His many laughs with Claude Sérillon, one of the star presenters of Antenne 2 (France 2 now), at the beginning of the 1980s, remain moments that have marked the history of the audiovisual industry in France.
For more than four decades, Pierrette Brès, 82 years old since last month, has contributed to the media coverage of equestrian sport by becoming the first woman to find a place in a hitherto very masculine environment.
“I started my professional career as a shampooer in a large Parisian hairdressing salon before being intrigued by a client who came to have their hair done with Paris-Turf in their hands,” she recalls.
I had been passionate about horses since my earliest childhood after growing up in the Camargue so I told her that my dream would be to ride a horse. ”Owner of racehorses, this one then allows him to fulfill it by offering to get into the race.
“At that time, I was 26 years old, and there were about 20 of us to satisfy our passion as riders.
The vast majority were women or daughters of trainers, ”specifies the one who will definitely turn to the equestrian world.
The laughter of Pierrette Brès with Claude Sérillon
After joining the editorial staff of the Week-end newspaper - "I had in front of me three dinosaurs from the equestrian landscape: Ben, Maurice Bernardet and Léon Zitrone" -, Raymond Marcillac, the head of sports at the ORTF, submits to him the he idea, in 1964, of becoming the first woman to offer a horse show on television.
“With my 48 kg, I went up regularly to training alongside Yves Saint-Martin and Alain Lequeux.
I had information on the next starters in the trifecta, which allowed me to have a head start on Leon (Zitrone), who tried to oust me from the antenna on several occasions, ”she continues.
As for his first interview with Yves Saint-Martin, Pierre Brès remembers it as if it were yesterday: “I was dead from a leaflet.
Finding
myself
in front of the
“Little Prodigy”
was the first outcome of my career.
Extremely kind, he received me in his small studio above the stables of François Mathet, based in Gouvieux (Oise), the head coach at the time, and accepted on one condition: that I teach him to dance Madison.
"
"I contributed to the establishment of women's toilets in the press room at Auteuil"
While continuing to regularly deliver her forecasts to the air, she strives to popularize her passion by offering many topics on the horse: "How to treat a seime or what is the best diet for the equine were among the many. proposed focus.
I also delivered current affairs by going, for example, to Ireland to tell about the kidnapping of the champion
Shergar
, belonging to His Highness Aga Khan.
"More anecdotal, the person does not forget to return to a funny episode:" I contributed to the establishment of toilets for women in the press room at Auteuil.
"
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
From the feminization of the gallop to the success of the trot of Helen Johansson in the Prix d'Amérique 1985 to the sulky of
Ina Scot
, without forgetting the many exploits of women jockeys on the mythical obstacles of the Butte Mortemart in Auteuil, Pierrette Brès poses his connoisseur's gaze on this development.
"In terms of results, they do not mismatch with men"
“At the end of the 1970s, I witnessed the emergence of Myriam Bollack, of Criquette (Christiane Head), just like that of Corine Barande-Barbe.
In jumps, I was amazed by the talent of Béatrice Marie and that of Anne Sophie Madeleine.
Even if feminization at the trot remains rarer, Nathalie Henry and Camille Levesque have managed to fight on equal terms with their male counterparts.
I am delighted to see that most of the galloping horses in the presentation round are ruled by girls.
Women have taken over.
Just look at the list of starters, day after day at a gallop.
Women jockeys are more and more numerous and in terms of results, they do not mismatch with the men.
My only reservation concerns the weight discharge granted to women because my principle is that you have to know how to fight on an equal footing to be recognized.
"
