Five world class riders from four countries benefited from a prize money bonus at the conclusion of this year’s inaugural HSBC FEI Classic™ Series at the French three-day event, Les Etoiles de Pau – the final four-star event of the year.
After winning at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in September, British Olympian William Fox-Pitt took a strong lead in the HSBC FEI Classics™ Series and came to Pau in the knowledge that he could not be beaten and that whatever the result, his place at the top was secure. Unfortunately for William, winner of seven three-day events this year, the event did not end on the high note he might have liked, although he still finished in 13th place with Idalgo.
At the final prize giving William, was presented with his HSBC FEI Cassics™ winner’s cheque for US$150,000. “I am extremely fortunate to be able to spend my days doing a job I love, to be rewarded so handsomely for riding such talented horses is a privilege. Linking the four-star events together has been an exciting innovation and the series has provided an added incentive to the riders and a much appreciated boost to the sport,” said William who now looks forward to repaying his horses with their seasonal holiday in the field.
Nicolas Touzaint, winner of The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in the spring, moved up to second place in the HSBC FEI Classics™ Series after claiming the runners up spot in Pau. While the popular French rider might have been kicking himself for what could have been another four-star win – his final score was just 0.5 penalties adrift of the winner here – he had compensation in the knowledge the outcome did not make a difference to his final place in the standings. His cheque for US$75,000 was also some compensation for missing out at the Olympics after his ride, Galant de Sauvagère, was injured the day before the competition started. The result was also a good one for his horse Tatchou, competing at his first four-star competition, and now gives the 28-year-old rider greater horse power for next year’s HSBC FEI Classics™ Series.
German Olympic team gold medallist Frank Ostholt also had a smile on his face after Pau. Not only did the 33-year-old rider from Warendorf claim third place at Pau with his Olympic horse Mr Medicott, but the points gained propelled him up the HSBC FEI Classics™ Series standings from sixth to third place and into the prize money. The rider went home with an unexpected bonus of US$50,000.
The consequence of not competing at Pau was US$40,000 for American rider Phillip Dutton, whose absence meant dropping from second to fourth place. The 45-year-old Australian born rider, winner of The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event at Lexington in May, was however unlucky not to have scored more HSBC FEI Classics™ Series points at Burghley after his ride Woodburn, second after the cross country, had to be withdrawn before the final show jumping. Phillip’s Lexington win however still gained him a bonus prize of US$33,000.
Mary King can only have been left ruing the 20 penalties added for a run out on the cross-country course at Pau. Not only did the refusal cost her several places in the final outcome – eighth instead of fourth – but was expensive in the loss of HSBC FEI Classics™ points and meant the British Olympic rider ended the series in sixth place just two points adrift of the final fifth place.
German rider Bettina Hoy, winner of Les Etoiles de Pau with the 17-year-old veteran Ringwood Cockatoo, went home with the cheque for US$25,000. “I am also especially pleased to have finished in fifth place in the HSBC FEI Classic™ Series in its inaugural year – a marvellous bonus for us here,” said the British based rider.”
“Les Etoiles de Pau proved a fitting conclusion to our inaugural HSBC FEI Classics™ Series,” commented Giles Morgan, Head of Global Sponsorship at HSBC. “While William proved a runaway winner, we can only admire his skill and talent at producing top class sport horses that come up with the goods. The final produced a field of world class riders and the final outcome in the series a truly international result.”
All the details on the HSBC FEI Classics™ are available on this FEI website.
