Germany’s Julia Krajewski wins Saumur Complet CCI4*-L

Julia Krajewski and Amande de B'neville were simply the best from beginning to the end at Saumur Complet...

Adele Severs

Published 3 May 2021

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Julia Krajewski and Amande de B’neville.

© Comité Equestre de Saumur / Photos Les Garennes

Germany’s Julia Krajewski wins Saumur Complet CCI4*-L

Julia Krajewski and Amande de B’neville were simply the best from beginning to the end at Saumur Complet!

The German combination were the leaders at the end of the dressage, the leaders at the end of the cross country, and they did not crack under the pressure in the show jumping.

Also consistent throughout this competition was the Frenchman Thomas Carlile on Birmane, who finished second. Fellow frenchman Nicolas Astier, in the saddle of Babylon de Gamma, benefited from the three faults of his team-mate Karim Laghouag, which saw him move up in the final classification and take third place.

Thomas Carlile and Birmane.

© Comité Equestre de Saumur / Photos Les Garennes

“I came to the CCI 4*-L Equi Action de Saumur Complet with the idea of obtaining a qualification for the mare, Amande de B’neville,” said Julia Krajewski following the event. “She had already taken part in a few 4* events but without obtaining a qualification.

“I also wanted to see the country: I had excellent memories of Saumur, a competition that I had run at as a Junior in 2005, for the European Championship. I knew it was a technical, demanding competition, and that’s what we needed. The mare had been seriously prepared, in particular on the CCI 3*-S of Radolfzell where she finished third. And Saumur allowed her to progress further. She is of course my lead mare since Samourai retired, and I had the impression, this weekend, that she was saying to me ‘Relax mum, trust me, we will perform together’. And it’s true: she was wonderful, I have absolutely nothing to reproach her for!

“She is getting stronger and stronger. Physically, she is imposing, and has to continue to learn to contain herself, to deal with her boundless energy. I really think I will take her to a CCI5* soon. In any case, that’s my goal, whether it’s next year or in a championship this year. Really, I had a great week at Saumur Complet and this victory is a great conclusion.”

Full results can be found here.