The new eventing European champion will celebrate his title at R.I.D.E. Normandie
In France, Nicolas Touzaint is now a hero. Last week-end in Rome, he led the European Championship from the start to the finish line, without any doubt or hesitation. This European individual gold medal is the second one Nicolas won in his career. He will definitely be the star of R.I.D.E. Normandie starting on Thursday on Deauville-Clairefontaine racetrack.
Thanks to this victory, the young French rider (27) gives the French team silver medal, which means qualification for next year’s Olympic Games. A great item of news considering the latest results of French jumping team. Nicolas Touzaint and Jean Teulère (4th at this EC) will be part of the delighted French team which will participate in R.I.D.E. Normandy in Deauville, from Thursday to Sunday. Eventing competitions will start on Thursday, 3:30 pm, with dressage and finish with cross country on Saturday, 3:10 pm: the atmosphere will probably be incredible among the supporters of the national team.
On its side, the national jumping team will be less euphoric, after the missed rendezvous in Mannheim and Barcelona. It’s time for the French jumping to recreate a solid team and R.I.D.E. Normandy should give the opportunity to young promising riders, such as Timothée Anciaume and Kevin Staut, to show their talent. The best French in Mannheim, Olivier Guillon (7th at EC), will perform in front of his public. And so will do the only ever World #1 French rider (in the nineties), Eric Navet, who will introduce his stallion Hym d’Isigny, winner of La Coruna Grand Prix last summer.
The best jumping riders will come from France’s neighbors: Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, etc. Representing Switzerland: two former champions of the World Cup final, Markus Fuchs (in 2001) and Beat Mändli (2007). Among the stars to be followed during this CSI***** of R.I.D.E. Normandy: 1994 World Champion Franke Sloothaak (GER), 2002 World Cup winner Otto Becker (GER), Olympic Games selected British rider Michael Whitaker, or the new Ukrainian Jean-Claude Vangeenberghe, one of the rare champions to win twice the mythic Aachen Grand Prix. Warming-up on Thursday at 9:30 am; first class on Friday at 1:30 pm.
Not to be missed: the driving competition, so spectacular thanks to the program offered by R.I.D.E. Normandy. The first class will as a matter of fact be the obstacles cones driving class, on Thursday 2:00 pm. The best drivers, those taking part next month in indoor Driving World Cup, will be in Deauville: Dutch Ysbrand Chardon or French Benjamin Aillaud will be on the departure line of the two marathons (the first to be started on Friday, 2:00 pm).
R.I.D.E. Normandy will give a chance to disabled riders to express themselves through this sport and animal-partner which make them forget their differences. Their classes are great life lessons to which one should absolutely attend (from Friday, 10:00 am).
Last but not least, R.I.D.E. Normandy will welcome the youngest riders who will, as the adults, take part in three disciplines classes.
As a conclusion, everyone should think of visiting the R.I.D.E. Normandy for several reasons: first of all because sport will be there at its best level, and second to support Normandy in his will to welcome, in 2014, World Equestrian Games.
