Lauren Hough won the Grand Prix 3* of Saint-Lô

It was with a deep emotion that Lauren Hough (USA) won the Grand Prix 3* of Saint-Lô today, riding Quick Study with the fastest round at the jump off.

Honored by the organizing committee just before this last class, her Selle Français gelding was the other star today as he has been born in Normandy 12 years ago by Jules Mesnildrey, illustrious breeder who bred the two top sires Le Tot de Semilly and Diamant de Semilly and who died recently.

For her first time in Saint-Lô, Lauren Hough produced the perfect show with several places and finally the victory in the biggest class. She was one of the 8 clear rounds in the first round, and she has been the fastest in the jump off, ran on a course designed by Jean-Paul Lepetit.

Shane Breen (IRL) produced the first double clear but as he started in first, he did not take all the risks on Balloon. He finishes 4th overall. Albert Voorn (NED) lost his stirrups on a missed option, and a jump without it decided to withdraw.

Third to go, Lauren Hough (USA) repeated the same run, fluent and fast, stopping the clock at 40''01. Gilles Bertran de Balanda (FRA), former World Team Champion, and Guillaume Batillat (FRA) tried to improve her time but she kept one second less. « It was Quick Study's last competition in Europe » she said, « He'll leave France in 10 days and we'll participate to the FEI World Cup legs of Lexington and Toronto. Next weekend, I'll be in Caen for a CSI3*. »

In the Grand Prix 1 star, Julien Mesnil (FRA) finished 1st riding Pluton de Mars, just before Jemma Kirk (GBR) with Wexford (2nd) and Stéphane Anquetin (FRA) / Abra van het Rozenhof 3rd. As Lauren Hough did in the 3 stars, Jemma Kirk (GBR) won all the trophies: Best Rider of the 1* show, and Best Horse of the 1* show for Wexford.

Early in the morning, Thomas Weinberg (GER) won the small 3* class on Dorian Red 2, just half a second before Frédérique Fabre Delbos (FRA) / Nirvana Basters (2nd) and Andrew Ramsay (USA) / Zerly (3rd).