Australian Amy Graham and Frenchman Julian Epaillard teamed up to win the Le Saut Hermès 1.60m pairs competition on Saturday at the Saut Hermès CSI5* in Paris, France. The finale class of the day pitted ten teams of randomly mixed pairs together to contest two rounds of a 1.60m track. Five star riders took up the challenge in front of an enthusiastic weekend crowd that filled the stands in the elegant, glass-roofed Grand Palais.
On this, the midway point of the three-day Saut Hermès CSI5*, the Grand Palais was crowded with chic French citygoers who had come to see the show jumping on display, and to be seen carrying a trademark Hermès purse –the bigger the better– as they browsed the equestrian atelier and shops.
But when the show jumping began, one and all made their way to a vantage point to watch Graham, who rode the 14-year-old stallion Bella Baloubet by Baloubet Du Rouet become one of eight riders to complete to two clear rounds. She was followed by her teammate Epaillard on Cristallo, a 9-year-old gelding by Casall, who matched her double clears and quick time. Jumping faults and second round times were added together to produce a cumulative paris score, and the Graham/Epaillard time of 76.12 seconds finished just ahead of 2nd place finishers Luciana Diniz (Portugal) and Ludger Beerbaum (Germany). Katharina Offel of Ukraine and Daniel Bluman of Colombia rounded out the top three placings.
For full results go here. The Saut Hermès CSI5* culminates on Sunday, April 12th with the €400,000 Grand Prix Hermès, drawing the best horses and riders from around the globe. Watch live