Karin Donckers takes the lead in the CIC2* Photo: Pixizone/Xavier Boudon
It was not until the last dressage test of the day that the eventual dressage leaders emerged. Heading in to the lunch break for the CIC2* competitors Swiss rider Sébastien Poirier was finally dethroned by the Belgian rider Karin Donckers, who now sits at the top of the leaderboard of the first International Horse Trials of Coeur d'Hérault.
In the CIC* the judges all agreed that Mathieu Lemoine (FRA) riding Opium de Blinière provided them with the best test of the day. The only rider to score a sub 40 mark Mathieu has a provisional lead of 8.10 pts. Benoit Parent (FRA) and Didier Dhennin (FRA) are currently tied for second while Karin Donckers is the best foreign representative in seventh.
CIC2* General Council of Hérault
Karin Donckers (BEL) (ranked 19th rank in the world) has clearly dominated the first phase of this event. French rider Thomas Carlile was the first to take the lead but that lead then successively changed hands, passing first between those of Marco Biasia (ITA) with Tatchou then Sébastien Poirier (SUI) on Tarango de Lully CH and finally to Karin Donckers . With a score of 40.20 points she is ahead of her nearest rival by 4.80 points and she also has the luxury of lying fifth with her second horse Eloubet. "With my stallion Charizard, I have not had good results in Pau three weeks ago, and it was important to finish well the season here," said the Belgian champion.
CIC1* City of Le Pouget
Already leading the class on Thursday night with his first horse Safran du Pin, the French Mathieu Lemoine momentarily lost his lead only to find it again at the end of the afternoon, this time with Opium de Blinière. Delighted with his performance, the Stables Pierre Defrance's rider now has his two horses in the top five. Benoît Parent (FRA) riding Feautibull and the godfather of the event, Didier Dhennin (FRA) riding Quality Bois Margot are lying equal second 8.1 points behind the leader. Only two foreign riders manage to slip into the top 20 - Karin Donckers (BEL), seventh on Brown Lady and Joëlle Bruni (SUI) riding Valentino de Lully CH into ninth place. The cross country test will challenge the riders with 20 obstacles scattered all around the Departmental Domain of Trois Fontaines.
Provisional results (after dressage)
CIC1* City of Le Pouget : CLICK HERE.
CIC2* General Council of Hérault : CLICK HERE.
