aboard the BWP mare Nice van 't Zorgvliet (by Emerald), completing the podium lineup.
Just missing out on a top-three finish was Scott Brash, who placed fourth with Hello Chadora Lady (by Chacco-Blue). The British rider, fresh off a CSIO5* Grand Prix win in Sankt Gallen, had to settle for a spot just outside the medals. Germany’s Rene Dittmer followed in fifth aboard Echo vh Gerendal Z (by Echo van 't Spieveld).
