From March 25 to April 6, the Hippodrome Côte d’Azur in Cagnes-sur-Mer hosted the first edition of the GPA Jump Festival, a new international competition of Jumping.
The first GPA Jump Festival is defined as the anteroom of the great contests, since it inaugurates the season of outdoor competitions and thus constitutes an ideal “trial run” for riders. For professionals and amateur competitors, the GPA Jump Festival was held in the two new sand careers at the center of the Hippodrome Côte d’Azur; the largest Ourasi (10,200 m2) is the largest in Europe before Seabird (5000 m2).
This festival bringing together the greatest riders from over 20 countries including Qatar, Morocco, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Jamaica, Brazil … is named after the largest supplier of the equestrian world, GPA, main sponsor of the event.
The CSI tour was held for 12 days in the idyllic setting of the French Riviera, bordering the Mediterranean. The most thrilling races were held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The biggest stars of the equestrian world
More than 500 riders from 20 different countries including the biggest stars of the equestrian world came to prepare over 1,000 horses on 93 events before taking them to the big events of the season. Among them: Kevin Staut, Simon Delestre for France’s team, Abdelkedir Ouaddar for Morocco, Edwina Alexander for Australia and also Pénélope Leprevost, Philippe, Marcel and Thierry Rozier.
They were welcomed in exceptional conditions thanks to the racecourse comfortable facilities placed at their disposal by the Société des Courses de la Côte d’Azur (Hippodrome boxes and equipment, relaxation tracks…). Competitors and grooms and staff around the horses took their quarters in the various partner hotels and apartments and studios located on the Hippodrome (150 beds).
Barbossi Day
The last weekend of the first edition of GPA Jump Festival garnered success with great competitions before a large and enthusiastic audience. Sunday, April 6 saw the final running of the competitions with the “Barbossi Day” and expected events, including the Pony/Horse Relay, rewarded by the Etrier de Barbossi as well as the finals of the CSI Amateurs and the Grand Prix CSI Ponies.
In the afternoon took place the Finale Grand CSI Price with the best riders who contested in the main event, sponsored by the Domaine de Barbossi, broadcast on Equidia Life. Accounting for the World Ranking List, it allowed them to record points for selections in major international competitions.
The winner was Sébastien Duplant with the horse Pégase du Murie. He was followed by Francis Xavier Boudant on Armani V Overis Z and Axel Van Colen on Record de Pleville.
The event took place under sunny skies, the large public enjoyed a unique show on the Hippodrome with the possiblility of snack, pancake house, restaurants or lounge bar between two competitions. The children could also enjoy many activities such as bouncy castle, pony initiations offered by Domaine de Barbossi.
Domaine de Barbossi
The Etrier de Barbosi is an equestrian center located on the luxurious and huge Domaine de Barbossi in the French Riviera beautiful seaside resort of Mandelieu-La Napoule. The Domaine de Barbossi is an oasis of 1,350 hectares (one third of the town of Mandelieu), nestled in a preserved natural setting, between land and sea. it consists in a luxury hotem, golf, private museums, luxury stables, clubhouse where one can savor the wine from the estate vineyards.
Click on pictures to enlarge
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- Senator-mayor of Cagnes Louis Nègre & President Forcioli-Conti with offciials
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- Marcellino Chbeir and Jean-Michel Costamagna, sponsors
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- Winner Sébastien Duplant with Pégase du Murie
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