Karen Tebar Wins 2015 French Grand Prix Championships

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2015 French Dressage Championships

The German based Karen Tebar won the 2015 French Grand Prix dressage championships in Vierzon, France, on 11 - 12 July 2015. The French Nationals served as final French team selection trial for the European Championships and gathered France's elite Grand Prix riders for the competition. The silver medal went to Arnaud Serre, the bronze to Marc Boblet.

The 2015 French Grand Prix Championships were contested over two tests, the Grand Prix on Saturday 11 July and the Special on Sunday 12 July. The combined scores decided the final ranking.

Trained by Jan Nivelle, Karen Tebar and her newly acquired Grand Prix horse Don Luis, a 10-year old Hanoverian gelding by Dimaggio x Rubinstein I, were unbeatable and produced top scores on the board that no rider in Vierzon could match. The exciting pair scored 76.00% in the Grand Prix and 76.882% in the Special. Tebar acquired Don Luis in the Hamburg area in August 2014. The horse was previously owned and competed at Grand Prix level in Germany by Spanish Candida Romero Tirado.

Tebar won her second French Grand Prix title in her career in Vierzon. "I didn't expect to win because there were so many other good riders with super horses here. I knew my horse was in good form and I did my best. This is superb," said Tebar. "I got new record scores here. With Falada I never had scores like that. it's unbelievable. At each show Don Luis is getting better. This was his fifth show. He's a super horse."

The silver medal went to Arnaud Serre on his 10-year old Lusitano bred Robinson de la Font (by Maestro x Opus). The French 2014 WEG Team members were consistent in Vierzon and scored 71.100 in the Grand Prix to place third and 73.255% in the Special to finish second. His overall total was 144.355.

2013 and 2014 French team members Marc Boblet and the 13-year old Oldenburg mare Noble Dream (by Caprimond x Donnerhall) finished in bronze medal position with a 72.620% in the Grand Prix (2nd) and a 71.216% in the Special (4th).

The French team for the 2015 European Championships was announced right after the Grand Prix Special and sparked much controversy. The team includes Tebar, Serre and fourth placed Pierra Volla, alongside Ludovic Henry who did not show in Vierzon.

Results - 2015 French Dressage Championships

1. Karen Tebar - Don Luis - 76.000 - 76.882%% --- 152.882
2. Arnaud Serre - Robinson de La Font - 71.100 - 73.255 ---144.355
3. Marc Boblet - Noble Dream - 72.6201 - 71.216 ---143.836
4. Pierre Volla - Badinda Altena - 70.580 - 72.216 ---142.796
5. Stephanie Brieussel - Amoral - 69.620 - 70.216 ---139.836
6. Claire Gosselin - Karamel de Lauture - 69.580 - 68.882 ---138.462
7. Pauline Vanlandeghem - Liaison - 66.760 - 67.706 ---134.466
8. Marie Emilie Bretenoux - Quartz of Jazz - 66.020 - 66.725 ---132.745
9. Jean Paul Largy - Welfenkonig - 65.220 - 67.078 ---132.298
10. Sarah Casanova - Ulan - 65.640 - 64.176 --- 129.816
11. Catherine Henriquet - Scherzo ZC - 63.000- 65.196 --- 128.196
12. Alexandra Dilliere - Vockacara - 62.020 - 63.333 --- 125.353
13. Didier Ferrer - Oceane de Bellefon - 60.080 - 58.608 --- 118.688