Britain’s leading international female showjumper, Laura Renwick from Maldon in Essex, scooped both the Leading Rider and Leading Lady Rider Awards at the CSI3* in Bethune, France after a stylish win in yesterday’s Grand Prix.
With her own and John Renwick’s 9 year-old bay gelding Bintang II, Laura lived up to her Queen of Speed title after the combination produced a blistering jump off round in the CSI3* Bethune 1.50m Grand Prix to secure the top spot with a double clear in 42.26 seconds.
Laura and Bintang II fought off the challenge from fifty-nine other combinations to take home the lion’s share of the €45,000 prize pot and in a seven horse jump off, they took the win with a second and a half to spare.
Spectators were given much to celebrate after home riders finished up in second, third and fourth place. Nicolas Delmotte and Darmani van’t Heik were Laura and Bintang’s nearest rivals following a double clear performance in 43.82 seconds. Alexandra Francart with Quelstar Du Vic Bi and Alexandra Paillot with Polias De Blondel took third and fourth, also with double clears, in 45.62 seconds and 45.93 seconds respectively.
Ben Maher delivered the last of the double clears with Jane Clark’s 9 year-old bay mare Sarena II to finish in fifth on 47.92 seconds.
