The 16th and penultimate qualifier of the FEI Eventing World Cup, held on 28 and 29 August at Martinvast in Northern France, proved a resounding success for the host nation. Cheered by no less than 25,000 enthusiastic supporters, the new team Olympic Champion Arnaud Boiteau riding the 12-year old gelding Expo du Moulin won the qualifier, followed by Pascal Leroy on Glenburny du Leou second and Denis Mesples on the veteran 17-year old gelding Vanpire third.

Thirty-six hours of continual rain had transformed the green ground of Normandy in a gigantic field of mud. Luckily, on Saturday the sun was back on time for the World Cup Dressage test but conditions could return back to normal thanks to the dozens of volunteers who had spent a sleepless night making the ground as safe as possible.

Arnaud Boiteau had clearly stated his intentions from the very beginning. Expo du Moulin, who had not completed the Cross Country in Athens, was in excellent shape, and the rider advised by the French national team coach Thierry Touzaint had decided to clear this mishap by an immediate participation in an FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier. The pair were 7th after Dressage (46 penalties) but a clear Jumping round - only of seven - had made them progress to 4th position. Everything therefore lay with the challenging Cross Country ingeniously designed by Pierre Le Goupil. The route to the podium was through direct options only and this is what the pair did in what seemed a disconcertingly easy ride. They collected 6.8 time penalties and finished on a result of 52.80 points. This victory earns Boiteau 100 FEI Eventing World Cup points and places him in 14th position on the World Cup standings.

Runner up Pascal Leroy and Glenburny du Leou were 5th after Dressage with 44 penalties and after a flawless Jumping round and 9.2 time penalties in the Cross Country finished on 53.60 penalties, only 0.8 points behind the winners. Pascal finished 14th on his other horse Eerstelling du Leou (104 penalties). These two results, combined with the rider's previous participations in the FEI Eventing World Cup qualifiers at Nichelino (ITA) and Strzegom (POL), give him a total of 104 points and place him in 11th position on the standings.

Former national champion Denis Mesples on Vanpire had performed a rather average Dressage (50.2) but only one rail down in the Jumping test and a bold Cross Country (8.40 time penalties) eventually placed the pair in 3rd position with 62.60 penalties.

Another Frenchman, Thierry Meyssonier on Helicine, performed the qualifiers best Cross Country progressing steadfastly from 28th position after Dressage to a final 4th place.

A special tribute should be paid to organiser André Jacques Le Goupil, whose vast knowledge, enthusiasm and hard work have turned what began as a small family event into the Grand Complet of Martinvast, one of France's premier Eventing competitions.

The full results are available on http://www.concours-complet-martinvast.com

Detailed press releases, a press kit and copyright free pictures can be obtained from press officer Xavier Boudon, Pixizone PR Agency, mobile: + 33 6 08 82 94 86, email: presse@pixizone.com.

After 16 qualifiers, the leaderboard of the FEI Eventing World Cup is as
follows:
1. Sonja Johnson (AUS)  200 points
2. Linda Algotsson (SWE)  190 points
3. William Fox-Pitt (GBR)  150 points
4. Andreas Dibowski (GER)  134 points
5. Andrew Nicholson (NZL)  130 points
6. Darren Chiacchia (USA)  123 points
7. Andrew Hoy (AUS)  120 points
8. Matthew Grayling (NZL)  118 points
9. Phillip Dutton (AUS)  110 points
10. Kristin Bachman (USA)  109 points
11. Pascal Leroy (FRA)  104 points
11. Viktoria Carlerbäck (SWE)  104 points
13. Andrzej Pasek (POL)  101 points
14. Arnaud Boiteu (FRA)  100 points
14. Robyn Fisher (USA)  100 points
14. R. de Gouveia Jr. (BRA)  100 points
14. Pippa Funnell (GBR)  100 points
14. Pavel Sergeev (RUS)  100 points
14. Robyn Fisher (USA)  100 points
14. Bonnie Mosser (USA)  100 points

The full standings are available on the FEI's website www.horsesport.org (section eventing/results/standings)

The 17th and last FEI Eventing World Cup qualifier will be held at Waregem
(BEL) from 9 to 12 September.