Alexandre Ayache Wins 2025 French Grand Prix Championship

Mon, 06/02/2025 - 18:07
2025 French Grand Prix Championship
Bertrand Liegard, Alexandre Ayache, Alizee Roussel at the 2025 French Championships :: Photo © PSV

Alexandre Ayache became the winner of the 2025 French Championships for senior dressage riders held in Vierzon, France.  Scheduled one month earlier than usual, these Nationals took place on 29 May - 1 June 2025. 

The equestrian property of the Cambourieu family in Vierzon is the traditional venue for this event.

The Format

The senior Grand Prix riders had to battle it out in three rounds. Twenty-five combinations were entered for the Grand Prix, twenty-three for the Special, and nine in the kur.

Of those 25 initial starters, 19 of them had officially declared to take part in the Championship and in the end 16 were ranked. Both  Arnaud Serre (Dollar Dream) and Pauline Guillem (Lucky Gold) rode the Grand Prix and then pulled out of the championship. Anne Sophie Serre (Jibraltar de Massa) withdrew before the Grand Prix.

Quite a few prominent French riders were absent from the event, including 2022 champion Pauline Basquin, Olympian Corentin Pottier, his wife Camille Judet-Cheret (pregnant), and Olympian Morgan Barbançon (still suspended). Title defender Pierre Volla won the medium tour with Malcolm X de Massa. His winning Grand Prix horse from 2024 (L'Espoir de Massa) sold to Austria in March. Last year's silver medal winning pair, Stephanie Brieussel  and Fellini Du Soleil, was not entered.

Ayache Wins First Title

Ayache and Ruling Olivia at the 2025 CDIO Compiegne
Winning his first national title in his career despite having ridden on the French team for almost a decade, Alexandre Ayache rode his second GP horse, Ruling Olivia to the gold medal and the highest step on the podium.  With his 11-year old Oldenburg mare (by Olivi x Aletto) he won the Grand Prix with 68.761%, placed second in the Special with 67.255% and aced the freestyle with 74.105%. 

"“I'm quite happy with the final result, but I'm really angry with myself for my mistake yesterday (in the Special)," said Ayache. "I tried things in the canter that didn't work. Today, I rode her more like I usually do, and it was immediately better. Now, we're always happy to win a title; we take it with great pleasure. This is my first."

Ayache praised his mare Olivia. "Winning with Olivia has a special feeling," he said. "She's a mare I've had since she was three, in whom I've believed for a very long time. She only started competing a little over a year ago, there are still plenty of things to improve, I'm very proud of her, more than of myself."

Liegard and Roussel on the Podium

The silver medal went to Bertrand Liegard on Claudia Chauchard's 14-year old KWPN mare Ginger (by Tango x Don Primaire). He was third in the Grand Prix with 66.891%, won the Special with 69.277%, and finished second in the Kur with 73.370%.

The bronze was for Alizee Roussel aboard the 13-year old Oldenburg Bel Amour (by Bretton Woods x Donnerhall). The duo started off with a fourth place in the Grand Prix (65.587%) and in the Special (65.936%), 

French tea selector Jean Morel was pleased with the Championships. 

"It was very interesting to be able to see all the combinations," he said. "Our goal was to run the  championship over three days, like at major events, to see how the horses behave. We saw some great things, and some pressure too, since the first two kept switching places. Alexandre was looking at Bertrand, Bertrand was looking at him… I found that quite nice. Today, Alexandre presented the test we asked of him, without risk, by riding his new mare forward. Bertrand showed great riding, his horse is a good horse."

Commenting on the general level of the field, Morel said, "Everyone rode much better today with lighter horses. It was a very good thing for the riders but also for the federal staff, that everyone was there at the French championship. (...) The weekend was instructive for everyone. Now we will get to work to maintain our place at the world level.”

Results - 2025 French Grand Prix Championships - Vierzon
  • 1.  Alexandre Ayache - Ruling Olivia - 68.761    67.255    74.105 ---  210.121
  • 2. Bertrand Liegard - Ginger - 66.891    69.277    73.370   ---    209.538
  • 3. Alizee Roussel - Bel Amour - 65.587    65.936    72.775   ---    204.298
  • 4. Caroline Godin - Querida De Hus - 65.239    65.298    69.030   ---   199.567
  • 5. Bernard Bosseaux - Rilkadora Z - 65.369    65.723    67.710   ---    198.802
  • 6. Lena Thouvenin - Diamondgio Lth  - 64.478    63.745    67.200   ---   195.423
  • 7. Mateo Barsotti - Mystery Boy - 63.283    62.532    67.605   ---   193.420
  • 8. Lana Portejoie - Last Minute - 62.630    63.596    66.180   ---   192.406
  • 9. Jean Philippe Siat - Lovesong - 64.413    61.745    66.025  ---     192.183
  • 10. Marc Boblet - Jordan P - 60.413    64.872       ---    125.285
  • 11. Evelyne Fleck - Domino De Merlieux - 61.043    63.596     ---      124.639
  • 12. Eva Pagnotta - Fantastic Filomena - 61.696    61.511       ---    123.207
  • 13. Jean Charles Perrier - Archibald Haddock - 60.739    61.383       ---    122.122
  • 14. Annabel Delsert - Jackpot P - 60.739    61.298       ---   122.037
  • 15. Livia Gallego - Calypso De Massa - 58.935    60.383       ---   119.318
  • 16.  Victoria Saint Cast - El Quaterback Du Coussoul - 57.696           ---    57.696
  • Anne Sophie Serre - Jibraltar De Massa - Withdrawn
  • Arnaud Serre - Dollar Dream  - Withdrawn
  • Pauline Guillem - Lucky Gold - Withdrawn

Complete scores: Grand Prix - Grand Prix Special - Kur to Music - Overall 

Related Links
Alexandre Ayache Convicted of Forgery, To Appeal Decision
French Team Captain Jean Morel Questions Ayache's Elimination at 2022 CDI-W Madrid
Alexandre Ayache's Domino Sold to Brazil
Wandres and Ayache in Charge of Big Tour at 2019 CDI-W Brno
KWPN Licensed Stallion Jarville Sold to Alexandre Ayache
Alexandre Ayache Injured in Riding Accident
Soliman de Hus Sold to Alexandre Ayache
Ayache and Lights of Londonderry Submitted to French A-Dressage Team

Previous Winners
Viaud and Volla Claim Titles at the 2024 French Dressage Championships
Juglaret, Pinto, Lopez, Basquin Win 2022 French Dressage Championships
Planchet, Juglaret, Pinto Win 2021 French Youth Riders Championships
Weijkamp, Juglaret, Noel, Bravard Win 2020 French Youth Riders Championships
Anne-Sophie Serre Wins 2020 French Grand Prix Championships
Charlotte Chalvignac Wins 2019 French Grand Prix Championship
Charlotte Chalvignac Gets Ride on Brune's Lights of Londonderry
Morgan Barbançon Mestre Wins 2018 French Grand Prix Championship
Volla Wins 2017 French Grand Prix Championships, Takes Second Consecutive Title
Karen Tebar Wins 2015 French Grand Prix Championships
Catherine Henriquet Wins 2013 French Dressage Championship
Jessica Michel Wins 2012 French Grand Prix Championships
Arnaud Serre Renews Title at 2011 French Dressage Championships
Arnaud Serre Captures 2010 French Grand Prix Title on Corellou's Helio II
Siat and Collier Win at 2009 French Dressage Championships
Marc Boblet, 2008 French Dressage Champion
Karen Tebar Wins the 2006 French Dressage Championships
Hubert Perring, 2005 French Dressage Champion
Odile van Doorn Reconquers French National Dressage Title 
Scores 2003 French Dressage Championships 
Van Doorn and Parodie van de Wateringhoeve, 2002 French Dressage Champions
Marietta Almasy, 2001 French Dressage Champion