Rolex Grand Prix - Ville de La Baule : victory of the Canadian Beth Underhill and Dieu Merci Van T&L

Beth

Fifty couples were at the start of the first round, only the best thirteen could qualify for the second.
After a clear round over the 14 fences course designed by the course designer Grégory Bodo, four French couples qualified for the second round of the competition: Nicolas Delmotte and Dallas Vegas Batilly, Pénélope Leprévost and GFE Excalibur de la Tour Vidal, Simon Delestre and Cayman Jolly Jumper and Pierre-Marie Friant and Urdy d'Estrée. There was also the Canadian Beth Underhill associated with Dieu Merci Van T&L, a stallion owned by 2008 Olympic champion and Canadian team leader Eric Lamaze.

In this course reduced to 8 fences, the Canadian couple was more agile, faster and managed to complete a second clear round. 

With this victory, Beth Underhill becomes the 7th woman to add her name to the record of winners in La Baule, after Janou Lefèbvre (FRA) in 1962, 1971, 1947 and 1975, Alexandra Ledermann (FRA) in 1994, Alison Bradley (GBR) in 1995, Katie Monahan-Prudent (USA) in 1997, Angelique Hoorn (NED) in 2002 and Simone Blum (GER) in 2019.
The Brazilian Yuri Mansur and Vitiki, also double clear, take the second place. With a total of 4 points and in the same time, Grégory Wathelet (BEL) and Nevados S and the Frenchman Pierre-Marie Friant and Urdy d'Astrée are 3rd ex aequo.

Beth Underhill (CAN) "I have a great track record in riding with a little break in my career; I started again not too long ago. I've been riding my horse for two months and this is the third 1.60m course I've done with Dieu Merci. He suits me perfectly because he is fast and has very long strides so we match up very well. This morning I went around the stadium and saw all the names of the winners on the marble in the René Pasquier stand, where my name will soon be. I saw the name of Eric (Lamaze), inscribed twice in 2011 and 2014. Eric told me after the first round to go for it because I could do it. I'm thrilled with my performance and thrilled to be with Eric who has given so much and continues to give us everything. Thank you very much to Rolex for their support over the years for our sport. A new chapter has just been written in La Baule with Rolex and there is no doubt that this will bring great stories in the years to come.

Full results: here