San Patrignano 2010: the day before

Two months to go until the important show jumping competition dedicated to the memory of Vincenzo Muccioli.

Which this year is rightly proud of the title of the world’s best show-jumping event of 2010 The world’s best 2010 show jumping event. It is with this important award to its credit, assigned by “L’Année Hippique”, the world’s most prestigious equestrian publication, and by the International Jumping Riders Club, that San Patrignano’s CSI 5* presents its 15th edition, being held from 29th to 31st July and dedicated by the 1,500 boys and girls of the community to its founder, Vincenzo Muccioli.

The news arrived from prestigious Dutch publication “L’Année Hippique” today, in collaboration with the International Jumping Riders Club: San Patrignano's "Vincenzo Muccioli Challenge" was named best show in the world for 2010.

Since 1987 the prize has been voted on by top riders in the three Olympic equestrian sports (show jumping, dressage, eventing) who vote in their own respective fields for their favorite event. San Patrignano obtained a whopping 56% of the votes for show jumping, ahead of such prestigious events such as Aachen (17%), London's Olympia and Spruce Meadows in Canada (both with 6%).

San Patrignano's director, Andrea Muccioli expressed his pleasure at the good news, "This prize is a testament to the hard work of the 1500 young men and women of the Community. Through their own relationship with horses, they are able to leave drug addiction behind.

Mathijs Van Asten scored the biggest win of his show jumping career when topping the €200,000 Acqua Uliveto Grand Prix which brought the CSI5* at San Patrignano to a close late last night (Sunday). In the quality start-list of 43 runners, the 31 year old Dutchman was not the most obvious contender to take one of the biggest prizes on the international show jumping circuit. But the smoothness of his victory with the 11 year old stallion VDL Groep Chester Z proclaimed his absolute right to the title of 14th Grand Prix at this immensely popular Italian fixture.