Following the victory of Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque on Sunday May 26th at CSIO Roma Piazza Di Siena, the Rolex Series will now travel to France to the emblematic Jumping International de La Baule - Officiel de France on Sunday.
Thanks to its exceptional setting, unique atmosphere and audience, the Jumping international de La Baule - Officiel de France is unquestionably one of the world's finest competitions. From Thursday onwards, the world's top showjumpers will gather for four days of great sport. From the very first day of competition, the stakes are already high, with every rider aiming to shine in every class. With eight classes on the program, seven of which count towards the world rankings, the 2024 edition of the Jumping International de La Baule - Officiel de France offers a total prize fund of €1,018,200 and will, as usual, provide top-class entertainment and strong emotions.
The best riders in Thursday's Prix FFE and Saturday's Prix Saur will win their ticket to the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule. The Barrière Nations' Cup, a unique and historic 5* event in France, will also qualify the eighteen best individual couples for the highlight of the weekend. Throughout the weekend, Grégory Bodo, a renowned course designer, will be responsible for designing the courses.
On Sunday June 9th at 2pm, the 50 riders at the start of this Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule will be dreaming of reclaiming the title from Belgium's Nicola Philippaerts, winner last year with Katanga van het Dingeshof.
Driven by the crowded Francois Andrés Stadium, the French riders Roger-Yves Bost, François-Xavier Boudant, Simon Delestre, Kevin Staut and French champion Cédric Hurel will attempt to succeed Nicolas Delmotte, the last Blue Jacket to win in 2021 with Urvoso du Roch.
They'll have some competition with the presence of Rome's winning trio. Karl Cook, Petronella Andersson and Max Kühner won't be passing up this new chance to add their names to the Rolex Series honors list. Some of the biggest names in world equestrianism are also present, including Steve Guerdat, Jérôme Guery, Edouard Schmitz, Grégory Wathelet, Marcus Ehning, Kent Farrington, Martin Fuchs and Peder Fredricson.
Nicola Philippaerts & Katanga v/h Dingeshof / (C) PSV
The Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule is one of those events that every rider dreams of winning, and I'm delighted to have achieved this in 2023 with my mare. The arrival of the Rolex Series makes the competition even more exciting this year.
The Jumping International de La Baule - Officiel de France is without doubt one of the most beautiful competitions in the world. It's an important part of the season for all riders. The arrival of Rolex as main partner has made the competition even bigger. There is an exceptional public. With an event like this, we feel proud to be French!
I think the Rolex Series is a fantastic initiative! It benefits not only us, the riders, but also the public and the sport in general. It's an excellent opportunity for the competitions to work together under this prestigious label.
I'd like to say once again how delighted we are to be taking part in the Rolex Series, so that together we can create the conditions for real synergy between the world's finest competitions, under the impetus of our joint partner of the Grand Prix. For decades, the Jumping International de La Baule - Officiel de France has been a landmark in the history of equestrian sports and its traditional values. Our competition is constantly adapting to meet the evolving demands of the very highest level, and today's membership of the Rolex Series will enable us to write new pages testifying to the beauty of the horse and rider pair on the grass arena of La Baule. Welcome to the Rolex Series!
Join us in La Baule to experience unforgettable moments and celebrate the excellence of world equestrianism in the prestigious setting of the Rolex Series. Don't miss this exceptional opportunity and get accredited now for this remarkable event.
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