Jonelle and Grovine de Reve – ERM Jardy
Jonelle Price has powered her way to the top of the Event Rider Masters Series leaderboard after a ninth place finish aboard Grovine de Reve in the CCI4*-S at Haras de Jardy in France.
The Marlborough-based rider and the 11-year-old horse were in 14th after the dressage, then up to ninth after adding just .8 of a time penalty in the showjumping and two time penalties in the cross country for end the day on 31.5 penalty points in sixth place.
More importantly though, the sixth place finish and the shock withdrawal of series leader Chris Burton (AUS) just before the start of competition has seen Jonelle at the top now on 67 points with Bill Levitt (AUS) in second on 60 and Chris Burton in third on 54.
“I am really pleased with the horse,” said Jonelle. “Obviously in a field as competitive as the one we’ve got today, every second counts. He had a little look at the first water and needed a little reminder, but he is a very genuine horse and I am really excited to see where our relationship will go.”
Tim Price and Falco were eighth after the dressage, added nothing in the showjumping but 27.6 in the cross country saw him slip to 21st in the field. Tim is now in eight spot on the series leaderboard.
The showjumping saw just 11 go clear and inside time with the Pierre Michelet-designed cross country proving tougher and while 20 were clear, just two were inside the optimum time.
Surprise winner on the day was Gireg le Coz (FRA) and Aispirit de la Loge who came from seventh after the showjumping to snatch the win by .1 of a penalty point from Gemma tattersall (GBR) and Quicklook V, finishing on his dressage score of 28.2. Gireg and his Selle Francais gelding were the only combination in the field to finish on their dressage score. It was Aispirit de la Loge’s second run at this level.
Next month the series heads to the Millstreet International Horse Trials in Ireland for the fifth leg. Each leg has a prize pot of £50,000/€57,000 with the series winner pocketing £30,000.
The horse details:
Falco – owned by Sue Benson
Grovine de Reve – owned by Therese Miller, Phillip Hunt and Jo Preston-Hunt
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison