ABDEL SAÏD SEALS VICTORY AT THE CSI5* EIFFEL CHALLENGE IN PARIS
On June 22, 2025, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Paris concluded its third and final day. The temporary Champ-de-Mars arena hosted an exhilarating competition, culminating in Abdel Said of Belgium riding his mare, Bonne Amie, to victory in the CSI5* Eiffel Challenge.
The victory was celebrated with the Belgian national anthem played in honour of the champion.
Forty-three horse-and-rider combinations competed in this prestigious 5-star final, promising an exciting event. Fewer than 13 riders cleared the first round without faults. Notable among them were French competitors Philippe Rozier with Le Coultre de Muze, Antoine Ermann with Foxpit Grim, and Laura Rayjasse with Crapule Verdoso—all participating in their first CSI5* class.
Belgium had a strong presence with three riders: Jérôme Guéry on Careca LS Elite, Gilles Thomas with Qiara de Kalvarie, and Abdel Said aboard the exceptional Bonne Amie. The line-up also featured top contenders such as Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, a double winner of the LGCT Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris and 2024 Olympic gold medallist, and Austria’s Max Kühner, ranked 14th worldwide, riding EIC Up Too Jacco Blue.
Ultimately, Abdel Said claimed victory with a time of 34.43 seconds, narrowly surpassing Max Kühner, who finished in 34.63 seconds but was eliminated in the second round. Gilles Thomas, who had won the LGCT Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris the day before, secured third place with a time of 36.51 seconds.
Reflecting on his win, Said commented, "It’s my second victory here this weekend, and my mare is truly incredible. She gives her all in every round. She’s full of energy, and sometimes I find it challenging to keep control, but I trust her completely—her brilliance does the rest. With a jump-off of 13, it was a tough battle, and nothing was decided in advance, especially with competitors like Max close behind. I always love competing in Paris; this setting is magical and rare during the season."
--ENDS--
Translated and edited by HT
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