And so we move to the last 3 combinations in the class - next out was Patrice Delaveau and Beatrice Delouis' 8 year old Selle Francais gelding by Count Ivor (T/bred) out of an Iris Landau mare, Ideal Breceen and they made a valiant effort but just couldn't leave things in place in the shop today - but they were still to be in the winners circle having got to this last round.
this just wasn't going to happen for this pair today and that was obvious at this point..............................
but was Patrice going to end up on the turf....................................
no way!!!!!! He and the horse got it all together and rode out of the arena together - how do these guys stay put after coming down after the wall the way they do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second last to go and it was Jean-Claude Vangeenburghe and Arnold de Brabandere's Pavarotti vd Helle stallion Osta Rugs Quintas and this 9 year old handsome bay had tried his heart out up to this roiund but when he got to the wall this time, he head butted it as he ground to a halt and said to his rider "Jean-Claude, today we are not going to win because I am not jumping that!" Jean-Claude was super understanding and maybe just a little in a agreement with the stallion and they stood quietly at the wall so that the horse could calm his nerves, at which point Brendan McArdle commented to Jean-Claude that this was surely "worse than bungy jumping" and Jean-Claude nodded his agreement so we concluded that he has tried that madness as well!!!! Obviously a thrill seeker is Belgium's Jean-Claude Vangeenberghe - he jumped the triple bar on the way out to make sure there was no problems with confidence and the crowd roared their appreciation when they cleared it with feet to spare - a brave horse and a kind rider!

So last to go - and this man has surely jumped more Puissance walls than most of us have had hot dinners - John Whitaker and he was going this time with Clare Whitaker's Exploit du Roulard - a 1992 Selle Francais stallion by Inchala A out of a Matador du Bois mare - they appraoched the wall and the horse almost looked like it was daring the wall to fall - they cleared the wall after losing balance over the wall but they regrouped and stayed on to take equal third with Capt. David O'Brien, Cian O'Connor much to the delight of the crowd - the British and Irish have had an excellent 2004 Dublin Show with the Grand Prix to come tomorrow!

Jean- Claude takes a moment to contemplate just how big this wall really is!
so were the top bricks glued in or how is it possible they didn't come off - look closely - the horse is resting it's belly on the wall!!!!!

And again the question - how does this man stay on board - anyone else would have been "out the front door" if they found themselves in this position!!!!

And we understand this is the first time this horse has ever attempted a Puissance!

 

And this combination would have to take the award for the most spectacular descent form the wall - and before anyone worries - both horse and rider got up and walked off sound from this tumble with the crowd gasping and then roaring their relief that both were ok!
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