Wednesday 10 August 2011

Countdown to Haras Du Pin - I am so excited!

ENGLISH


HOT NEWS 2011
266 horses, 14 countries, and some champions..!
The Haras du Pin national stud-farm, in Normandy, France, welcomes from 17 to 21 August the ultimate FEI Eventing World Cup leg. The show establishes a new record with 266 horses participating, and some of the best riders in the world. The two co-leaders of the provisional FEI Eventing World Cup rankings, Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Chris Burton (AUS) will start with respectively 1 and 2 horses. The winner of the « Grand Complet » 2010, Emily Balwin (GBR), is back with her brave Drivetime, maybe for a second victory in a row. The living legend Mark Todd (NZL) comes back to Le Pin and will try to qualify another of his horses for the OG 2012, after an incredible victory at Badminton Horse Trials. The Australian duo Clayton and his wife Lucinda Fredericks stick to the « Grand Complet » for another year. They will cope with 16 French riders in the World Cup class.
In summary:
  • 3 international eventing classes: a CIC 1 star, a CIC 2 stars, and a CIC 3 stars, last leg of the 2011 FEI Eventing World Cup.
  • 47 horses in the CIC3*-W, 98 in the CIC2*, and 121 in the CIC1*, for a total of 266 horses.
  • 14 nations participating: Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, France, Great-Britain, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, USA.

Le Grand Complet~ Since 1995 ~

   Le Grand Complet started in 1995 on the lands of the Le Goupil family farm in Martinvast (Manche, Normandy). Being the founders of the event, they gathered a massive group of volunteers from the riding centre settled on the farm and the adventure was on! Pierre Le Goupil, a former professionnal rider who competed Burghley and Badminton, managed to lead a strongly motivated and inspired team to turn a regional event into an international one up to 3 * level. In 2002, it became the 1st FEI World Cup qualifier to support the concept.
   In 2010, due to the farm and riding centre developing policy, the event was relocated on the lands of the outstanding and impressive Haras du Pin (Orne, Normandy). The place once hosted the Eventing European Championship a few decades ago. The facilities offered on site were praised and the 1st edition considered as a success.
  Le Grand Complet is renowned for its conviviality, with live bands music in the evenings and a warm atmosphere. It is the only event in France to welcome so many foreigners. Right from the beginning, nationalities such as Belgian and British, have largely contributed to the growing success and they quickly spread words on the quality of the event. They still match the high reputation of the competition, entering large squads every year.. Some faithful riders have never missed an edition.  
   Le Haras du Pin will host the 2014 WEG XCountry test and the organising team USTICA is ready this year to improve the access for crowds of visitors and welcome riders and horses at its best as it has always been its priority.

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