French rider Fournier’s emotional win over Great Britain’s Tattersall at Pau CCI****

British riders Rosalind Canter (gold medallist at last month’s FEI World Equestrian Games) and Tom Crisp also finished strong at the event, coming in fifth and sixth respectively with Zenshera and Liberty and Glory.  

Set in the southwest corner of France at the foot of the Pyrenees mountain range on the border with Spain, Pau attracts tens of thousands of spectators each year to see many of eventing’s top stars in action across the dressage, cross-country and jumping phases. In 2016 and 2017 respectively, French riders Maxime Livio and Gwendolen Fer ended up on top of the podium, ahead of Germany’s Michael Jung and Great Britain’s Sarah Bullimore. And that 2017 French-English 1–2 finish would be repeated at this 2018 edition, much to the surprise of emotional winner Thibault Fournier.

“I’m lost for words,” Fournier said afterwards. “I came to Pau to see whether I had the level to compete in a four-star competition against the best riders in the world. I’m overjoyed with what I have achieved here, but I’m especially thrilled with my exceptional horse who carried the whole competition off brilliantly!” That mount was Siniani De Lathus, a 12-year-old chestnut Selle Français, who went all-out for his partner on what was described as a twisting, ‘take-no-prisoners’ track by designer Pierre Michelet, which proved hazardous for top riders like Oliver Townend, Tim Price and Phillip Dutton (indeed, 21 out of 59 starters retired or were eliminated at the Pau competition). And as Lulu Kyriacou noted on Grand Prix UK over the weekend, “it was very clear…. that the upcoming generation of French riders had definitely not come to Pau to play second fiddle to the awe-inspiring British contingent.”

With their clear show jumping round Sunday, Tattersall and Pamero 4 did everything in their power to put the pressure on rising star Fournier, who had a slight margin of error on his side but could not incur additional time penalties. In the end, displaying a composure befitting more experienced combinations, Fournier and Siniani did what was necessary to secure their hugely rewarding triumph – well beyond the €31,800 in prize money.  

And while the Fédération Équestre Internationale continues to review a new format for international eventing at the highest level of the sport, it is a safe bet that this young first-time winner of Pau will be in the thick of the battle at many competitions to come – including against his top-flight British counterparts.