Emile Faurie and Elmegardens Marquis (Max) retained their form from the European Championships to score a victory in Biarritz CDI3* in France, 20-23 October.

Special performance

In the grand prix Emile and the Michellino-sired gelding narrowly missed out on the top spot, coming second on a score of 69.38% - just behind Portugal’s Gonçalo Carvalho and Rubi.

Stepping it up for the grand prix special, Emile and Joanne Vaughan's 12-year-old went one better to win on 70.067%.

Delivering the goods

Emile commented on facebook: “I have just got back to the hotel in Biarritz with a very big smile on my face. Max was so hot yesterday, we had quite a few mistakes in the Grand Prix, but finished on 69.3% and second place today. I had a chat with my boy this morning, and he delivered! We won the Grand Prix Special on 70.9%.”

Fellow Brits Judy Harvey and Fitzcerraldo also rose to the occasion, taking fourth spot in the Grand Prix Special on 67.47%.

World Cup commences

Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud won the first show of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage series in Odense, while Britain's Richard Davison notched up 74.375% for seventh place with Hiscox Artemis.

As the winning rider, Minderhoud earned the maximum 20 qualifying points but goes into sixth place on the table as others - including Davison – carry additional points gained from the Central European League series.

Vilhelmson Silfven heads the leaderboard going into the second leg of the dressage series at Lyon in France next weekend, with Richard Davison and Hiscox Artemis in second place.

Current standings
1. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven SWE - 35
2. Richard Davison GBR - 25
3. Sebastien Duperdu FRA - 23
4. Marc Peter Spahn BEL - 22
5. Aat van Essen NED - 21