French Equestrian Federation Announces Decisive Stage in Meurchin & Cluny Championship

A DECISIVE STAGE IN MEURCHIN & CLUNY!
Press release from the French Equestrian Federation

In a few days, the 8 teams that make up the Pro Elite category will be back on the pitch. As the end of the season approaches, the 5th stage of the competition, counting for the 9th and 10th days, will once again be contested on 2 different sites on April 15 and 16: the Equestrian Center of Meurchin (62) and the site of ‘Equivallée Cluny (71).

In the lead since the second stage of the competition which was played in Mâcon last November, the Lille HLB team occupies the top of the provisional classification. It is ahead of those of Chambly et Loire sur Rhône by 5 and 6 points. On the grounds of Meurchin and Cluny, the 3 leaders will have a program which could be decisive for the rest of the competition: an explosive meeting will oppose in particular the Lille and the Picards of Chambly… Loire sur Rhône will also have to face Ouest Lyon (6th) and Nancy (4th), while Lille HLB will have to be extra careful against Angers (5th).

Even if horse ball often reserves its share of surprises, Lille will have an opportunity not to be missed against 2 formidable opponents (Chambly and Angers) in order to propel themselves as a real candidate for the final victory.
But it will also be necessary to count on a Chambly formation which could completely redistribute the cards in this 2023 edition of the French Pro Elite Championship. In the event of double and large victories on the ground of Meurchin (against Lille HLB and Paris Mash), the Picards could come back on the heels of the Lille leader or even settle at the top of the provisional classification.
For Loire sur Rhône, the program will be more favorable in Burgundy. The Rhône-Alpes will absolutely have to win against Ouest Lyon (6th) and Nancy (4th) in order to stay at the forefront, and perhaps take advantage of a misstep from their direct competitors!

Behind this leading trio, the soft underbelly of the provisional classification is made up of three teams: Nancy, Angers and Ouest Lyon. Even if mathematically nothing is decided yet, the hopes of final victory seem difficult to reach… however, access to the podium is still at the heart of the objectives of these teams: Nancy and Ouest Lyon will have to face Bordeaux (8th) and Loire sur Rhône (3rd), while the Angevins will be opposed to Lille HLB (1st) and Parsi Mash (7th).

At the bottom of the general classification, Bordeaux (7th) and Paris Mash (8th) will have a difficult stage to negotiate… Each of these teams will be looking for a second victory since the start of the season. Bordeaux will have to do battle in Cluny against Nancy (4th) and Ouest Lyon (6th) while the Parisians of Paris Mash will have a lot to do in Pas-de-Calais, against Angers (5th) and Chambly (2nd).

Once again, each of the meetings on the program for this next meeting will have their share of consequences as the end of the season is fast approaching… Between the ambitions for the title, the podium or even the maintenance, the stages of Meurchin and Cluny promise to be explosive. Meet on April 15 and 16 at the Center Equestre de Meurchin (62) and at the Equivallée Cluny site (71) for 2 days of horse ball and shows!

PROGRAM FROM 04/15/2023
BORDEAUX vs NANCY
LOIRE/RHONE vs WEST LYON
CHAMBLY vs HLB/LILLE
ANGERS vs PARIS MASH

PROGRAM FROM 04/16/2023
CHAMBLY vs PARIS MASH
HLB/ LILLE vs ANGERS
WEST LYON vs BORDEAUX
NANCY vs LOIRE/RHONE

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION
1. HLB / LILLE: 25 points
2. CHAMBLY: 20 points
3. LOIRE/RHONE : 19 pts
4. NANCY : 14 pts
5. ANGERS : 11 pts
6. WEST LYON: 10 pts
7. BORDEAUX : 5 pts
8. PARIS MASH : 3 pts

THE OTHER GATHERINGS OF THE MEURCHIN & CLUNY STAGES

Image: Christopher Gillon in blue on Milki for the Angers team against Victor Mahet on Commeaux King for the Chambly team (copyright: Tiffou Photographie).