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Nick Skelton and Carlo capture the GP in La Baule

May 13, 2012

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 were unbeatable in Sunday’s Grand Prix Longines De La Ville De La Baule. Out of the six double clears in the class, the British rider and Beverley Widdowson’s 11 year old Contender-son were by far the fastest ones in the twelve horse jump-off. The Grand Prix win closed off a fabulous weekend for Nick; on Thursday he won the 1.45 class on Unique XVIII – as well as being placed in the 1.50 class with Carlo, and Friday he was double clear in the Nations Cup on Big Star. Nick has so far this year had a fantastic season on both Carlo and Big Star, and must be seen as one of the favorites for an Olympic medal in London.

Runner-up was Philippe Le Jeune on the fantastic stallion Vigo d’Arsouilles. The two were a little over a second behind Nick’s time in the jump-off, and produced yet another two clear rounds – just like in Friday’s Nations Cup. The reigning world champions seem to be in perfect form ahead of the Olympics.

Ben Maher finished third on his Valencia GCT-winning stallion Tripple X. The two were a little unlucky in Friday’s Nations Cup, but today they redeemed themselves with two great clear rounds just fractions behind Le Jenue in the jump-off.

Gregory Wathelet and the Cannabis Z-mare Euphony Cadjanine Z – double clear and jump-off winners for Belgium in Friday’s Nations Cup – continued to produce clear rounds and ended fourth, with Henrik von Eckermann in fifth on Allerdings. The Swedish rider was another one that impressed on following up with more clear rounds after the Nations Cup.

Click here for full results.