Paris 2024 Stars Return to France for Lyon Leg

We look ahead to the exciting Jumping and Driving action...

British Olympic gold medallists Scott Brash and Ben Maher and Driving legend Ijsbrand Chardon are among the big names who will be entertaining fans at the prestigious Equita Lyon event this weekend.

The French city welcomes the third leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League 2024/2025 series as well as the opening leg of the FEI Driving World Cup™ season. Jumping and Driving action is live on FEI TV on Saturday and Sunday.

Brash and Maher (pictured above) helped Great Britain to Team Jumping gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and will hope for more glory on French soil in Lyon.

France took Team bronze in Paris and all three of their medallists will be on show in Lyon. As they now vie for individual success, will Simon Delestre, Julien Epaillard or Olivier Perreau stand on top of the podium?

Switzerland’s Bryan Balsiger, Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat will also compete in Lyon, as will Dutch star Harrie Smolders with Monaco N.O.P..

Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet was last year’s winner in Lyon, and will again be on the start list in 2024 following his recent win in Oslo (NOR). Here’s his 2023 winning round…

Driving season gets under way

Ijsbrand Chardon will be among the seven competitors looking to secure points in the first leg of the FEI Driving World Cup™ 2024/2025 series.

The Dutchman, who has been competing at the top of the sport for four decades, has been in fine form in recent years. Chardon has finished third in the two most recent FEI Driving World Cup™ finals and helped his country to Team gold at this summer’s FEI Driving World Championship 2024 in Szilvásvárad (HUN).

Among the athletes competing for points in Lyon are Belgium's Dries Degrieck, Switzerland’s Jérôme Voutaz and Germany’s Anna Mareike Meier, as well as hosts France’s wild card entries Benjamin Aillaud and Anthony Horde. With no Boyd Exell or Bram Chardon on the start list, this is a real opportunity for their rivals to get points on the board.

Australia’s Exell was the winner in Lyon last year – see his winning round in the video above.

Tune into FEI TV for all this weekend’s equestrian action from Lyon…