Viaud and Volla Claim Titles at the 2024 French Dressage Championships

Shows

2024 French Dressage Championships

While the international elite gathered at the CDIO Aachen on 3 - 7 July, in France the National dressage championships were held for FEI pony riders and senior Grand prix riders the same weekend.

Seniors: Pierre Volla

At the senior Grand Prix championship in Vierzon on 6 - 7 July 2024, the field of competitors was thinned out with the best riders competing at the CDIO Aachen and other squad listed riders deciding to rest their horses.

Pierre Volla picked up the third title in his career after winning in 2016 and 2017 on Badinda Altena. This year he saddled his new hope L'Espoir de Massa, a 9-year old Portuguese sport horse by Rubin Royal x Landim SSC. The gelding is still owned by the breeder and is yet to make his international show debut. Volla has been riding him for three years. In Vierzon the pair won the Grand Priw with 70.369% as the only pair to crack the 70% marker. In the Special they topped the board with 68.298%.

"It was important to me to win here for my ex father-in-law, Claude Pelardy, who is fighting against illness," Volla commented after his victory. "He is one of the sponsors, he should be under the trees watching… For the rest with this horse, we will talk about it with the whole team at the Massa breeding, who are part of this victory. There are horses to market, we have to find the right strategy to return to a high level. Getting back into the French team is a goal that I always have inside me. My regret is not being there this year, that will be for another time."

The silver went to Stephanie Brieussel aboard the 10-year old Hanoverian Fellini du Soleil (by Foundation x Rubin Royal). They were second in the Grand Prix with 69.804% and third in the Special with 67.298% but landed a second place overall.

Bronze was for national dressage rider Mathieu Berville on the 9-year old Selle Francais bred Fragolino du Parc (by Don Juan de Hus x Sandro Hit). Berville only once competed internationally, with Fragolino at the 2022 World Young Horse Championships. He ranked 11th in the 7-year old consolation final. In Vierzon, Berville was fourth in the Grand Prix with 68.543% and fourth in the Special with 66.915% but finished third overall.

Results - 2024 French Grand Prix Championships - Vierzon

1. Pierre Volla - L'espoir De Massa - 70.369 68.298 --- 138.667
2. Stephanie Brieussel - Fellini Du Soleil - 69.804 67.298 --- 137.102
3. Mathieu Berville - Fragolino Du Parc - 68.543 66.915 --- 135.458
4. Gilles Siauve - Feneton - 68.826 66.553 --- 135.379
5. Bertrand Liegard - Ginger - 67.370 67.787 --- 135.157
6. Barbara Clement Klinger - Bolero Du Coussoul - 68.217 65.808 --- 134.025
7. Marc Boblet - Jagger - 65.913 65.660 --- 131.573
8. Bertille Pelardy. - Darius De Massa - 64.369 64.191 --- 128.560
9. Marine Soulet - Ginsengue 64.935 63.425 --- 128.360
10. Pauline Guillem - Lucky Gold 3 65.435 61.511 --- 126.946
11. Justine Ludot - San Cloud's Lucky 64.130 63.915 --- 64.130
12. Marie Charlotte Blaire - Sweet Dream Lh 63.261 --- 63.261
13. Evelyne Fleck - Domino De Merlieux 61.978 67.021 --- 61.978
14. Stephane Mazzacco - Wizard W 61.891 62.915 --- 61.891
15. Renaud Ramadier - Bonheur De Massa 60.891 62.787 --- 60.891
16. Livia Gallego - Calypso De Massa 50.065 --- 50.065
Jean Charles Perrier - Archibald Haddock - DNS

The Pony riders gathered at the traditional venue in Lamotte-Beuvron, while the senior Grand Prix riders battled it out in Vierzon

Pony Riders: Thimoté Viaud

Nine pairs competed in two rounds for the gold medal and title in the French Pony Championships in Lamotte-Beuvron. The big fight was between the riders who have been selected on the French team for the 2024 European Pony Championships in Opglabbeek in two weeks time.

Thimoté Viaud and the experienced liver chestnut Dazzling Kid d'Herbord (by Oscar la Chevaleriex Flatteur) claimed the title after scoring 69.33% in the first round in the individual test and 72.84% in the second round. After bronze in 2023 Viaud got gold this time.

The silver medal went to Eva Clement aboard the 8-year old Dutch bred Bredendhof's Midnight (by Leuns Veld's Lord x Rhodin Hedde). They were the only pair to score over 70% in round one (70.14%) and posting 70.50% on the next day to finish second overall. Brieussel co-owns the horse with Gildas Nicoleau.

The bronze was for Charlotte Pons aboard the Dutch bred Vinkenhove Xander (by Orchard Boginov x Pionier's Baltazar). They collected 68.9% and 69.32% to rank third overall.

Results - 2024 French Pony Championships - Lamotte-Beuvron

1. Timothe Viaud - Dazzling Kid D'herbord - 69,33% - 72,84% ---- 71,09%
2. Eva Clement - Bredenhof's Midnight - 70,14% - 70,50% --- 70,32%
3. Charlotte Pons - Vinkenhove Xander - 68,90% - 69,73% --- 69,32%
4. Eva Sanchez - Miami - 69,48% - 68,20% --- 68,84%
5. Noemie Haxaire - Dante B - 67,90% - 67,21% --- 67,56%
6. Celestine Delrieu - Dunia - 64,67% - 66,26% --- 65,46%
7. Lyo Walczak - Oscar Acf - 65,76% - 63,15% --- 64,46%
8. Louane Letoquart - Borgerhof's Kelvin - 63,33% - 62,56% --- 62,95%
9. Alice Guillebert - Elizabet K D'ourville - 61,76% - 63,65% --- 62,71%