Shane Breen victory gallops at 2017 Jumping International de Valence CSI5*. Ph.©Agence RB Presse / J.Rodrigues
At the 2017 Jumping International of Valence CSI5* in Valence, France, Ireland’s Shane Breen and the 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion Ipswich van de Wolfsakker (Carembar de Muze x Quick Star) secured a 1st place finish in the 1.50m Prix Axeria with a clear jump off round and a speedy time of 61.81s.
On Saturday, August 19, 2017, 39 riders took to the 12-obstacle-course designed by Italy’s Uliano Vezzani. Of the original horse and rider combinations, only 12 would make it to the jump-off track to compete for the lump sum of the €38,000 purse. To secure the winning round, Breen piloted Ipswitch to a time nearly two seconds faster than the competition. In addition to their latest accomplishment, the duo had a recent 2nd place finish in the €27,500 Dura Vermeer Prijs at CHIO Rotterdam on June 22.
For 2nd place, Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet piloted the nine-year-old PZHK stallion MJT Nevados S (Calvados Z x Romualdo) to a time of 63.65s. France’s Aldrick Cheronnet and the 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding Tanael des Bonnes (Watch Me*hoy x Don Pierre) finished in 3rd with a time of 64.67s.
The full results can be viewed here.