EQUESTRIO France n18

N° 18 - AUTUMN - 10 € - english / français - www.equestrio.com

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editorial 01

par Pascal Renauldon

Les regards sont désormais tournés vers Lexington et le grand rendez-vous quadriennal des Jeux Equestres Mondiaux (JEM), traduction littérale de l’appellation officielle World Equestrian Games (WEG). La France, qui vient de remporter la Super-Ligue Meydan avant même que ce circuit ne se soit terminé, fait partie des favoris en saut d’obstacles.

Les JEM (ou WEG) ont toujours réussi à la France. Favorite, mais pas grande favorite, car, comme souvent dans ce sport, la glorieuse incertitude reste le maître mot de l’affaire. A la vérité, nombreuses sont les équipes candidates au podium mondial et au titre cette année. Les Etats-Unis qui joueront à domicile avec un McLain Ward réhabilité et certainement revanchard après l’injustice dont il a été victime à Genève. Le Canada, qui aura sont lot de supporters venus en voisin, avec un leader en or (olympique), héroïque vainqueur du mythique Grand Prix d’Aix-la-Chapelle malgré un pied cassé : Éric Lamaze n’est décidemment pas un type comme les autres. La Suisse, qui, comme nous l’explique Steve Guerdat, n’a pas encore réussi à faire la Coupe des nations parfaite malgré un énorme potentiel et qui pourrait bien se « retrouver » au Kentucky. L’Irlande, brillante dominatrice à Aix-la-Chapelle d’une historique Coupe des nations qu’elle n’avait remportée qu’à quatre reprises depuis 1929, la dernière fois en 2003.

La Hollande qui défendra tout simplement son titre. La Grande-Bretagne qui a créé une belle surprise chez elle à Hickstead et qui est capable de tout…

Et l’Allemagne ! L’Allemagne et sa nuée de stars où le moindre faux-pas, rançon de l’incroyable médiatisation dont bénéficient les sports équestres Outre-Rhin, tombe immédiatement sous les feux des projecteurs et des critiques sans concession. L’Allemagne qui, ironiquement, pourrait battre la France grâce à un cheval français, qui était un des atouts d’une équipe en plein renouveau : Lamm de Fétan, gagnant du premier Grand Prix du Global Champions Tour en Espagne avec Timothée Anciaume, objet d’un conflit entre la Fédération et ses propriétaires qui, de guerre lasse ont vendu le cheval à Édouard de Rothschild. Et ce dernier pourrait bien le confier à… Ludger Beerbaum, son coach !

Kevin Staut, le champion d’Europe, ne s’attarde pas sur l’ironie de cette affaire. « Nous avons perdu un coéquipier, ce n’est qu’une péripétie, dit-il en substance. L’équipe subsiste et elle a des ambitions, la vie continue. » Un langage de sportif et ces sportifs-là vont nous offrir le plus beau des spectacles en octobre. Chacun spécule déjà sur « qui fera partie de la tournante finale ? » Ce sont-là les discussions les plus passionnantes.

Cette passion est la même pour chacune des huit disciplines qui composent le programme de ces JEM qui commenceront le 25 septembre. Pour vous plonger dans l’ambiance de cet événement extraordinaire, Equestrio vous a concocté une édition spéciale présentée par Rolex que vous avez découverte ave ce magazine. Un décryptage qui vous permettra de suivre les épreuves en véritables experts !

jeux équestres mondiaux alltech fei 2010 kentucky horse park, lexington, kentucky du 25 septembre au 10 octobre 2010

Lexington,

Kentucky,

États-Unis.

La capitale mondiale de l’équitation accueille les Jeux Équestres Mondiaux Alltech FEI 2010 qui quittent pour la première fois l’Europe.

Quelque 800 cavaliers d’élite rivaliseront d’adresse et d’élégance pour se départager dans huit disciplines notées et chronométrées avec rigueur. Certes, le décor est inédit, mais au final, les meilleurs savoureront un goût qu’ils connaissent bien: celui de la victoire.

OYSTER PERPETUAL dATE jUST En OR gRiS 18 cT

06 contents

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40 N° 18 autumn 2010

National 10 france

World Equestrian Festival Jumping Charity Polo

International 40 culture Reportage

Portrait

Portfolio Fashion

Wine

80 PASSION

World Equestrian Games

Polo UK season FEI Window Global Champions Tour

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Contents

MASTHEAD Equestrio Europe Switzerland / France / Italy

Managing Directors Paolo MEREGALLI & Alicia HEINIGER Press Consulting R&B Presse / Pascal RENAULDON Caterina VAGNOZZI Art Director & Photo Offset Sébastien SIXT Photo Offset Sébastien SIXT Print Litoterrazzi - Italy Circulation Valerio LAMBOGLIA, VIP Press, nmpp Advertising EQUESTRIO SA Translations Susan JACQUET Cover ©Gianguido Rossi Contributors Caterina VAGNOZZI Pascal RENAULDON Alicia HEINIGER Pascale Meyer Gareth A Davies Margaux Zukervar Lucy Monro Equestrio Photographers Stefano Grasso Morbidellim Castellani Nigro Alessandro Pizzi Alfredo Bini SCOOPDYGA Lucy Monro Mark Cornelison Caterina VAGNOZZI Gianguido Rossi Pascal RENAULDON San Patrignano GardaEndurance Equestrio Patrice Halley Kit Houghton Simon Charlton Rolex-Gianni Ciaccia Tony Ramirez Liz Gregg Gianni Caccia FEI GCT Equestrio France Editeur Equestrio SA 6 rue Viollier - CP 6523, 1211 Genève 6 - Switzerland Directeur de la Publication Alicia Heiniger Responsables diffusion Valerio Lamboglia (diffusion sélective) + 41 22 800 03 30 N° de commission paritaire 04 09 K 88866 N° ISSN 1956-3639

Next issue: November 2010 Any reproduction, even partial, is strictly prohibited. © Copyrights L.H.EQUESTRIO SA. 2003-2010

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Français

National

World Equestrian festival

Une victoire historique

jumping

10 Eric Lamaze

18 Global Champions Tour En France

Charity

26 Polo Charity Cup Chantilly

La fougue de Pancho et le charme d’Ayo polo

30 Polo Cup Lucien Barrière

Bautista Heguy en tête d’affiche

polo

36 Castel Cup Open de France de Polo

English

International

40 Culture 80 Passion

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Article Pascal Renauldon Photo Rbpresse, Scoopdyga

World Equestrian Festival

Eric Lamaze

Une victoire historique

Pour rentrer dans l’histoire du saut d’obstacles, rien à faire, il faut avoir gagner ce Grand Prix Rolex d’Aix-la-Chapelle.

Champion olympique, n°1 mondial, vainqueur d’importants Grands Prix comme celui de Calgary, Eric Lamaze avait bien failli accrocher celui d’Aix-laChapelle en 2006… Cependant l’exploit, une 3ème place, était presqu’oublié. Mais un vainqueur, ici, ça ne s'oublie pas.

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Ce Grand Prix est le seul au monde qui se court devant plus de 50.000 spectateurs: ils étaient 51.000 dimanche après-midi amenant la jauge de la semaine à 353.500 spectateurs. Le CHIO est l’événement sportif allemand le plus fréquenté! Alors, évidemment, gagner devant un tel public, c’est autre chose: une émotion qu’a enfin connu le petit Québécois. Des frissons, la chair de poule… Mais une émotion qu’il ne s’agit pas de laisser gagner avant d’avoir franchi le dernier obstacle. Les trois parcours (deux manches et barrage) n’autorisaient pas le moindre relâchement malgré l’immensité de la piste. Si la première manche de Frank Rothenberger a été plus clémente, laissant filtrer exactement la moitié des 40 partants dont les Français Pénélope Leprévost et Kevin Staut, dans la seconde, ce fut une autre paire… de manches!

Tracé simple, un peu plus technique toutefois, mais obstacles énormes: exit Pénélope et Mylord Carthago HN (3 fautes) et exit Kevin Staut (une petite faute à l’entrée du double de Kraque Boom). Son très bon temps lui permettra d’accrocher la cinquième place de ce Grand Prix derrière les quatre sans faute et de conclure une belle semaine dont le point d’orgue aura été la «raclée» qu’il a infligée au champion olympique (Lamaze), au champion du monde (Lansink) et au vainqueur du Grand Prix 2009 (l’Irlandais Lynch) dans l’épreuve tournante de samedi où il est resté le seul quadruple sans faute. Une belle victoire, certes, mais qui n’a pas le dixième de la saveur de celle que Lamaze a connue dans le Grand Prix.

Ce Grand Prix est le seul au monde qui se court devant plus de 50.000 spectateurs

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“C’est comme gagner aux Jeux, c’est une victoire que tu dois accrocher si tu veux être quelqu’un” Eric Lamaze

Bien sûr, après le passage de l’étonnant outsider espagnol Sergio Alvarez Moya (Aktion Breaker), le public allemand ne pouvait imaginer un autre triomphe que celui de Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum et de Shutterfly dont les 17 ans ne l’ont pas empêché de signer un double sans faute.

Mais c’était surtout le troisième sans-faute que ce formidable public attendait. Deux barres… que la cavalière prenait à son compte. «Débarrassé» de ce gros morceau, la voie d’Eric Lamaze s’était dégagée: sans calcul, et malgré une douleur au pied, il a lancé Hickstead à fond sur ce parcours dont l’espace lui convient parfaitement: «il a été très performant à Calgary sur une piste qui était également très grande et je crois que cela l’a bien préparé pour Aix-la-Chapelle. Plus le cheval galope et mieux il saute». Et c’est vrai que certains de ces sauts étaient à vous couper le souffle. Le Canadien a arrêté le chrono à 51.62 secondes et aucuns pensaient que le tour était joué. C’était sans compter sur la pugnacité du tranquille Suisse Pius Schwizer et de son excellente Carlina. L’homme avait quand même précédé Lamaze pendant 5 mois en tête du classement mondial, ce n’était pas un hasard. Schwizer et Carlina arrêtèrent leur pendule à… 19 centièmes du Canadien, au grand soulagement de celui-ci! «Gagner ici, c’est vraiment

quelque chose… devant ce public. C’est comme gagner aux Jeux, c’est une victoire que tu dois accrocher si tu veux être quelqu’un», se réjouissait le n°1 mondial.

«Mais quel cheval! Quel cheval! Il gagne le Grand Prix de Calgary il y a quelques semaines et il arrive ici, il fait second et gagne le Grand Prix. Quel cheval… c’est une vraie histoire. Mais gosh, que c’était gros aujourd’hui. Si la première manche était très massive et très sautante, la deuxième était plus technique, je ne vois pas comment le chef de piste aurait pu faire plus difficile. Que cette victoire est bonne !» Et maintenant? «Oui, vous allez me parler de Lexington, mais la semaine prochaine c’est Chantilly, alors à nous deux Chantilly ! »… mais de Chantilly, que nenni.

Eric Lamaze s’est en effet brisé un os du pied gauche à la réception du triple de la première manche de ce Grand Prix. Le champion olympique avait entendu une sorte de craquement et malgré la douleur, il a poursuivi courageusement l’épreuve: la deuxième manche et le barrage victorieux! La radio confirmait la fracture et le n°1 mondial devait être opéré le mardi suivant: «On a dû me poser des vis», déplorait Lamaze.

«C’était assez radical, mais c’était la manière la plus efficace pour me permettre de revenir au plus vite en compétition. Cela devrait prendre deux à trois semaines. Heureusement, la fracture était nette».

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France: un bon bilan Les performances de Kevin Staut ont été loin d’être l’arbre qui aurait caché la forêt. Les Français ont été présents dans toutes les épreuves et ont été en tête de la Coupe des nations – avec quatre autres équipes – pour conclure à la quatrième place ex-aequo avec les Suisses: «Nous avons fait une bonne première manche où la France se retrouve au coude à coude avec les autres nations, analysait l’entraineur national Laurent Elias. Je suis content de Mylord Carthago HN qui confirme une fois de plus, sa deuxième place à Rotterdam avec ce double sans faute à Aix. Kevin fait 0 et 4 points, une petite faute en seconde manche.

Pour Olivier c’est un peu plus difficile, ils sont en période de réglages. Michel et Kellemoi de Pépita passent au travers de cette étape, un problème de gourmette en première manche, et une jument un peu

contractée en seconde. Je ne suis pas affolé par cette quatrième place, on n’a pas été assez bons». Alors, demi-déception ou demi-satisfaction ? Nous pencherons pour la seconde interprétation tant les Français ont été présents dans les autres épreuves: deux victoires de Bosty dans des «vitesses», Idéal de la loge 4ème de la «grosse» du mardi et du Prix NRW du jeudi où Guillon se classe 5ème avec Lord du Theize et enfin Kevin Staut, outre sa victoire dans la tournante qui se classe 2ème du Winning Tour le samedi. Ce qu’on appelle un bilan positif , non ?

“Nous avons fait une bonne première manche où la France se retrouve au coude à coude avec les autres nations” Laurent Elias

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Jumping

Global Champions Tour en France Cannes, Monaco et Chantilly: le Global Champions Tour s’est attardé en France cet été.

En France et à Monte-Carlo.

Mais la Principauté fait un peu partie de la famille: en football, Monaco joue dans le championnat français!

Article Pascal Renauldon Photo Alfredo Bini

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Trois concours, trois ambiances différentes.

A Cannes, le site, le Stade des Hespérides, est pratiquement historique d’un point de vue des sports équestres. Le premier Grand Prix s’est couru en 1982 sur ce stade où Zinédine Zidane avait fait ses premières armes dans le football professionnel. En 28 ans, tous les grands noms du jumping ont défilé et gagné sur la Croisette : John Whitaker (avec Milton), Franke Sloothaak, Markus Fuchs (époque Shandor), Hugo Simon (E.T). François Bourey s’est toujours donné les moyens pour allouer un caractère exceptionnel à son concours: le Renault Jump des années 80 attirait immanquablement les meilleurs mondiaux. Quand avec Pulsar, Cannes est devenu avec Aix-la-Chapelle et Monterey une étape de la Triple Crown, les cavaliers venaient tenter leur chance sur la Croisette et l’Italien Jerry Smit a décroché un jackpot de près d’un million de dollars.

Puis, grâce à Marina Picasso, la dotation du Grand Prix est restée suffisamment attractive pour retenir les champions. Jaeger-LeCoultre a ensuite pris le

relais avant que le Global Champions Tour s’y installe avec CN International et Rolex assurant la participation des trente meilleurs mondiaux. De ce new age on se souvient de la belle victoire de Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum en 2008 avec un nouveau cheval de légende, Shutterfly, triple-vainqueur de la Coupe du monde. Une victoire au terme d’un duel avec une autre jolie blonde, Edwina Alexander qui forme un couple également mythique avec ce petit poney qu’est Itot du Château du haut de ses 1m58! Cette année là, l’Australienne manquait encore de métier sur un barrage: la défaite avait été assez nette, 3 secondes. Deux ans plus tard, sur un scénario un peu différent où elle devait assurer un sans faute, car, dernière à partir, tous ses principaux adversaires (Marcus Ehning, Jessica Kuerten et Kevin Staut) avaient fait tomber le dernier oxer.

Ce qu’elle fit avec une certaine maîtrise! Ce triomphe de l’Australienne était récompensé par Jaeger -LeCoultre dont les dirigeants étaient tout heureux de retrouver la Croisette !

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Samba à Monaco L’histoire du Jumping de Monte-Carlo est plus récente. Elle avait débuté sous le chapiteau du cirque de Fontvieille au milieu des années 90. Patronné par SAS le Prince Rainier, qui ne manquait jamais une édition, le jumping se courait sur une piste réduite et relevait plus de l’exhibition car les cavaliers hésitaient à y engager leurs meilleurs chevaux.

L’arrivée en 2006 sur le port Hercule et face à la Méditerranée allait changer les choses d’autant qu’elle était dictée par l’intégration au prestigieux Global Champions Tour. La piste ne fait pas partie des plus spacieuses du circuit, certes, mais suffisamment dimensionnée pour y construire un Grand Prix international digne de ce nom. Le GCT aidant, les meilleurs mondiaux ne manqueraient désormais pour rien au monde ce Jumping de Monte-Carlo. Après deux ans de règne américain (Richard Spooner et Cristallo), la Samba est devenue l’air à la mode cette année en Principauté.

Et notamment ce samedi 26 juin où, après un doublé de Rodrigo Pessoa et Alvaro Neto de Miranda dans l’épreuve à 1m50, Bernardo Alvès (Bridget) a mis le feu au port Hercule en battant de deux centièmes Jessica Kuerten et Libertina (qui avaient gagné l’épreuve en 2008) dans le Grand Prix Global Tour.

Le GCT aidant, les meilleurs mondiaux ne manqueraient désormais pour rien au monde ce Jumping de Monte-Carlo.

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Fastes princiers A Chantilly, cheval et histoire sont mêlés depuis toujours. Les chasses des princes de Condé rivalisaient avec celles du roi et en 1719, Louis Henri de Bourbon lance la construction des plus folles et des plus majestueuses écuries de l’histoire qui durera jusqu’en 1735. Les Grandes Écuries abritaient alors 240 chevaux de chasse et 500 chiens de meute. En 1833, à l’issue d’une chasse, le duc d’Orléans lance un défi à ses invités: une course de galop de la forêt aux Grandes Écuries; c’est là qu’est découverte la qualité naturelle du sol propice à ce genre d’exercice. L’année suivante naissait le premier hippodrome de l’Europe continentale où se courent encore aujourd’hui les classiques Prix du Jockey Club et de Diane. C’est dans ce somptueux décor patrimonial que Gérard Manzinali a créé voici dix ans le Jumping de Chantilly: national pendant trois ans, CSI*** les trois suivantes, «4 étoiles» pendant trois autres années, l’événement a pris ses lettres de noblesse cette année en deve-

nant «5 étoiles» et surtout deuxième étape française du prestigieux GCT. Les premiers concernés, les cavaliers, ont été subjugués par la beauté du concours grâce notamment à la nouvelle piste, l’arène Édouard de Rothschild, une moquette verte de 100 mètres par 150 qui fait face aux Grandes Écuries. L’initiateur et principal mécène de cette nouvelle scène équestre faisait d’ailleurs beaucoup parler de lui ce week-end là avec des parcours difficiles et surtout l’achat de Lamm de Fétan à la famille Mars. Le cheval, objet d’un interminable conflit entre les propriétaires et la Fédération française d’équitation, aurait changé d’écurie pour un prix murmuré entre 4 et 8 millions d’Euros selon les différentes rumeurs (toutes de source sûre, cela va de soi!) Ce que le principal intéressé dément d’une devinette: «je suis loin d’avoir battu le record d’achat d’un cheval», module Édouard de Rothschild qui n’avait pas encore décidé qui de lui ou de Ludger Beerbaum (chez qui il s’entraîne) allait monter

le cheval en concours. Toujours est-il que le cheval avec qui Timothée Anciaume avait remporté la première étape du GCT à Valence est perdu pour l’équipe de France. Mais cette équipe de France pourra compter sur la (de plus en plus) brillante Pénélope Leprévost, deuxième du GCT Grand Prix EADS de Chantilly, derrière Laura Kraut, époustouflante avec Cedric et devant Edwina Alexander, plus prudente avec Itot du Château. Eh oui, encore un podium exclusivement féminin, comme à Hambourg. Les trois princesses de Chantilly ne s’en sont pas moins lâchées après ce magnifique barrage à cinq: Nick Skelton et Ludger Beerbaum exclus du podium, ont dû se contenter d’assister à la séance de douche au Moët & Chandon dont les trois miss hilares se sont aspergées. Un spectacle qui a dû ravir Louis Henri de Bourbon, 7ème prince de Condé, dont la légende dit qu’il pensait se réincarner en cheval pour occuper ses Grandes Écuries et qui n’était donc pas loin !

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Article Rbpresse Photo Rbpresse

Charity

Polo Charity Cup Chantilly La fougue de Pancho et le charme d’Ayo

C’était une journée rare et un peu magique.

Elle avait commencé par une excellente finale, gagnée par In The Wings, s’est poursuivie par un fantastique concert donné par la sublime Ayo et ses amis, Keziah Jones et Gary Dourdan au profit de l’UNICEF dont elle est marraine et s’est terminée par un dîner festif dont le Polo Club de Chantilly a le secret.

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La chanteuse s’est montrée toutefois très douée pour ce sport lors de ce premier essai nous a assuré Philippe Perrier qui avait supervisé cette première leçon.

L’événement, sponsorisé par Schweppes, était dédié à la générosité au profit de l’éducation des enfants dans le monde. Le tournoi de 12 goals a été rebaptisé la Polo Charity Cup for UNICEF, un sport que l’artiste internationale avait découvert il y a un an au polo de Chantilly: «A l’issue d’un concert j’ai rencontré Elmer Brown qui m’a raconté qu’il jouait au polo dans ce club. J’ai pensé qu’il s’agissait de polo sur un vélo vu sa corpulence. Il m’a proposé de l’accompagner un jour et quand je l’ai vu apparaître en tenue d’équitation j’ai été un peu surprise. Il m’a amenée à Chantilly où l’on m’a mise sur un poney de polo. J’étais déjà montée à cheval, mais jamais avec un maillet dans les mains. Je ne suis encore jamais tombée de cheval, mais je crains que cela arrive maintenant avec le polo, je crois que cela fait partie du jeu, non?» La chanteuse s’est montrée toutefois très douée pour ce sport lors de ce premier essai nous a assuré Philippe Perrier qui avait supervisé cette première leçon. Enceinte, Ayo a mis cette nouvelle activité entre parenthèses mais elle assure vouloir reprendre dès la naissance de ce deuxième enfant et peut-être essayer de monter une équipe. «Cela me donnera une deuxième raison d’aller en Argentine. C’est un pays où se confrontent les extrêmes et très riche d’un point de vue culture et j’avais toujours eu envie de le visiter. Maintenant, j’ai envie d’y découvrir également la culture du polo».

La rencontre avec cette chanteuse d’exception a eu lieu en langue allemande : Ayo est d’origine nigériane, mais elle a grandi en Allemagne où elle a appris l’équitation. «Le Nigéria est l’un des deux pays africains

avec l’Afrique du Sud où se pratique le meilleur polo du continent. Je n’ai malheureusement pas encore vu de vrai match au Nigéria, mais j’ai déjà vu des joueurs nigérians à l’œuvre à Kano, une ville où l’on joue au polo, ils montaient d’excellents chevaux». Fille de l’Afrique où l’enfance est défavorisée, Ayo a donc accepté de chanter pour eux dans le cadre d’un tournoi de polo: un événement incroyable auquel elle a associé deux de ses amis, le bluesman nigérian Keziah Jones et l’acteur américain Gary Dourdan dont la musique est la vraie et première passion. Les trois artistes se sont montrés généreux sur scène comme le fut Pancho Bensadon l’après-midi sur le terrain. Le concert fut un grand moment de bonheur pour les quelques privilégiés qui y ont assisté moyennant un don à l’UNICEF: «C’était une idée d’Elmer. Il m’a dit que ce serait un rêve de pouvoir apporter quelque chose aux enfants ne pouvant accéder à l’éducation grâce à un match de polo associé à un concert. J’ai tout de suite adhéré à ce projet. Je suis maman et le serai une deuxième fois dans quelques semaines, mais que ce soit mes propres enfants ou d’autres enfants, je me sens responsable de leur bien-être. Et quand des enfants ne vont pas bien dans ce monde, je pense que tous ceux qui vont bien peuvent faire quelque chose pour eux. Cela ne veut pas dire forcément donner de l’argent, mais faire un geste pour eux, un petit rien comme leur préparer un repas. En tant que femme, je me sens sans doute plus concernée pour agir pour les femmes et les enfants défavorisés de ce monde.

Dans le tiers monde, ce sont les femmes qui doivent

supporter les charges d’une famille. Je suis déjà allée sur le terrain, au Nigéria, bien sûr, et me suis impliquée dans des projets d’éducation, je suis allée visiter des écoles pour évaluer leurs besoins matériels.

Je veux, avec ma musique, m’impliquer encore davantage dans des projets de développement liés à l’éducation des enfants. La musique est un langage universel et peut sensibiliser un grand nombre de personnes».

Côté musique justement, Ayo, qui sortira un nouvel album en janvier, repartira en tournée après la naissance de son deuxième enfant: «C’est mon troisième album qui, en fait, a déjà été enregistré en avril, mais il ne sortira qu’au début de l’année prochaine. Quand le bébé sera là, je vais me reposer jusqu’en novembre puis je redonnerai un concert pour l’UNICEF avant de repartir en tournée à travers l’Europe et en Amérique»

…et bien sûr reprendre le polo: «oui, et pourquoi pas essayer de monter une équipe de musiciens. Je pense que cela attirera du monde car les gens voudront me voir tomber de cheval !»

Le match Neuf équipes étaient engagées et In The Wings a été la seule équipe à remporter ses quatre matchs de poule. Victoire logique de cette dernière en finale face à Castel. Un duel entre Pancho Bensadon et le pilote d’Ellerstina, Guillermo Willington qui a nettement tourné à l’avantage du cousin Heguy remarquablement aidé par le jeune Santiago Irastorza, lui aussi pilote chez Ellerstina. Une paire efficace que l’on retrouvera dans la Coupe d’Argent de Deauville.

Score final 11 à 9.

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Polo

Polo Cup Lucien Barrière

Bautista Heguy en tête d’affiche Le Polo de Deauville présente une palpitante saison de haut niveau avec trois tournois qui se joueront du 31 juillet au 29 août.

Article Rbpresse Photo Rbpresse

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Alors que son frère Marcos sera le joueur étoile à Gstaad, Bautista tiendra ce même rôle de premier à Deauville. En juin, pour le lancement de sa marque de vêtements, la star de l’événement se nommait Georgia Jagger dont le charme a subjugué le monde du polo. En août, une autre star, plus virile, sera la tête d’affiche du plus relevé des trois tournois, la Coupe d’Or. Bautista Heguy (h9), quintuple vainqueur de l’Open d’Argentine. Le cadet de la célèbre fratrie (dont les quatre frères et trois cousins germains ont tous été handicap 10) jouera aux côtés de son cousin, Francisco Bensadon (h8) au sein de l’équipe tenante du titre, Royal Barrière.

L’équipe d’André Fabre partira à nouveau favorite cette année, mais les deux cousins rencontreront d’autres joueurs de l’Open d’Argentine comme Lucas Monteverde (champion d’Argentine en titre avec La Dolfina) chez Talandracas ou, au sein de Blackstrom, Marcos di Paola, 5ème homme de La Aguada, demi-finaliste en 2009 et championne en 2003. A suivre également dans cette compétition, l’équipe anglaise des frères Hanburry, El Remanso, demi-finaliste de la Gold Cup anglaise en juillet. Bref des références. Les six équipes en découdront à partir du 15 août.

Mais il ne faudra pas forcément attendre cette date pour voir évoluer des joueurs de handicap 8 puisque Francisco Bensadon sera le pilier de Royal Barrière, version Coupe d’Argent, où André Fabre a également engagé un jeune espoir français, Florent Garaud, mais également le jeune Argentin Santiago Irastorza qui a émerveillé le public de Chantilly où Fabre a remporté les deux principaux tournoi du mois de juin.

Bensadon sera notamment confronté au solide pilier brésilien de l’équipe Tres Marias, Olavo Novaes, handicap 8 également.

L’équipe d’André Fabre partira à nouveau favorite cette année, mais les deux cousins rencontreront d’autres joueurs de l’Open d’Argentine comme Lucas Monteverde

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Neuf équipes dont une suisse sont engagées dans cette Silver Cup (à partir du 31 juillet, finale le 14 août). Les terrains fibrés de l’hippodrome de la Touques accueilleront une nouvelle compétition, la Coupe de Bronze (5 équipes engagées), d’un niveau moindre mais où l’on verra évoluer le n°1 français, Brieuc Rigaux (h5) ainsi que l’une des rares professionnelles féminines du circuit, la jeune Argentine Lia Salvo (h3), égérie de Jaeger LeCoultre aux côtés du n°1 mondial, Adolfo Cambiaso.

Voilà pour le sport. Côté convivialité, Deauville reste fidèle à sa tradition avec une soirée de gala en ouverture, des asados tout au long du mois offerts par

quelques capitaines et un village où Equestrio est partenaire. Deauville, c’est aussi l’occasion de découvrir une région merveilleuse et encore authentique, le Pays d’Auge, où foisonnent les haras de pur-sang et les villages en colombage.

Il faut aussi flâner sur le vieux port de Trouville et ne pas manquer la halte « crustacées » aux célèbres Vapeurs. Le tournoi de polo se déroule pendant le meeting des courses sur les deux hippodromes de Clairefontaine et de la Touques (où se situent les terrains de polo) et le soir, une vrai journée deauvillaise se termine évidemment au Régine’s, la discothèque du Casino Lucien Barrière.

ST-TROPEZ|GASSIN

Ville de Saint-tropez et Gassin

Du 3 au 5 septembre 2010 www.polo-master.com Vous retrouverez toutes les informations ainsi que le programme du tournoi

Matchs de polo - vendredi, samedi, dimanche. de 12h30 à 17h. Entrées gratuites.

Déjeuner au Polo - réservation Plage des Jumeaux au 04 94 55 21 80 Soirée Cabaret au Stefano Forever Jeudi 4 - 21h Plage de Pampelonne Sur réservation au 04 94 55 58 00 Défilés du Old Car Trophy Crémieux et concours de chapeaux Jean-Louis Jullian offrira de petits diamants aux plus belles femmes coiffées de chapeaux. Dimanche 5 - 11h à 13h30

Remise des prix Dimanche 5 - 11h à 13h30

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Polo

Castel Cup Open de France de Polo L’équipe de Philippe Fatien, Castel, a écrit quelques-unes des plus belles pages de l’Open de France de Polo qui fêtera cette année son dixième anniversaire.

Article Pascal Renauldon Photo Pascal Renauldon

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Pour ce jubilée, Castel change de rôle et de compétiteur, devient partenaire principal de l’Open français.

Avec à ses côtés des joueurs de prestige comme Matias McDonough ou Guillermo Willington, Philippe Fatien a remporté quatre des neuf Open de France disputés depuis 2001. Cette année, il ne tentera pas de remporter un cinquième titre, mais Castel devient « sponsor-titre » de la prestigieuse épreuve qui rassemblera cette année une dizaine d’équipes à partir du 4 septembre. «Pour un professionnel argentin, nous avait confié Gonzalo von Wernich, vainqueur du tournoi l’an passé avec Saint-Mesme, c’est un titre important et utile dans une carrière». Cette année Von Wernich tentera de défendre ce titre au sein d’Aries, l’équipe de Bruno Bensoussan. Les candidats à la victoire sont nombreux cette année et il faudra suivre avec intérêt une équipe du Polo Club de Chantilly entièrement composée de joueurs français: «Dans une compétition de ce niveau, c’est très valorisant pour nous d’engager une équipe du Polo Club de Chantilly, explique Olivier Variot, co-président du club.

Cette équipe entièrement française a une valeur d’exemple et veut montrer aux jeunes qu’il est possible, en France, d’atteindre, par le travail, un polo de bon niveau. Cette équipe comprendra notamment Florent Garaud, qui est junior et Brieuc Rigaux, meilleur joueur français aujourd’hui, entièrement formé au club et qui a été poussé par quelques-uns des plus importants patrons du club: Patrick GuerrandHermès, qui l’a découvert, Philippe Fatien et André Fabre, qui l’ont fait jouer à un haut niveau, jusqu’à la Coupe d’Or, et moi-même puisque Brieuc est le polo manager de ma propre équipe».

Le tournoi sera donc très équilibré avec une dizaine d’équipes: «C’est l’avantage d’organiser l’Open de France en septembre, poursuit Olivier Variot.

A cette époque, les ténors argentins sont repartis dans leur pays et ainsi les équipes de 16 goals engagées à Chantilly sont bien plus équilibrées avec des joueurs de 5 à 7 goals, parfois 8 goals de handicap et cela donne lieu à des rencontre à la fois très serrées et très ouvertes, donc palpitantes».

Palmares Open de France 2001 Open de France AMG-Mercedes LA CARDONNE (Fr.) - IN THE WINGS (Fr.) 10 à 9 2002 Open de France AMG-Mercedes TALANDRACAS-GRASSFIELD (Fr.) - TRADITION (Sui.) 7½à7 2003 Open de France AMG-Mercedes CASTEL (Fr.) - GRASSFIELD (Fr.) 11 à 8 2004 Open de France AMG-Mercedes CASTEL (Fr.) - IN THE WINGS (Fr.) 5 à 3 2005 Open de France IN THE WINGS (Fr.) - BLACK POLO TEAM (It.) 7 à 6 2006 Finale du 6 e Open de France CITIZEN-K AMG-CASTEL (Fr.) - WASABI (Hol.) 10 à 7 2007 Open de France Hermès CASTEL (Fr.) -IN THE WINGS (Fr.) 8 à 7 2008 Jaeger-LeCoultre Open de France Polo Cup POLO DE DEAUVILLE (Fr.) - Jaeger-Lecoultre (Fr.) 7à6 2009 Jaeger-LeCoultre Open de France Polo Cup Saint-Mesme (Fr.) - IN THE WINGS (Fr.) 5 à 6

Français English

National International reportage

40 Nemiah

Valley of the last mustangs

portrait

52 A familly Affair

portfolio

60 Inspire

A photographic celebration of equestrianism Fashion

70 Style by Equestrio wine

76 Bacchus’own country ?

Once upon a time there was ice wine…

80 Passion

40 REPORTAGE

Nemiah

Valley of the last mustangs

Article & Photos Patrice Halley/LightMediation

Some say that horses arrived during the gold rush of 1860, while others claim that they migrated northwards from California a little over 400 years ago, after being abandoned by the last Spanish conquistadors.

Regardless, these “sons of the wind”, Canada’s last mustangs , are very much alive and roam wild and free like their ancestors in the Chilcotin highlands. *

*From the Spanish mesteno – wild and untrained.

REPORTAGE 43

The arrival of the first horses remains vague in the memories of the Xeni Gwet’in, who call themselves “the horse people”. According to oral history and what the old people say today when questioned, “horses have been here for as long as one can remember”.

The animal found its place long ago on the lands of this tribe, which consists of some 380 Indians, members of the Chilcotin nation, who, for as long as men can remember, have lived in peaceful harmony with horses in this remote Nemiah valley and in the Brittany Triangle. Surrounded by Lake Chilko and the river by the same name, the Nemiah Valley, the Taseko River and the Coast Mountains, the Brittany Triangle is an isolated territory stretching for some 155,000 hectare. It is dominated by the omnipresent Mount Ts’yl-os (3,061 metres), which is said to dictate the region’s climatic conditions. The Xeni Gwet’in survived on this plateau for generations before moving down towards the gentler and more fertile Nemiah Valley.

With a rare respect for the earth and the animals that live on it, the Xeni Gwet’in have refused all forms of industrial and commercial development, and these “little people” still live in a traditional manner. Their young Chief, Roger William, who is both educated and enthusiastic, decided to fight to protect the territory, which remains untouched by both big mining and forestry corporations, and simultaneously, protect the horses. In 1989, following a number of conflicts with the British Columbian government and local forestry companies, isolated and concerned by the changes brought about by the exploitation of natural resources and the increasing industrial development in the region, the Xeni Gwet’in established a declaration refusing all industrial logging, all mining, or construction of roads and dams on their territory. This situation has since developed into a court case between the State and the Xeni Gwet’in, who are making a land claim.

The Mustangs are completely unaware that they are in the middle of a controversy over the territory, and as long as the State has not decided, the horses will have somewhere to go and allies in the heart of the Nemiah Valley and on the highlands of the Brittany Triangle.

Whatever the outcome, as far as the Xeni Gwet’in are concerned, horses will still be their faithful friends for a long time to come and the living symbol of their freedom as long as they can remember.

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In the United States, they are considered to be a “national treasure” and around 40,000 mustangs and burros have been protected by law since 1971

The last “sons of the wind” There are only a handful of wild horses left in Canada and the only ones that are protected are those of Sable Island, although large herds of wild horses still live in the west of the country – in Alberta, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and on the prairies; in the Chilcotin in British Columbia and in the regions of the Fraser and Peace Rivers. These horses somehow survive, pushed as they are into the confines of territories inhabited by men. Despite recent DNA analyses conducted by independent biologists, provincial and federal authorities continue to deny the existence of the wild horses and their blood line to the mustangs abandoned by the Spaniards. However, certain historical accounts, such as that of explorer, Simon Fraser (1808), and Père Nobele, a Jesuit on an exploratory mission from the Vatican (1845), indicate that the Chilcotin Indians used horses well before the 1860 gold rush and the “official” arrival of the first horses.

As there is no law that recognises their existence, theoretically anyone can catch or shoot a mustang.

(The last culling expedition was organised by the British Columbian government in 1988).

Consequently, the horses are constantly pursued, mainly by ranchers who accuse them of grazing on their cattlelands and shoot them on sight, mostly to feed their dogs. Without the wild horses, the intense colonisation of the North American continent could never have happened. After this great era, the automobile made its appearance and horses, wild or not, swiftly became redundant. In both the United States and Canada, thousands were eradicated – hunted and cruelly shot on the spot or killed in abattoirs on government orders. Only a few herds managed to survive in the most remote places. Today, only a few thousand mustangs remain. In the United States, they are considered to be a “national treasure” and around 40,000 mustangs and burros have been protected by law since 1971, roaming lands managed by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management – the equivalent of crown lands in the UK) and private reserves.

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Where does the horse come from ?

Several million years ago, well before humans appeared on what is now the North American continent, the evolution of Eohippus, the original wild horse which came from Asia, began. For no known reason, some 11,000 years ago, around the end of the Pleistocene Age, the equine species disappeared from the continent until its reintroduction of Equus Caballus, the modern horse, by the Spaniards, around 1500. First Christopher Columbus, followed

by Ponce de Leon, Vasquez de Ayllon and Panifilio de Soto brought horses to conduct their exploratory journeys in the New World. After this, Hernando Cortez and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado arrived

on the coast of what is now California to conquer the gold of the city of Cibola. This new El Dorado did not exist anymore than its predecessors, and after the debacle of their troops, the conquistadors abandoned their horses. Vasquez alone left more than 2,000 horses and 500 mules behind. The numerous freed horses reproduced and spread across the green plains of Western America and Western Canada. They were swiftly adopted by the first nations who called the horses “sons of the wind”, but in less than 200 years, the horse wandered once again on the continent’s great plains. The wild mustang* was born.

They were swiftly adopted by the first nations who called the horses “sons of the wind”

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Domestic or wild ?

The provincial government of British Columbia denies the existence of “wild” horses and as a result, refuses to arrange an environmental study of these horses on the basis that they are simply domestic animals that have escaped to return to a semi-wild state.

According to environmentalists, this refusal shows complete ignorance of the position occupied by the horse in the original prairie ecosystem. According to Wayne McCrory, a biologist who has studied the horses for nearly three years, the government’s refusal to create a distinction between the horses’ origins is mainly political. According to protagonists for the horses, Brittany’s nomadic herds have lived a completely wild existence for 200 years. And while it is true that certain animals have escaped from the surrounding ranches, mainly mares attracted by stallions and freedom, the horses of the Brittany Triangle that live in an extremely isolated area, no longer behave like domestic animals. Herds are structured in social groups that do not correspond with those of domestic animals. Their wild instinct is strong, it is extremely

difficult to get near them and in their rituals and behaviour, the characteristics of individual animals resemble those of wild animals that make up an integral part of the food chain. This raises the following question: how much time must a domestic animal and its descendants deal with extreme conditions of nature in order to once more be considered a wild animal?

Their wild instinct is strong, it is extremely difficult to get near them

52 portrait

A family Affair Article & Photo Lucy Monro

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Kalaan is a name synonymous with polo, not just in India, but throughout Asia and far beyond.

‘You know the Kalaans?’ is a question frequently proffered at introductions in the polo world whenever there is even the slightest link to the Subcontinent.

A dominant and unique force in Indian polo, the Kalaans – father Colonel Raj Kalaan and his sons Uday and Angad – have captained the Indian national team over a period that dates back to 1980.

A polo family in every sense of the word, the Kalaans are unique in that their prowess, and international success, extends beyond professional horse polo to the game’s largest incarnation, elephant polo. At the 2010 King’s Cup Elephant Polo in Thailand Uday and Angad triumphed for Audemars Piguet for the second consecutive year. The win coincided with their father’s 70th birthday and the occasion saw the entire family, led by the woman who has presided over three decades of polo success, Raj’s wife and Uday and Angad’s mother Sunny Kalaan, celebrate together.

So great is the tally of their collective wins that a request for a victory count sees the whole family resort to finger counting as they recall wins across continents and decades in an attempt to arrive at a total.

All three have world elephant polo titles to their credit as well as high-goal international horse polo titles. Col Raj, aka ‘The Silver Fox’, has won the World Elephant Polo Championship five times, the King’s Cup twice and the Taprobane Trophy (the Ceylon Elephant Polo Association championship) three times. Angad has won the World Elephant Polo Championship twice and the King’s Cup five times and Uday has enjoyed one World Elephant Polo Championship win and two King’s Cup victories.

On horses the family victory tally is even more impressive. Raj, who captained the Indian polo team between 1980 to 1983, has won the Indian Polo Championship (20-goals) eight times, the Northern India Championship (20-goals) seven times and between 1980 and 1984 secured all the Indian Grand Slam titles. Angad has six Northern Indian Opens and three IPA Championships to his credit and Uday has won two Indian Opens, a couple of Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cups, Northern India Opens and President’s Cups. In the late 1990s, as a member of the acclaimed Jodhpur Eagles, led by His Highness the Yuvraj of Jodhpur Shivraj Singh, he enjoyed great success with the legendary squad at home and abroad and played in the French Open at Chantilly. He currently plays off 4-goals, but was a 5-goaler for four

years between 2002 to 2006 until injury forced absence from the field and hopes to regain his 5-goal status soon. Angad’s handicap is 5-goals and the 1980s Raj was also 5-goaler.

For the Kalaans polo is far more than a business, it’s their raison d’être and every emphasis is on the development of the sport and those who play it. Without fail Raj is to be found behind the scenes at tournaments (both elephant and horse) offering advice to players and shouting instructions from the sidelines, together with his wife Sunny, when their sons are in action. A horseman before he was a polo player, Raj coached the Indian showjumping team and travelled with them to Saudi Arabia, Iran, Hong Kong and Thailand. Along with his long-time friend Jim Edwards, co-founder of elephant polo, he was instrumental in the foundation of the Ghengis Khan Polo Club in Mongolia in 1999, now run by Christopher Gierke and his wife Enke, and returns annually to teach there. “The Mongols are good riders but had never played polo”, he says of the young Mongols he and Jim first encountered in

the late 1990s when they began their venture on the Mongolian Steppe. “They were eager to learn about the game so Jim and I helped them to set up the polo club. Over the years they have become very good players and every year there are many more boys who go to the camp for me to teach them. By 2009 there were ten teams of 12 year olds and eight teams of 16 years old and above. This year I am going for six weeks”.

A consummate horseman, Raj grew up riding. His father, a highly decorated army General, kept riding horses, as did his father before him, Raj’s grandfather, and Raj learned to ride at the age of seven and started playing polo in the National Defence Academy when he was 16. His army career saw him serve in the Deccan Horse tank regiment throughout the 1960s, as second in command in the President’s Bodyguard and command the 61st Cavalry from 1969 to his retirement from service in 1983. After leaving the army he played professional polo in Calgary, Canada, before returning to India to found the club that his sons now run, Haryana Polo Club just outside Delhi. Unlike

their father, Angad and Uday did not pursue a military career but, just as Raj was at the forefront of the game when the army was the driving force behind polo in India, they are leading lights of the new polo generation in the country Notably their professional polo careers were inspired largely by elephants rather than horses. Both learned to ride as young boys before a hiatus while they were at boarding school, followed by a return to the saddle at 16. “When I restarted to ride at 16 it was only because I wanted to play polo”, Angad says.

Uday’s story is similar and he cites his consecutive King’s Cup elephant polo victories among his career highlights to date alongside his most memorable horse polo triumphs, which include winning the Northern India Championships in 2004, the Test series against Barbados in 2007 and the 14-goal Vodafone Simur Cup in 2010: “Winning the King’s Cup with Audemars Piguet two years running is right on top”, he says when asked of his fondest polo moments. Prior to catching the polo bug, Uday had been considering a career in

For the Kalaans polo is far more than a business, it’s their raison d’être

56 REPORTAGE

In horse polo there is direct communication between player and horse but in ele polo, because the mahout is the link between player and ele he is a very important factor

the hospitality industry but really wanted to do something associated with horses. In 1989 at the age of 15 he won the World Elephant Polo Championship playing for Oberoi Hotels with his father. He was inspired and by the time he was 17 had ditched showjumping and dressage for polo and has never looked back. “From the moment I tried polo showjumping was out – it was polo�, he says with a grin.

The rest, as they say, is history. Angad and Uday clock up the airmiles as they find themselves increasingly in demand for coaching and playing duties. From their Delhi base at Haryana Polo Club, one of the most exquisitely delightful polo venues in India and an oasis of calm and talent for players to immerse themselves in, the brothers reach out to the world just as their father did before them, and indeed continues to do.

Communication is key and Angad, nicknamed the ‘Dark Horse of Delhi’ in elephant polo circles, expands upon the subject as he explains the difference between elephant and horse polo. “In horse polo there are two minds at work – yours and the horse’s.

In ele polo there are three - the mahout’s, yours and the ele’s”. Uday takes up the subject and expands further, “In horse polo there is direct communication between player and horse but in ele polo, because the mahout is the link between player and ele he is a very important factor. Most of the time it’s vital to understand how he’s thinking in order to get the best out of the ele”. The Indian polo season begins each year in October in Jaipur, Rajasthan, where a week of tournaments is followed by a two-month season in Delhi, during which period Haryana hosts six tour-

naments; the 10-goal Tiger Mountain Cup, the 10goal JPC Cup, the South Delhi Cup (4 to 6-goals), the 8-goal Aravali Trophy and Client Associates Cup and an 8 to 10-goal international. The family then heads to Jodhpur in December and onwards to Jaipur in January before heading back to Delhi to host two further tournaments at Haryana and play the second segment of the Delhi season in February. An especially busy 2010 saw Angad and Uday both venture south to make their first foray into the world of beach polo when they played in the Lalit Suri Beach Polo tournament in Goa and, while Raj heads to the Mongolian Steppe in the summer, Uday is scheduled to try his hand at traditional mountain polo in Ladakh, after a period coaching in Dubai and a trip to the Argentine. Quite a year!

The Kalaan’s talent is matched only by the demands

58 REPORTAGE

of others for them to share and pass on their skills.

Colonel Raj’s ambition, incredibly considering how packed his life already is with achievements, remains strong. He doesn’t hesitate when asked what his aims are for the future, “To give back positive skills and promote horse polo and ele polo, both of which have given me so much in life”, he says.

When asked what he would say to those who criticise elephant polo as not being ‘serious’ polo, he is customarily to the point. “They should go to Nepal or Thailand to get an idea of how it is played – not judge [the sport] by the touristy stuff they play in Jaipur”. Angad and Uday’s aims for the future, not surprisingly, centre around the family polo club.

“To develop Haryana Polo Club into a top international club with good fields and horses and to develop a polo resort that offers holidays to all levels of players”, Uday says when asked of his ambition.

His younger brother is quick to agree, “I want to see Haryana become a polo destination where players

come from all across the globe to play and learn”, he says. “And to make polo ponies that help me play better each year of course”. Since at 34, Angad already claims winning his first 20-goal Open at the age of just 21 as a career highlight, not to mention captaining India in their victorious matches over Australia and Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup play-offs, the desire to play “better each year” reflects the drive as well as talent that is doubtless the secret of family success. The adage that, ‘behind every good man is a good woman’ has been proven many times. In the case of the Kalaans that woman’s duty is threefold.

The inimitable Sunny Kalaan, wife of Raj and mother of Uday and Angad, describes polo as her, “Lifeline”.

As the good woman behind three exceptional men it is only appropriate that Sunny should have the last word – so what, in Sunny’s opinion is the secret of their success? “Hard work and dedication”, she says, adding with a smile, “And, of course, Mom to push them out of bed every morning to practice”.

60 portfolio

Inspire A photographic celebration of equestrianism

The biggest equestrian show on earth – the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ – starts on 25 September in Lexington, Kentucky.

Throughout the 16-day event, the FEI invites visitors to Inspire, a photographic celebration

of equestrianism like no other.

A unique collection of 16 images, taken this year, shows inspirational figures from the sport in surprising but eloquent situations. Some are legends, others are inspiring emerging talents. Their origins are diverse and serve as a reminder of the geographical spread of the 133 National Federations affiliated to the FEI. Together, they represent all the equestrian disciplines on the programme of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Jumping, dressage, vaulting, driving, para-dressage, reining, endurance and driving are based on partnerships between equine and human athletes. Yet horses are absent from all but three of the images. The idea of Inspire was to remove the riders from the context the public usually sees them in and place them in settings incorporating subtle references to their disciplines. Most unite two people in bucolic or urban backdrops and highlight the bond of admiration and inspiration between them. Photographers Liz Gregg, Kit Houghton and Simon Charlton capture rarely seen moments of playful intimacy

between those sitters with family ties. HRH Princess Royal and Zara Phillips share a joke in the tackroom of Gatcombe Park after a morning ride. The elegant Rodrigo and Nelson Pessoa fool around on a double-seater rocking-horse in their stables at Fleurus near Brussels and the UAE’s young world endurance champion Hussain Al Marzooqi discovers space hoppers in the desert near Dubai with his father Ali. Some of the riders chose to be photographed with people outside their families who inspired their journey into equestrianism. This is the case for USA jumping riders Beezie Madden and Jessica Springsteen, united by their mutual admiration, are captured in an upbeat portrayal of female independence. Here, we allow you a glimpse of Inspire with images that are not all included in the exhibition but were taken during the same photo shoots.

Provocative, contemporary, striking, the photos will prompt discussion and interpretation and leave no viewer indifferent.

1. IJsbrand & Bram Chardon – © Kit Houghton 2. Jessica Springsteen & Beezie Madden – © Liz Gregg 3. Rodrigo and Nelson Pessoa – © Kit Houghton 4. Mark Todd and Alex Hua Tian – © Liz Gregg 5. HRH Princess Haya – © Liz Gregg 6. Hussain Al Marzooqi and Ali Mohammed Al Marzooqi – © Simon Charlton 7. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and her daughter Brianne Victoria – © Kit Houghton 8. HRH Princess Royal and Zara Phillips - © Kit Houghton 9. Natalia Berezhnaya – © Liz Gregg 10. Dr Lyons and his wife Deirdre – © Mark Cornelison 11. Laurentia Tan – © Liz Gregg 12. European Junior Reining Champions (Andrea Iannetta, Giovanni Masi, Elena Scipioni and Luca Menici) – © Liz Gregg

70 fashion

Style

by Equestrio

Photo Gianguido Rossi Moda Lucil Dore’

p. 70-71 Bruno: Jacket in tassel, shirt in cotton with polo collar, jeans with applications and polo boots LA MARTINA. ROLEX Datejust 41 mm rolesor yellow ref. 116333 ROLEX OYSTER PERPATUAL DATEJUST II

p. 73 Bruno: long Sleeves polo, jeans with applications and polo boots, LA MARTINA. ROLEX Datejust 41 mm rolesor yellow ref. 116333 ROLEX OYSTER PERPATUAL DATEJUST II

Martin: Cardigan with zip in plush LA MARTINA. Shirt in poplin cotton GAZZARRINI. Jeans U.S. POLO ASSN. Red leather belt FERRARI Claudio: Quilted jacket CAVALLERIA TOSCANA. Patchwork shirt U.S. POLO ASSN. Pants in wool PT01, Leather boots CAVALLERIA TOSCANA.

p. 74 Claudio: Leather jacket GAZZARINI. Leather boots CAVALLERIA TOSCANA

p. 72 Martin. Jacket in cashmere and profiles in leather STEFANO RICCI. Long Sleeves polo shirt LA MARTINA. Jeans U.S. POLO ASSN.

p. 75 up Martin: Double-breasted cloth Coat CAVALLERIA TOSCANA. Shirt with cotton facing U.S. POLO ASSN. Jeans in corduroy LA MARTINA p. 75 Bruno: J a c ke t i n s m o o t h ve lve t GAZZARRINI. Shirt in cotton with polo collar LA MARTINA. Horse pants in wool CAVALLERIA TOSCANA. Polo boots LA MARTINA.

PHOTO BY GIANGUIDO ROSSI FASHION BY TOMMASO BASILIO MODELS: BRUNO RANGEL CLAUDIO AVILA FOR FUTURE MODEL, MARTIN MICA FOR FASHION MODEL GROOMING Marco Minunno for MKS-Milano FASHION ASSISTANT STEFANO SPINETTA PHOTO ASSISTANT LODOVICO COLLI DI FELIZZANO LOCATION "LA NUOVA PONCIA"

76 wine

Bacchus’ own country ?

Once upon a time there was ice wine…

Article Pscale Meyer Photos Inniskillin

The story of the origins of ice wine resembles a good fairy tale.

At the end of the 18th century, a brief “ice age” fell on Europe and winemakers from the German Moselle region saw their vines succumbing to frost. Believing that they had lost everything, they wept bitterly, until the idea struck them that they could press their frozen grapes. Thus was born the fabulous nectar. Today, this treasure is commercialized by Canada, land of ranches and horses.

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Ice wine is made of concentrated late harvest without the slightest intervention, chaptalization, or acidification. By freezing the juice of ripe grapes, the ice concentrates the sugar content and proportionately increases the acidity. The pressing of the frozen grapes enables the extraction of the acidic juice, which has a high sugar content, as the fruit’s water content remains locked in a solid state in the form of ice flakes. This has a very poor yield, with only a few hundred litres per hectare, but an incomparable taste. Initially produced in Alsace, and subsequently in Austria and Germany under the name eiswein, ice wine is exported to Oregon in the US, and to Canada, which, until this moment, did not have much wine, despite desperate attempts by the first French colonists who hoped to have discovered a new land of Bacchus. The production of ice wine mainly from Vidal, a thick skinned hybrid, and Riesling, with no major wine-making changes, finally brought an element of recognition for the quality of Canadian soil. Today, it is to be found in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. The principal vineyards are situated around Niagara-on-the-lake, which is renowned for its microclimate, at a latitude of 33°, but also around 300km east of Vancouver in British Columbia, in the smiling Okanagan Valley, where ideal conditions prevail for maturation – intense sun, low rainfall, and stimulating air due to nearby lakes. As in earlier times, pressing takes place on site in the cold to avoid the grapes

defrosting. Warmly wrapped up and moon-booted, courageous winemakers harvest grape by grape by hand in December and January, when the temperature drops to between -8°C and -12°C, but not above that, choosing to work by night. The story doesn’t say if one must wait till the full moon. Considered the greatest white wine in the world, ice wine is drunk with ice and is well-balanced on the palate, hovering between acidity and sweetness, giving off delicate aromas of rose, spices and dried fruit, with a concentrated, perfumed bouquet and hints of exotic fruit such as litchi and mango. It is both rare and expensive, costing around 100 euro a bottle and is divine with foie gras and desserts. And even if the locals also drink it as a cocktail by adding martini, gin or vodka, nobody is forced to copy them. Its first international consecration dates from the gold medal awarded to the Inniskillin Estate for its 1989 Vidal at Vinexpo in Bordeaux in 1991. And in 2001, the sole medal awarded at a Riesling competition organised in Colmar went to a wine from Ontario.

Today the focus is on exportation and in 2009, China was one of the most important importers. In 2010, Inniskillin won 75 awards for its ice wine collection whose products, warmly recommended in Hugh Johnson’s 2010 edition, hail from the magnificent estates of Okanagan and Ontario. Jackson-Triggs’ Riesling is also highly prized. Totally confidential, ice wine tasting appears to be a sensory experience that is unique in the world. Let’s tell everyone!

www.inniskillin.com jacksontriggswinery.com www.vinsdumonde.com High JOHNSON. World Atlas of Wine, 2010 edition.

English

National International World Equestrian Game

80 Jos Lansink

is the outgoing champion

uk polo season

as quintessential part of Sporting Summer

88 Polo Blooming in England

FEI

94 FEI Window

global champions tour

98 Charlotte Casiraghi Enthusiastic commitment

more passion

104 Wimbledon 108 Passion 112 Partner Hotels

80 jumping

World Equestrian Games

Josis Lansink the outgoing champion From September 25 to October 10, the attention of riders, trainers, sport executives, sector workers and aficionados will be focused firmly on Lexington, Kentucky, a venue widely known as the “Horse Capital of the World”

Article Caterina Vagnozzi Photos Alfredo Bini©

©scoopdyga

82 jumping

For the sixth World Equestrian Games, the United States is expecting about 1,000 horses, 1,200 media and TV representatives, and hundreds of thousands of spectators.

This is a four-yearly event, a regular rendezvous that is technically more significant than the Olympics for the equestrian world, especially considering the complexity of the organization, which has included no less than eight equestrian sporting disciplines this year: showjumping, dressage, eventing, paradressage, vaulting, endurance, driving and reining.

The WEG are celebrating their twentieth anniversary (previous events were in Stockholm in 1990; The Hague in 1994; Rome in 1998; Jerez de la Frontera in 2002; Aachen in 2006), but the FEI world championships began long before that and not all the disciplines were present from the start.

As in just about every type of great equitation event, the WEG’s leading discipline is showjumping, which boasts the biggest number of riders, the longest history and the most appeal. The most popular trial is precisely the individual showjumping final which established itself as a magical spectacle right from the start (Paris, 1953), with the four top riders exchanging horses during the competition.

This concept was a huge success from the time of its debut, 57 years ago, and the setting in the French capital was also quite unique, with the reports of the time describing 35,000 people crowding into the Parc des Princes. There were twenty competitors from eleven different countries seeking a place

on the podium that year. The finalists for the eagerly awaited moment were the winner Spanish rider Francisco Goyoaga (on Quorum), followed by German rider Fritz Thiedemann (Diamant), with Frenchman Pierre Jonqueres D’Oriola (Ali Baba) in third place and the Italian Piero D’Inzeo (Uruguay), finishing fourth.

In the beginning, the event was annual, for the first four years. It was a travelling competition and was organized in the country of the previous year’s winner.

At the time, the front of stage was occupied by the direct contest between Germany and Italy, and the two fantastic riders who are still the only two competitors to have won the title twice each: Raimondo D’Inzeo (1956-1960) and Hans Gunther Winkler (1954-1955).

The 2010 championships will be the sixteenth and are scheduled for 8 pm on Saturday 9 October. It is easy to imagine how packed the arena will be…

Memories of the last event, at Soers equestrian stadium, in Aachen, where every one of the 60,000 plus seats was sold out, are firmly impressed in the minds of international horse lovers.

The hero of the day was the rider who came away with the gold medal around his neck: Jos Lansink.

“It was the greatest day of my life,” says the Belgian champion, who had already become a world leader in showjumping at the age of twenty-seven when he ranked individual seventh in at the Seoul Olympics.

“It was the greatest day of my life”

84 jumping

Quite a special day also if we consider that Lansink, on Cavalor Cumano, was in the final with three women riders: German Meredith Michaels Beerbaum (Shutterfly), American Beezie Madden (Authentic) and Australian Edwina Alexander (Isovlas Pialotta). “It was a really tough test, although I did realize that all three of the other horses I had to ride were well trained. I was most concerned about Shutterfly, who is a light and very sensitive mount. In the end, I was lucky and it all went well.

Aachen is an outright temple and any results in that arena have a special value”.

The event, which had actually become a sort of battle of the sexes, concluded with a thrilling three-rider jump-off involving Lansink, Madden and Beerbaum, with the medal winners decided by the clock.

Jos Lansink has been a regular competitor at the WEG. “I’ve taken part in all five previous events. How were they? Obviously the first time was the most difficult, also because I was riding Libero, a nine-year-old who was not at all ready for this sort of commitment. Things went well in The Hague and in Rome, but it was in the Jerez de la Frontera 2002 event, riding Caridor, that I showed my best colours, winning a team bronze (two no-penalty rounds), and I came in sixth”.

Two decades have passed and the showjumping world has changed drastically. Or so the current world champion feels. “Twenty years ago there were only five or six top riders around. Now you can count about thirty. A rider’s organization is crucial, as is changeover of mounts”.

Aged fourteen, Lansink, the son of farmers, revealed just how talented he was and was taken under the wing of the trainer Hans Horn. Later he was engaged by Leon Melchior’s training stables, at Zanghersheide in Belgium, where he worked for eight years. Then he opened his own stables nearby and now, assisted by four able young riders, he tends about fifty horses.

©rbpresse

86 jumping

More about this rider….

Jos Lansink was born in Weerselo (The Netherlands) on 19 March 1961. Aged three he began riding ponies and at twelve years old he became Dutch champion for the first time. His parents are farmers but he left the family business to dedicate himself totally to horses. In 1988 he began to establish himself riding Felix, with an endless run of Grand Prix victories and his first Olympic participation, Seoul (individual seventh). He has always been a champion and his name is linked to legendary mounts like Egano and Libero. Jos Lansink was a member of the Barcelona Olympics winning team and he also triumphed at the 1994 World Cup final. In 1996 he transferred to Leon Melchior’s Zanghersheide stables and natu-

ralized from Dutch to Belgian nationality. He took a team bronze at the Jerez de la Frontera WEG in 2002 for Belgium, and two years later he won the Calgary Grand Prix riding Cavalor Cumano, the same mount he rode to become world champion in 2006 at Aachen.

He boasts nine national champion titles: eight for The Netherlands and one for Belgium. “At the Lexington WEG my mount will be Valentina. I have an excellent rapport with this mare, who I’ve been riding since she was just six”.

The title is now open for takers, but Jos Lansink – it is clear to see – has no intention of stepping down from the podium and turf accountants have his name up there with the favourites. Break a leg!

L’événement CHevAL

ConCouRs Hippique inTeRnaTional De lyon CSI-W 5★ / CDI-W / CSI 2★ Reining International de Lyon

Symphonie ÉqueStre : « LeS comÉdieS muSicaLeS » Réservations

© esprit public / Crédit photo : Tim Flach

Depuis la France : 0 892 68 36 22 (0,34 € TTC / min) Depuis l’étranger : +33 1 41 57 32 09 www.equitalyon.com www.francebillet.com

88 polo

UK Polo season

Polo Blooming in England as quintessential part of Sporting Summer

The traditional fall of the curtain on the high-goal polo season in England ended with a collision of diverse cultures with England defeating New Zealand 9-7 on Cartier International Day at Guard’s Polo Club, Windsor Great Park.

Article Gareth A Davies Photos Tony Ramirez

90 polo This was a season dominated by fine weather, wonderful horsemanship, and one patron-owned team, Dubai, who romped to the two major trophies. It was a double to savour. For once, in the English summer, the rain stayed away. The last Sunday in July, when Cartier International Day is staged, always has the feel of an end of term, an adios to Argentine players, to those moving on to Sotogrande and beyond, of a pageant to polo where many new spectators enjoy the colourful annual spectacle and some of the finest ponies on show.

This was the fifth time England have faced a New Zealand quartet on polo’s annual International Day, and with this triumph, thrilling in its denouement, the home side have lifted the Coronation Cup on four of those occasions. Amid the paeans to pageantry and fashion in front of the Royal Box, in the Great Park

owned by the Royal Family, this was the twenty-sixth year Cartier has made its name synonymous with an event which slots alongside an English summer of sport. It is an event to dress up for, to be seen at, alongside the likes of rowing at the Henley Regatta, the two weeks of tennis at Wimbledon – where Rafael Nadal entranced all-comers this year – the horseracing at Royal Ascot, and, earlier in the season, cricket at the Lord’s Test match in St John’s Wood. Champagne and Pimms, chatter and laughter, old acquaintances renewed. These events form a strong allegiance as the social sporting calendar, once the dwelling place, many moons ago, of debutantes, and the upper classes. Today, with sport spreading its web ever wider, the events have become much more popularised.

This year’s Cartier International Day enjoyed a prelude with that most emphatic of New Zealand symbols,

the Hakka, the Maori war dance. It was performed by the London Maori Association – though, for the record, one of the most expressive protagonists on show was a pale, wiry, ginger-haired man – laying down that spectacular dance of intent from the Antipodean islands. The grass-skirted dance was an antidote to the pomp and ceremony of the military marches, the band of the Welsh and Irish Guards, and the Light Cavalry of the Honourable Artillery Company, formed almost five hundred years ago.

International Day serves two purposes. It is a day when the Hurlingham Polo Association, the sport’s governing body in England, fill their coffers to oversee tournaments played by around 2,000 protagonists nationally. It rarely fails to bring out the best from the best international players in the world, and it is for many spectators, their first up-close experience of the thunder of hooves across the manicured lawns. The backdrop is an event attracting fashionistas, royalty and rock stars – and this year’s high-octane horsemanship did not disappoint. Twenty thousand spectators were silenced by the Hakka, and then

mesmerised by the cat-and-mouse opening chukkas, a tight affair as the respective foursomes of England and New Zealand tested each other out with their pony power. This season, Guard’s Polo Club celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen’s Cup, a major tournament, and it is worth noting that it was the Royal Family who played a pivotal role in developing and patronising the sport there. Their interest in it has never dwindled.

Indeed, HRH Prince Charles presented the Coronation Cup to Luke Tomlinson, captain of the winning England team late in July, and was himself a mainstay member of the Queen’s Cup winning team Les Diables Bleus, back in 1986. Prince Charles was joined in the Royal Box by actors Sir Ben Kingsley and Tommy Lee Jones, the American part-Cherokee Indian actor, a renowned polo player across the pond.

Out of the field, the hard-fought match was split down the middle. England led 6-1 at the mid-way point, brothers Luke and Mark Tomlinson, James Beim and Malcolm Borwick combining neatly for England in a dominant third chukka, with four unanswered goals.

92 polo

Against the run of play, New Zealand then clawed back six goals, thrilling the packed stands on either side of the huge playing field as the visitors’ captain John Paul Clarkin scored four unanswered goals – two penalties in the fourth period and two lightning strikes in the sixth – with team-mate Simon Keyte drawing the scores level. However, England captain Tomlinson stole the ball with just four minutes remaining in the match and coolly put his team a goal ahead, with Beim, man of the match for both his brilliant offence and sterling defence, scoring soon afterwards to put the final nail in the Kiwi coffin. All black. Game over.

The aforementioned Queen’s Cup, and indeed the Gold Cup for the British Open title, the most prestigious team event of the season, were won this year by the patron-owned Dubai. They were led by the world’s leading polo player Adolfo Cambiaso, of Argentina, who won a record 7th Queen's Cup victory over patron Max Gottschalk's Les Lions II Team.

A few weeks later, Cambiaso, the 10-goal player who has plied his beautiful trade in the English summer for a decade, was instrumental again in Dubai’s victory over Lechuza Caracas in the final of the Gold Cup. Cowdray Park, considered the home of British polo, celebrated 100 years of matches this year, in fine fettle with 20 teams gracing the field for the Gold Cup. Thousands of spectators enjoyed the festive final on July 18, Dubai defeating LC 14-12. Cambiaso, excel-

ling as a big game maestro, was imperious. While the ladies have admired both his swarthy looks and mystique around the lawns on his ponies, year on year, his opponents and rivals often attest to his modesty as a player, yet his insistence on hard work on his game at all times, season after season. Cambiaso is under no illusions as to the importance of the English high -goal season in the global game. “I have always said that there are four great tournaments in the world of polo and I want to play in all of them every year.

They are The Queen’s Cup, The Gold Cup, the US Open and the Argentine Open. They are the Majors of polo, the four most important and main tournaments in the world today”. Cambiaso also appreciates the history of the game in England. The Cowdray family’s estate in Midhurst, Sussex, which hosts the polo club, is steeped in history. They kept the sport alive when it suffered at times over the last 100 years.

Viewed from the outside, polo appears elitist. It is, and it isn’t. It remains a sport enjoyed by those capable of at least funding a couple of ponies, but there is a scale to all things, and having a string of ponies can run into the millions. In case anyone was under the illusion that the sport was there merely for English toffs and overseas aristocracy, the skills, strength and courage required are enormous in riding onehanded at 35mph while wielding a stick at a moving white ball. Some of the skills on show in high goal

are utterly mesmeric. Development of the player base continues meticulously. The mainstay is the Pony Club, a nursery for the senior game. Over five hundred young players, aged six to 21, play in an annual threeday Pony Club championship-contested at Cowdray.

The young players camp on the grounds creating a pageant, festival atmosphere.

The Pony Club president is Lady Lloyd Webber, who took over this year from The Princess Royal. The Lloyd Webbers themselves patronise polo and hold matches on their Berkshire estate. Attempts are being made by the younger entrepreneurs in the sport to popularise it. These have included moves in the last couple of years to bring polo into London. Four-goaler Jack Kidd, great-grandson of the newspaper magnate Lord Beaverbrook, and brother of model Jodie Kidd, now organises, with business associates, an annual Polo in the Park event, a simplified tournament that drew 25,000-plus spectators to the grounds of the Hurlingham Club in Fulham this summer. It is as close as polo will ever get to being played in central London.

And forget the recession, the sport was booming this summer. There are the ever-present high-end sponsors Cartier, Audi, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Veuve Clicquot, who continue to support the sport, and who show no signs of any waning interest. Polo, put simply, is thriving. And here to stay as a fixture of the English sporting summer.

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FEI Window

A month before the FEI celebration of youth ended, the European Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Riders took place in France. Equestrian talents from 28 countries headed to Jardy to compete in the July event, which was organised by 1988 Olympic gold medallist Pierre Durand, one of the most instantly recognisable names on the global equestrian stage. The former President of the French Equestrian Federation has played a pivotal role in the advancement of equestrianism in his native country and in this edition of Equestrio he explains why he devotes so much time and energy to enhancing opportunities for riders.

For some of the riders in Jardy, the competition was a warm-up for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, in Singapore this month. The International Olympic Committee recently announced the 46 Athlete Role Models who will mentor the young athletes during the Games. Swedish Jumping rider Lisen Bratt Fredricson, who represented her country at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, was named as the Equestrian Athlete Role Model. She recently told us how she is preparing for her mentoring role and what it will involve.

Nominations for the 2010 FEI Awards are open until 30 August, offering another chance for the international equestrian community to reward outstanding dedication to horse sport in five categories. The response to last year’s call for nominations went way beyond our expectations and it was a pleasure to observe that the community is eager to see riders, grooms and developers of the sport rewarded for their outstanding efforts. We look forward to the challenging task of selecting this year’s winners and hope you will take this opportunity to nominate the people you think the equestrian world should know about.

Š HRH library FEI

Dear Equestrio readers, Over the past 12 months, the FEI Year of Youth has given a voice to a new generation of equestrian athletes and it has been an immense pleasure for us to hear about their ambitions and passion for the sport and their horses.

HRH Princess Haya FEI President

Lisen Bratt Fredricson

Swedish Jumping Rider prepares for mentoring mission at Youth Olympics

©Brobendal.se

“I had a dream and I worked hard to make it come true”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in June a list of 46 Athlete Role Models who will be giving advice and moral support to the athletes competing at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore this month.

Jumping is the only equestrian discipline that will be represented at the Games and the FEI nominated Swedish Jumping rider Lisen Bratt Fredricson as equestrian sport role model for the riders competing. The 34-year-old represented her country at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and cites her victory in the Rome Grand Prix the same year as another highlight of her career. The IOC, the Swedish Olympic Committee and the FEI will support Bratt Fredricson in her mentoring role. “My task is to share my experiences and beliefs with the young talents,” explains the rider, who has taken part in national events since becoming a mother and only recently returned to competing internationally.

Like the other Athlete Role Models, Bratt Fredricson will stay in Singapore for the duration of the Games. She will spend time at the Youth Olympic Village, talking with the riders about their dreams and goals and taking part in activities organised as part of the IOC’s Culture and Education Programme. Activities set up for the 3,600 athletes expected to compete in the Games will focus on the themes of Olympism and Olympic values, skill development, well-being and healthy lifestyles, social responsibility and expression through digital media.

“I’d like to sit down with each of the riders so I can ‘teach’ them individually during the Games,” says the Swede. “Sometimes as a young rider, you only think of the sport and competition in the present. But you need to know about the historical background of riding and horses too.”

Bratt Fredricson believes such knowledge will help to develop the athletes’ interest in the sport and take them through the difficulties they will inevitably encounter during their riding careers. “It can really help to widen the horizon and make young athletes stick to the sport,” she says. “They sometimes quit early due to negative competition results”. The equestrian Athlete Role Model has some experience of training young riders. At the farm where she lives in Grevlunda with her husband and fellow equestrian Peder Fredricson and their sons, Hjalmar (3) and Carsten (6), she hosts young Swedish riders for week-long training sessions. In Singapore, she will meet the other Athlete Role Models, who include world famous Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and legendary Ukrainian Olympic pole vault champion Sergey Bubka. Bratt Fredricson describes her experience of competing in the Sydney Olympics as “absolutely extraordinary” and is sure it will help her to motivate and inspire her young mentees in Singapore.

The inaugural Youth Olympic Games take place from 14 – 26 August 2010 www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en.html

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The Jappeloup legacy In the lake-facing gardens of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland stands a life-sized bronze statue of a horse named Jappeloup. The famous French equine athlete distinguished himself during the team jumping event at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles by throwing his rider Pierre Durand and galloping out of the arena.

Despite that humiliating moment, which was witnessed by television viewers around the world, Durand followed his instincts and chose Jappeloup as his partner for the Seoul Olympics four years later. The individual gold medal he won there proved him right. Since retiring from competition in 1992, Durand has devoted himself to developing equestrian sport in France.

Pierre Durand had dreamed of winning an Olympic medal since falling in love with Gitane, the mare his father bought for himself before realising that riding was not for him. The young Durand wouldn’t let his father sell his equine friend. “I was fascinated by the beauty of horses, by their powerfulness and enigmatic nature,” he remembers. With Gitane, he learned to ride, but it was with Jappeloup, the 1.58m black gelding he bought in 1982, that he excelled at it. Notoriously capricious, Jappeloup became the bestloved horse in French equestrian history and accompanied Durand to the summit of this sport.

Durand clocked up an impressive number of wins during his jumping career, including 11 Grand Prix. When he stopped competing he could have contented himself with his work as a judicial administrator, but routine bored him. In 1991, he created the Association for the Development of Equitation in France and set himself the unlikely task of organising a competition, the Masters d’équitation, at the Champ de Mars in the centre of Paris. “Often, there were not enough spectators at competitions, so I wanted to go where there was already a public,” Durand explains. “Equestrian sport gets little media coverage and at that time it had even less, I thought that a competition in the prestigious and aesthetic location in Paris would attract TV channels.”

© ©CCIO, Ester-Varon-Franco

by Marianne Burkhardt

It did. Although Durand says the organisation of the five-competition event was “complicated”, he took up the challenge again, going a step further two years later by combining the event with a concert by worldfamous Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

From 1993 to 1998, when Durand was President of the French Equestrian Federation, he observed that there was no system in place that allowed young riding talents to be spotted or familiarise themselves with the conditions of high- level international competition. To that end, he organised his first international competition, the Pierre Durand Trophy in 1998. The event, which took place in Lacarnau, enabled young jumping riders to compete with foreign athletes of the same age. In 2006, the Pierre Durand Trophy relocated to the Haras de Jardy, a former stud farm that is now home to the biggest equestrian centre in France. Last month, Durand took what he saw as the next logical step by organising the European Championships for Children, Juniors and Riders there.

FEI seeks equestrian heroes Nominations for the 2010 FEI Awards opened in July, offering another chance for the equestrian world to highlight and reward dedication to the sport in five categories.

It was the first time the championship had combined the three categories. “The path to high-level competition should be followed progressively,” says Durand.

“Children must see the older riders to understand the level they need to attain – it’s much better for them to compete at the same event”. More than 250 of Europe’s best young jumping riders from 28 countries took part.

Durand is keen to put his experience as an elite rider to good use and offers his services as a coach to riders of all ages. But he admits he is very selective. “People must be motivated and I prefer to teach young people because they are more receptive and malleable than adults,” he says. In addition to his duties as president of the INSEP, the national institute for sports and physical education, Durand is a member of the French Sports Academy. Although he believes French equestrianism is in good shape generally, with the number of hobby riders increasing each year, he believes this evolution is taking place to the detriment

of competitive sport. “The French Federation has 600,000 licensed members but only 10 per cent of those have a competition licence,” he says. “We need a specific system of management for riders who compete. We need to organise specialised clubs”. Durand believes that the “psychodrama” that occurred following the French team’s performance at the football World Cup in South Africa may have the positive effect of contributing to the evolution of the French system of sports management,which he believes was partly responsible for the events. “I have the privilege of having been close to President Sarkozy for several years and he is in favour of reforming the system, so there is perhaps hope of having a distinct approach for leisure and competition sport,” he says.

In the meantime, in the gardens of the Olympic Museum, the little horse that made Durand’s Olympic dream possible lives on through his bronze statue, delighting tourists by offering them equine photo opportunities.

In addition to the Best Athlete and Rising Star awards, which respectively go to a person who has combined a high level of achievement with exceptional sportsmanship and a young talent who is emerging on the international equestrian stage, the Development, Best Groom and Against All Odds awards reward the accomplishments of much lower profile, but equally deserving figures.

Richard Johnson, FEI Director of Corporate Communications, explains: “The FEI Awards focus on inspirational figures from around the world who deserve to be acknowledged. The beauty of them is that they put the spotlight on people the equestrian world may never have known about otherwise – the totally dedicated unsung heroes”. Many people devote their professional lives to horses but rarely have the opportunity to step out from behind the scenes for the applause they deserve. The Best Groom Award enables riders or owners to express their gratitude to their hard-working collaborators. The Development Award is an opportunity to applaud and promote the work of a particularly deserving individual or organisation that deploys considering efforts and creativity in developing horse sport. And with its Against all Odds Award, the FEI underlines the determination and passion that allow some equestrians to overcome personal difficulties or physical disabilities and demonstrated sporting proficiency.

The awards ceremony is organised to coincide with the FEI General Assembly, which brings together representatives for the 133 member federations affiliated to the FEI. This year’s winners will be flown to Chinese Taipei to receive their awards at a ceremony hosted by Ian Williams, FEI Director of NonOlympic Sports. They will then attend a VIP gala dinner. Nominations are open until 30 August. After that date, a shortlist will be drawn up and presented to a judging panel of experts from the global FEI family, chaired by FEI President HRH Princess Haya. Last year, the FEI received 1,300 nominations and the task of selecting the winners in each category was not easy. “All the nominees are winners in their own right – that’s the frustrating part,” says Johnson, “The Awards seek the individuals who have achieved that extra something or overcome that additional obstacle and deserve to be acknowledged”.

The FEI launched the awards last year and hopes they will come to be seen as the Oscars of the equestrian world. Last year, the winners were: Wendy Gidlow (South Africa), Alltech Development Award; Michelle Robson (Australia), Best Groom Award; Darlene Milord (Haiti), Against All Odds Award; Alex Hua Tin, (China), HSBC Rising Star Award and Meredith Michaels Beerbaum (Germany), Best Athlete.

For more information and to make your nominations: www.feiawards.org

98 gLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR

charlotte Casiraghi

Enthusiastic commitment

Article Caterina Vagnozzi Photos Alfredo BiniŠ

100 gLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR

People who live in the public eye find that prying photographers are a real nuisance and that is especially true in a sport where competitive commitment requires full concentration.

Then when it comes to horses it also needs absolute composure.

Just ask Charlotte Casiraghi, Princess Caroline of Monaco’s second born and granddaughter of the marvellous, unforgettable Grace Kelly. This year Charlotte is competing in the GCT Special Invitational Circuit for the second time and her participation in a leading circuit, with legs in nine different countries (including Monaco), has obviously aroused strong media interest.

Riding Tintero, her superb, elegant grey, she is certainly the most “papped” of all the aristocrats to be found – in and out of the saddle – at the Global Champions Tour. When she is not on horseback, Charlotte is on the stands with her trainer Thierry Rozier, keeping a close eye on the performance of other riders, or she is sitting with Jan Tops and Edwina Alexander. Athina Onassis, the circuit’s Honorary President, is also often be found nearby. Charlotte is immersed totally in the showjumping world’s schedule and habits, just like all her fellow riders, and as everyone confirms, starting with her trainer, they are deeply committed to supporting her. Her determination and will to emerge are typical of Leos, Charlotte’s sign of the Zodiac, as she was born on 3 August 1986.The passion for horses comes from her mother, who was a proficient rider too, and first took Charlotte to a small riding school in St Remy de Provence, where the child began her equestrian career riding ponies. “Horses and equestrian competitions have always fascinated me. I began competing quite early with my pony, a grey called Tempete. I’ll never forget her! Another fond memory is Folka, a lovely sorrel. Now the fittest of my three competition mounts is Tintero, an agile, cooperative grey Dutch. I’ve been riding him for less than a year but we already have a good rapport: he’s a very smart horse”.

Charlotte’s first really serious approach to equestrianism was at the age of 15, when her family moved to Fontainebleau. The Rozier family’s riding school was just around the corner and I was finally able to concentrate on training. I progressed to horses immediately and I started working with Thierry Rozier, who is still my instructor”. 23-year-old Charlotte Casiraghi is also an aficionado of motor sports and has completed her philosophy studies. In Monaco she made her debut as President of the Global Champions Tour leg. “I

“I’m certain that we could seek out some interesting new projects to grow the appeal of this competition for riders and audience.

I believe firmly in the Global Champions Tour”

have to admit I enjoy organizing. As far as jumping is concerned, there is still much to be done, I think, so that as many fans as possible can approach this sport.

I don’t think there’s enough promotion or diffusion at the moment”. For this year’s Monaco leg of the GCT, Charlotte Casiraghi really worked hard to fine-tune the highly successful Pro-Am, an amateur and pro rider mixed class. “I paired with Edwina Alexander to take part and it was a truly rewarding experience. It was fantastic to be able to ride the course with a great champion who becomes a real teammate for a quarter of an hour in a competition for amateurs who almost certainly idolize their partners. It is definitely a unique experience for us amateurs. Let’s hope that this type of event wasn’t a one off. Apart from anything else, all the pros were so helpful and offered lots of hints, and

they even watched us when we were on the practice field”. Being party to the organization of a competition like Monaco, which takes place on the waterfront, in a facility built from scratch and in a location that has no equestrian connections, was certainly a great professional lesson. “I’m certain that we could seek out some interesting new projects to grow the appeal of this competition for riders and audience. I believe firmly in the Global Champions Tour and I consider Jan Tops and Edwina Alexander as two out-and-out models of professionalism”. On the subject of professionalism, horses apart, Charlotte Casiraghi has been involved in a couple of interesting projects recently that placed her in the spotlight. First with the Ever Manifesto, a 20-page freepress magazine, without a regular publishing schedule and entirely dedicated to eco-sus-

102 gLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR

tainable fashion. Which is not quite so frivolous as it might seem because fashion uses fabrics, production lines and machinery that are not yet eco-sustainable. For instance, there is still extensive use of leather and fur.

Italian fashion is a sector where research is still active and appears to be evolving constantly. Fashion designers are not just creative figures developing models and colours: they are also involved in production techniques, and only good can come from extending horizons with information coming from those who are at home in specific environments. “I interviewed Franca Sozzani (editor of Vogue Italia) about how fashion should reorganize its production cycles in an environmentally sustainable perspective”, explains Charlotte Casiraghi “and I also wrote for several other English magazines. In one of my most recent exposé articles I explained why jeans are the most polluting garment that exists”.

Equestrian sports and fashion: a winning duo? Looks to be that way always. Charlotte herself recently signed a multiyear contract with Gucci as the celebrity endorser for this Florentine label. Frida Giannini personally designed a sophisticated techno line of exclusive apparel for the young royal. The stylist is another equestrian aficionado: “I share Charlotte’s passion so we’re on the same wavelength,” said the Gucci art director”. The Rome-based designer chose Charlotte Casiraghi as her testimonee because the young Monaco royal “personifies tradition and modernity”. Two traits she probably inherited from her grandmother Grace, also a Gucci muse.

104 more passion

Tennis

Wimbledon The famous Wimbledon tennis tournament took place from June 21st to July 4th. A highly anticipated event among tennis enthusiasts and also lovers of beautiful sport, Wimbledon lived up to its promises by offering an eventful fortnight full of unexpected twists and turns.

Article Margaux Zukervar Photos ŠRolex-Gianni Ciaccia

106 more passion

Wimbledon is an unusual tennis tournament, and indeed the oldest and most prestigious in the world

Like horse riding, tennis is a sport of perpetual self-questioning, where nothing is fully acquired, as Roger Federer unfortunately experienced this year when he was eliminated in the quarter-finals and saw his title won by Raphael Nadal.

Wimbledon is an unusual tennis tournament, and indeed the oldest and most prestigious in the world. Of the four Grand Slam tournaments, which also include the US Open, Roland-Garros and the Australian Open, it is the only one played on grass. The Club has been associated with the British crown since 1907 when George V was its president. Today, this tradition continues: the presidency of the Club is currently held by the Duke of Kent, under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II. The players, who must be predominantly dressed in white, acknowledge the Royal Box as they enter and leave the court. The rich tradition that surrounds the tournament, however, has not prevented changes from being introduced. In 1968, Wimbledon was the first of the four Grand Slam events to adopt prize money and a service linesman.

Wimbledon is played in the All England Club which was at first a Croquet Club, but as soon as tennis appeared for the first time in competition in 1877, the passion it aroused was so great that croquet was relegated to second place and the Club was renamed the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

It was in 1978, over a century after the real first match played on the fields of Wimbledon, that Rolex became the “Official Timekeeper� of this event. Since its first steps in tennis, the watch brand has cooperated with many testimonees in this high-precision sport. Wimbledon embodies a remarkable blend of traditional elegance and timeless innovation entirely in keeping with the spirit that has guided Rolex for over a century.

And while this year did not bring victory for the Rolex testimonees, it was nevertheless a historical moment with amazing matches played for many hours, including of course the one between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut that lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes, breaking a large number of tennis records.

108 shopping

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1 Clipper 39 Classic Watch HERMES 2 Bracelet Collier de Chien HERMES 3 Pendant orange gold with diamonds, collection Glam, with silk string ANNAMARIA CAMMILLI www.annamariacammilli.com 4 Frog ring DANIELA DE MARCHI www.danielademarchi.it 5 Bracelet in enamel HERMES 6 Keyrope pendant MANUEL BOZZI

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7 Perfum Platinium STEFANO RICCI 8 Belt MANUEL BOZZI 9 Tie HERMES 10 Cap HERMES 11 Blazer ANDY RICHARDSON www.andyrichardson.me.uk 12 Bag LONGCHAMP 13 Balmoral Overshoe Yellow JOHN LOBB www.johnlobb.com

110 shopping

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14 Sandal HERMES 15 Voyage d'Hermès Eau de toilette HERMES 16 Belt HERMES 17 Key Ring LONGCHAMP 18 Bag LONGCHAMP www.longchamp.com 19 Bag PAKERSON 20 Boots PAKERSON www.pakerson.it

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Design

21 Dupré-Lafon Home Valet HERMES 22 Kelly en Perles Giant Carré HERMES 23 Shoe Care Case Home JOHN LOBB 24 Stratocaster Pin MANUEL BOZZI www.manuelbozzi.it 25 Faubourg Bed Linen HERMES www.hermes.com 26 Ash Tray BENTLEY This item is available at authorized Bentley partners or at www.bentleycollection.com. All Bentley items are handcrafted in England.

112 partner hotels

HOTEL PRINCIPE DI savoia ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

golden palace ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ THI COLLECTION

HÔTEL BEAU-RIVAGE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Piazza della Repubblica 17 - 20124 Milano - Italia T. +39 02 62301 - www.hotelprincipedisavoia.com

Via dell’Arcivescovado, 14 - 10121 Torino - Italy T. +39 011 55 12 111 - www.goldenpalace.thi.it

Milan is a byword for style and elegance – and the Hotel Principe di Savoia epitomises the best of both. It has been a meeting place for travellers and cosmopolitan society since the 1920s. The recently refurbished Principe and Imperial Suite boast luxury, modernity and tradition. The Presidential Suite is considered one of the finest in Europe, complete with private Swimming pool, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi and sauna.

The Spa Club 10 on the top 10th floor is the most exclusive health club in Milan.

Golden Palace, from 2006 in the heart of Turin. Marbles and expensive woods, glossy lacquers and gilded metals, inspired

by Olympic themes, balance contemporary and deco references at the Golden Palace, a hotel comprised of two main bodies. Giving a symbolic welcome is the large monolith, a work by the video sculptor Fabrizio Plessi, realised exclusively for the new hotel. The Time Bar, the new rendezvous for the Turin on the go, and the Winner Restaurant, with gourmet menu, host in the summer period in a pleasant outdoor area.

The GoldenSPA counts on 1.200 m2 wholly devoted to wellbeing: an exercise pool, Turkish bath and sauna, comfortable cubicles for treatments, and a fitness area with top-of-the-line Technogym machines.

Since 1865, refined to the minor detail, Beau-Rivage has the spirit of noble bygone patrician residences. A serene atmosphere and a permanent attention to your desires make this house exceptional. On the edge of the harbour, Beau-Rivage offers an unrivalled view on the Alpes and the Mont Blanc.

Dolce Chantilly ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Le touessrock ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

casa de campo ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rte d’Apremont, Vineuil St-Firmin - 60500 Chantilly - France T. +33 (0)3 44 58 47 77 - www.dolcechantilly.com

Trou d'Eau Douce, Ile Maurice T. +230 402 7400 - www.letouessrokresort.com

P.O. Box 140, La Romana - Dominican Republic T. 809 523 8698 - www.casadecampo.com.do

In the historic Chantilly forest, just 40 minutes from Paris, Dolce Chantilly creates one of the most idyllic countryside settings imaginable. From flavours, aromas, sights and experiences that reward all the senses to comprehensive to 200 rooms and suites, a private 18-hole golf course, a fitness centre with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sauna and steam bath, Carmontelle gastronomic restaurant, one star in the guide MICHELIN® 2009, Dolce Chantilly reflects fine French hospitality that nourishes the mind, body and spirit.

Le Touessrok, a mythical hotel on the island of Mauritius and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, is considered as one of the best in its category. Standard bearer of the Sun Resorts group, over the years Le Touessrok has become an exclusive hotel, the leader in its category, the quintessence of luxury and an unrivalled lifestyle. Today, with its air of tropical chic that suits it so well, Le Touessrok is a story to be rediscovered and an adventure to be invented.

An artful blend of Mother Natures’ tropical splendor, classic elegance and stylish designs welcomes guests to the illustrious Casa de Campo in the Caribbean. A beacon for sophisticated travel, this 7,000 acre resort is home to an Equestrian Center with championship polo, legendary golf including the Teeth of the Dog, private beaches, new Elite hotel rooms and spectacular villa homes, fine dining, the Altos de Chavon artists village, an international airport with facilities for private jets and more. Discover the wonders of the Caribbean’s Most Complete Resort. Your story begins here...

Quai du Mont-Blanc 13 - 1211 Geneva - Switzerland T. +41 22 716 69 77 - www.beau-rivage.ch

Ho cenato sulla Tour Eiffel.

Ho partecipato all’allenamento del Milan.

Le Winx sono venute in ospedale.

Principessa delle fiabe.

Una crociera da mille e una notte.

Mi sono svegliata a Parigi.

Ho incontrato Babbo Natale.

Pilota per un giorno.

Una giornata con le balene.

Disneyland esiste.

Adesso posso giocare con la PlayStation.

Un computer tutto mio.

In montagna con i cani da slitta.

Questi

a

Ho nuotato coi delfini.

bambini hanno visto avverarsi il loro desiderio più grande .

noi basta il loro sorriso .

Make-A-Wish è un’organizzazione internazionale, riconosciuta dall’Onu, presente in 33 paesi nel mondo, che opera da 28 anni in America e dal 2005 in Italia.

Make-A-Wish Italia si dedica alla realizzazione dei desideri di bambini gravemente malati, restituendo a loro e alle loro famiglie il sorriso, la gioia di vivere e la forza per continuare a combattere la malattia.

Make-A-Wish Italia in soli quattro anni ha esaudito le richieste di 300 bambini, dalle più semplici alle più fantasiose, con il generoso contributo di aziende e di tante persone che, come noi, credono nella magia di un desiderio.

Un desiderio esaudito, un bambino che ritrova il sorriso. www.makeawish.it

l’

evoluzione di un classico

Nessun altro orologio è progettato come un Rolex. Il Datejust, introdotto nel 1945, è stato il primo orologio da polso con la data. La sua esclusiva lente d’ingrandimento Cyclope, aggiunta alcuni anni dopo, è universalmente riconosciuta come un elemento distintivo di Rolex. Oggi con un diametro di 41 mm, il Datejust II, è la naturale evoluzione di un classico. Il Datejust II è qui presentato nell’esclusiva denominazione Rolesor, un’elegante combinazione di acciaio 904L e oro giallo 18 ct.

d ate jus t ii