Quentin Jabet claimed first place in the individual compulsory vaulting test this Thursday in Aachen, while France secured 3rd place in the team competition. In eventing, Alexis Goury delivered a superb dressage test scoring 28.5 penalties to capture provisional 3rd place.
The day following the conclusion of the team dressage championship, the Soers stadium buzzed with the rhythm of vaulting and eventing competitions. This Thursday, August 13, marked the entry into the arena of two flagship disciplines for the French delegation, yielding stellar performances and promising podium finishes.
Vaulting: Quentin Jabet on Top, Team Podium for the Blues
Heralded as the logical favorite in the men's individual division, Quentin Jabet did not falter in the Aachen arena. Aboard Estado and lunged by Loïc Devedu, the reigning European champion claimed provisional first place in the compulsory test with an exceptional score of 8.698. The Frenchman edged out the Netherlands' Sam Dos Santos (8.528) and Germany's Bela Lehnen (8.375), securing the tricolor clan's very first event victory of the week.
This performance takes on special significance given his preparation: forced to change his top mount Othello van’t Laarhof mid-season due to injury, Quentin Jabet had only eight weeks to build a seamless partnership with his new horse:
"Estado was truly perfect in the ring and it builds confidence for the rest of the week. It's always tricky to quickly adjust to a new canter stride, but despite a small error, I think I delivered the best compulsories of my life."
— Quentin Jabet, mixed zone
The other French representatives rounded out the solid team performance: Dorian Terrier finished 10th with a score of 7.977 (partnered with Corazon Gran, lunged by Benita Julia Golze), while Ruben Delaunay took 16th position with 7.513 (aboard Orlof de Conde, lunged by Yannick Kersulec).
The other highlight of the day in vaulting came from the team event. The tricolor vaulters captured a fantastic 3rd place with an overall score of 7.688. Partnered with the experienced 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding Furst Fridolin HDC (by Fürst Belissaro, owned by Haras des Coudrettes and bred by Josef Brinkemöller), France stepped onto the third step of the podium behind host nation Germany, who took the win, and Austria, which claimed 2nd place.
In the women's individual division, competition kicked off under heavy German dominance, materialized by Alice Layher's victory (8.788). On the French side, Océane Gehan (partnered with Barrington and lunged by Lisa Dupon) placed 29th with a score of 6.862, looking to rely on the technical test to stage a comeback.
Eventing: Alexis Goury Grabs Provisional Top 3
In Stadium 2, the first part of the eventing dressage test (DHL Prize) presented a contrasting scenario for the first two French pairs to go. The first rider to start for Team France, Benjamin Massié, faced disappointment aboard Figaro Fonroy, leaving the arena with a total of 36.0 penalty points:
"Figaro Fonroy felt great in the warm-up, but he got a bit behind my leg in the ring and lacked expression. I'm disappointed with my score. On such a winding and technical cross-country course, we'll have to ride intelligently to preserve our horses."
— Benjamin Massié, mixed zone
The tricolor reaction was swift. The second Frenchman to start, Alexis Goury, turned things around brilliantly aboard his gray gelding Je'vall. Delivering a very harmonious test rewarded with 71.53%, the rider posted an excellent score of 28.5 penalty points to seize provisional 3rd place in the overall standings:
"Je’vall was 100% focused on me and really gave his all. He has gained a lot of confidence, and the flying changes have become a real strong suit. For the cross-country, with his massive gallop on this winding track, we will need to ride with great finesse to avoid exhausting him."
— Alexis Goury, mixed zone
Schedule for Friday, August 14: Grand Prix Special and Eventing Continues
Friday, August 14 features a particularly busy schedule across the various arenas of the Aachen complex:
- Dressage – Grand Prix Special (10:50 AM – 5:15 PM | Main Stadium): Awarding of the very first individual world title of the discipline (MEGGLE Prize), reserved for the top 30 pairs from the Grand Prix.
- Eventing – Dressage Part 2 (9:30 AM – 5:00 PM | Stadium 2): Conclusion of the dressage phase with three highly anticipated French riders: Gaspard Maksud on Zaragoza (11:25 AM), Astier Nicolas on Alertamalib'Or (2:44 PM), and Nicolas Touzaint with Diabolo Menthe (4:04 PM).
- Vaulting – Technical Tests and Pas de Deux (Stadium 3): Execution of the women's individual technical test (8:30 AM) and men's (5:00 PM), followed by the first round of the Pas de deux freestyle program at 7:00 PM featuring the French duo Théo Gardies and Noély Thibaud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Quentin Jabet's victory in the compulsories significant?
Compulsory tests in vaulting require absolute technical precision. Taking the lead on day one allows vaulters to build a valuable cushion of points ahead of the technical test and freestyle Kür, while sending a strong signal to the judges.
How did the team vaulting podium shake out?
Germany took 1st place on home soil, followed by Austria in 2nd place. The French team rounded out the podium in 3rd position with a final score of 7.688.
How is the scoring converted in eventing dressage?
In eventing, the average percentage awarded by the judges is subtracted from 100 to obtain penalty points. Alexis Goury's 71.53% score thus equates to 28.5 penalty points (100 - 71.53 = 28.47, rounded to 28.5).
