The 9th édition of the famous Bonneau International Pony show, the only one CSIOP in France, ended on Sunday afternoon with the CSIOP Grand Prix sponsored by Veolia Environment. Although the strong opposition of German and Irish squads (more than 20 riders each!), the French team won the Nations Cup on Saturday, after an ultimate jump-off against German team. It's the very first time the « Blues » win here in Fontainebleau and it's the first time under Pascal Henry's managment at the head of the French pony team since 3 years.
Two Grand Prix took place on Sunday afternoon. The first one was for the CSIP. The jump-off transformed itself in a final fight between Germand and Irish team. As usual here in Fontainebleau, the Irish took the best on their opponents thanks to one of their best riders Kate Mc Donagh. In the CSIOP Grand Prix, the biggest individual class of the weekend, only German rider Maurice Tebbel found the solution to the tricky tour imaginated by Jean-Paul Lepetit. 13 fences, with a river, a triple followed by an oxer upon water, and for the last jump a double after a triple bar, riders and ponies had to be at the top. Tebbel, 3rd last year in the same class, has been the only one to make a clear round. 8 riders finished with one fault, Pia Gerhard (GER) / Sunny finishing 2nd just before Hayley Dunne (IRL) / Frere Jacques 3rd. The best French rider was Robin Muhr / Kalifa de la Barre, 7th.
The BIP has been the first international pony show to organize classes for young ponies. Once again, more than 30 6 and 7 year old ponies competed in 3 classes. On Sunday, the Irish squad added two more victories after those of Friday and Saturday. Kate Mc Donagh (6 y.o.) and Kelly Allen (7 y.o.) was the winner of the big final.
The organizing committee concluded this 9th edition of the Bonneau International Pony show under the sun and with a lot of satisfaction. Even the foreign chef d'équipe congratulated André Bonneau's team for their total involvement in sport and convivality. With 15 international classes, more than 50 national ones, around 2800 riders during 3 days, and a strong partner's club, the BIP can serenely envisage the future and especially 2011 with, we all hope, the organization of the European Pony Championships for all disciplines.
