Talented young Brits storm five-star show

Living up to the competition title, two “seriously talented” young Brits have won the Les Talents Hermes Under 25 International Team event in Paris.

Zero score

Riding at the CSIO5* Saut Hermes show at the Grand Palais, Millie Allen and Emma O’Dwyer were the only riders to finish both rounds on a zero score. This put them eight penalties ahead of the USA in second place.

The competition format saw just two riders for each team go forward to jump the 1.45m course. Riders then had to jump again over a shortened course against the clock, with all scores counting.

Under pressure

Millie, aged 18, and 21-year-old Emma were against Ireland in the final round, to decide the winning nation. They both thrived under pressure to jump clear, while Ireland dropped to fourth place after picking up eight penalties. The Netherlands came third.

Di Lampard world class performance manager said both riders were “inspiring” to watch.

“They really are two seriously talented riders for the future,” she said.“They have been totally focused and were exceptional in the way they rode and claimed the class as their own.”

First Moroccan winner

The final night of the three-day show saw the first Moroccan winner at Saut Hermes. Abdelkebir Ouaddar beat the world’s best to take the title in the Grand Prix, riding his 12-year-old stallion Quickly de Kreisker.

Scott Brash was more than two seconds slower on Hello Forever in second place, while Germany’s Christian Ahlmann was third on Epleaser van’t Heike.