New Zealand’s golden couple of evening head to France this weekend for the fourth leg of the cash-rich 2019 Event Rider Masters Series at Haras de Jardy in Paris. Tim and Jonelle Price are the only two Kiwis in the 30-strong CCI4*-S field that boasts some of the world’s best riders.

World no.1 Tim Price who won leg three at Arville will compete aboard 10-year-old Falco who is on debut in the ERM. Tim has been in red-hot form of late, winning the CCI5*-L at Luhmuhlen aboard Ascona M followed by his Arville victory on Wesko.

German-bred Falco is by Cardenio 2 and been competed internationally by Tim since late 2016.

Jonelle has entered her relatively new ride, the 11-year-old Grovine de Reve Irish-bred horse who is by Hermea de Reve. They’ve had just one international outing together, for a top 10 finish in the CCI4*-S ERM at Wiesbaden in Germany last month.

But it is a star-stacked field they are up against including five of the current top 10 in the world, Olympic, WEG and European champs and more. Current series leader Chris Burton (AUS) will be looking for more points to add to his 54 point tally. Jonelle is sitting in second on 46 with Sarah Cohen (GBR) in third on 42, and Tim in sixth on 30.

Michael Jung (GER) is also in the hung along with Maxime Livio (FRA) who hasn’t finished outside the top 10 at this level since 2011, the Badminton-winning Nicolas Touzaint (FRA), Izzy Taylor (GBR), Laura Collett (GBR), Alex Bragg (GBR) and Gemma Tattersall (GBR). But it would be a brave person to pick an outright winner in such a strong field.

Michelet Pierre (FRA) is designing the cross country, with Serge Houtmann (FRA) charged with the showjumping course. Haras de Jardy provides a stunning backdrop to the event.

The famous stud is set amongst 75 hectares of magnificent parkland, mixed meadows and woodlands. The architecture of its centuries-old stable and indoor riding school complement the natural beauty surrounding it.

It’s a critical stage of the six leg series with hard-earned points vital for those wanting to chase the top berth. Each leg features a prize pot of £50,000/€57,000, with the winner pocketing £16,000/€18,000, the runner-up £12,000/€13,500, and £8,000/€9,500 for third.

Points are accrued towards an end-of-series podium with a final prize pot of £50,000, £30,000 of which goes to the series winner.

The next stop in the ERM Series is Millstreet International (August 23-25) with the final at Concours Complet International Lignieres en Berry (October 5-6).

The horse details:
Falco – owned by Sue Benson
Grovine de Reve – owned by Therese Miller, Phillip Hunt and Jo Preston-Hunt

WHAT: Haras de Jardy, including the fourth leg of the 2019 Event Rider Masters Series
WHEN: July 13-14, 2019
WHERE: Haras de Jardy, Paris, France
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By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison