Lexington, KY and La Baule, France – McLain Ward topped off a phenomenal week for the United States show jumpers with a brilliant win in the Grand Prix Longines de la Ville de La Baule at CSIO La Baule with his superstar mare, Sapphire. He topped teammate Mario Deslauriers on Jane Clark’s Urico by nearly a second.

There were 13 first round clears out of 50 starters, and Ward went last in the jump-off. Riding for Tom Grossman’s Blue Chip Bloodstock, Ward and the 15-year-old Belgian mare galloped into the arena at La Baule on a mission. Ward never let up on the accelerator and Sapphire thrived in the challenge. Deslauriers and Urico had set a blistering pace, more than two seconds clear of eventual third place winner from Spain.

But Ward was not to be denied and Sapphire delivered her trademark performance, jumping clear in 36 seconds flat. Ward, who is known for his stoic demeanor, couldn’t hide his emotion or his appreciation for his beloved mare.

Both pairs were part of the US Team’s second place effort in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup on Friday. Urico hasn’t had a rail since he arrived in Europe for Deslauriers.

Third teammate, Richard Spooner was the lone American contender in Saturday’s Derby de la Region des Pays de la Loire and he delivered - he jumped the only clear round in the class with Pako and won convincingly.

Beezie Madden was named Leading Lady Rider at La Baule, after a win in the Prix Groupe Lucien Barriere with Coral Reef’s Via Volo and ribbons in nearly every other class she entered. McLain also had two wins with Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve earlier in the week and ribbons with Rothchild, so he and Madden shared the Leading Rider titles, and the champagne.

The Americans won at a very rapid rate in France, kicking off their European Tour on a hugely successful note.

836 miles away in Hamburg, Germany, two other riders on the USEF Show Jumping Long List for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games did their part in winning for the US. Lauren Hough and Quick Study soared to victory on the Global Champions Tour while Laura Kraut and Cedric were a convincing third. Hough jumped the only clear round in the jump-off to take the win on Laura and Meredith Mateo’s Selle Francais gelding, while Kraut had one rail and the second fastest time of the four faulters. Edwina Alexander (AUS) split the American pair.

For Results from La Baule, please visit: http://www.labaule-cheval.com/2010/pages/programme-epreuves-gb.html.

For results from Hamburg, please visit: http://www.globalchampionstour.com/events/2010/hamburg/results/136/global-champions-tour-of-germany.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Joanie Morris at [email protected].