France’s Epaillard confirms fine form with win at Jumping World Cup in Madrid

Madrid, Nov 28 (EFE).- France’s Julien Epaillard riding Billabong du Roumois put in a fine performance Sunday to win the fourth round of the Jumping World Cup in Madrid, with a double clear and a time of 41.24 seconds in the jump off.

The Frenchman excelled on the weekend in two other competitions organized as part of the 2021 IFEMA Madrid Horse Week and in the star event of the program he beat names like Austria’s Max Kuhner, Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Germany’s David Will.

The German and his horse C Vier were second with a time of 42.71 seconds and Irishman riding GC Chopin’s Bushi completed the podium also with a double clear and a time of 42.87 seconds.

“It wasn’t my best jump off, but I was lucky enough. Both my horses have been doing very well in the competitions. Every now and then you have a weekend like this and I had to take advantage of it,” Epaillard said at a press conference after the competition.

In the current overall standings of the Jumping World Cup, organized by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Lynch leads in the Western European League with 37 points, ahead of Kevin Jochems from the Netherlands.

Lynch congratulated Epaillard and confirmed that his goal for the remainder of the sporting calendar is to attend events to “pick up as many points as possible” to qualify for the final in Leipzig, Germany.

The two-time winner of Madrid in 2016 and 2019 and one a public favorite, Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Stargold, were the fastest in the jump off with 40.62 seconds but a bad turn set them up wrong for the third last jump and a triumph was beyond their reach.

The circuit designed by Javier Trenor proved problematic for many, especially in the first part of the course with a triple jump for the fifth obstacle and a demanding jump after a tight turn towards the end when horses were most tired.

During the break, Spain’s Princess Elena received the 2021 Madrid Horse Week award for her contribution to equestrian sports over three decades as both a rider and horse owner.

The Western European League of the Jumping World Cup continues its tour of Spain and the next event, the fifth of a total of ten, is to be held in La Coruña from December 10 to 12. EFE