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At full gallop: SKEMA’s Alix Fagué books place in Longchamp final
On 7 May, ParisLongchamp Racecourse hosted the first qualifying race of the Grandes Écoles Championship, an equestrian competition organised by the Club des Gentlemen-Riders et des Cavalières. Among the riders lining up at the start was Alix Fagué, a student on SKEMA Business School’s Specialised Master in Project and Programme Management.
The stands at Longchamp were packed as spectators gathered to support the riders competing in the Grandes Écoles race. Open to students from institutions belonging to the Conférence des Grandes Écoles and major universities, the championship offers experienced riders with no previous racing background the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of horse racing.
“Riding at ParisLongchamp felt quite surreal […]”
Each year, around forty participants follow months of physical and technical preparation before experiencing competitive racing on one of France’s most iconic racecourses. For this qualifying event at ParisLongchamp, Alix Fagué rode “Miss Dabirsim”, a horse provided by the AFASEC, and trained at the Carlos & Yann Lerner stables in Maisons-Laffitte.
1,300 metres at full gallop
In this opening 1,300-metre race at ParisLongchamp, Alix Fagué secured third place under SKEMA’s colours. The podium finish qualifies her for the championship final, which will take place on 14 July on the same racecourse. Two further qualifying races are scheduled for 28 May and 18 June ahead of the summer final, organised as part of the “Jeuxdi by ParisLongchamp” events.
“We have been training since November”
“Riding at ParisLongchamp felt quite surreal. We have been training since November, several times a week at dawn, alongside physical preparation with our respective trainers, who have kindly welcomed us into their stables,” explains Alix.
Created to introduce students from a wide range of backgrounds to the racing world, the Grandes Écoles Championship combines sporting preparation, immersion in a demanding environment and strong team spirit. It offers a singular experience built around self-improvement and discovery of the equestrian world, only a short distance from SKEMA’s Grand Paris campus.
