FEGENTRI Gentlemen Steeple Chase in Dieppe (France), July 19th, 2009
Fegentri Steeple Chase organised in Dieppe (France) for the first time
On the 19th of July Dieppe Racecourse (Haute-Normandy, France) hosted its first FEGENTRI race: a steeple-chase for gentlemen riders. A race with twelve runners and five nations represented, namely France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and Switzerland. Philippe Boisgontier, a French rider won the race with Florent Guy finishing second. Florent was the first amongst the nominated riders scoring some important points to consolidate its current leadership of the FEGENTRI World Championship. Well done Florent and France!
The race, a 4,200m handicap, was part of a national hunt meeting with 8 races on the card including a bumper race reserved to the gentlemen-riders, hence a large number of French amateur-riders on the racecourse. A well attended meeting, a friendly crowd and a dry and nearly sunny day made the event an enjoyable one.
Dieppe racecourse, one of the oldest in France (first Steeple-chase in 1837), decided to combine the FEGENTRI race, with the opening of the exhibition: “History of Horse Racing in Dieppe”. The exhibition has been sponsored by the local municipality and Dieppe Racecourse and gathers materials from private collections, France Galop’s archives as well as the city‘s archives. On Saturday, at their arrival the guests had the chance to enjoy a private view of the exhibition.
On Saturday evening Laurent Beuvin, Dieppe Racecourse Chairman and Jean de Bretizel, President of the French Club and Vice-Chairman of Dieppe Racecourse, welcomed the riders and FEGENTRI representatives Nathalie Belinguier, President, Susanna Santesson, General Secretary, Thierry Lohest, Vice-President and Board Members Sarah Oliver and Cecilia Gatta as well as several horsy “habitués” and FEGENTRI’s friends at a Gala dinner hosted at the sea-front restaurant of the Grand Casino.
At the end of the evening the ladies were kindly spoiled with cosmetics offered by “Les Bains Dieppe” the local SPA and a sponsor of the Racecourse.
The event had successful media coverage with several articles published on local newspapers including one by Paris Normandie, the most important French regional daily newspaper In addition to that the FEGENTRI name was highlighted by the national local TV France 3 during an interview and reportage of the event.
Fegentri wants to express its warm thanks to Dieppe Racecourse and the French Club for promoting, organising and sponsoring this first FEGENTRI race in Dieppe. An event that saw a great combination of competition, fair play, commitment and friendship: hopefully the first one of a long series.
Laurent Beuvin, President of Dieppe Racecourse – Nathalie Bélinguier, President of Fegentri – Thierry Lohest, Vice-President of Fegentri
Local News “Paris Normandie” – clic to view the front page and the article: