In the return to Germany the Longines Global Champions Tour of Riesenbeck has commenced in spectacular fashion, captivating equestrian enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. Amidst the thrilling atmosphere and the scenic beauty of Riesenbeck International, the fiercely competitive 1.45m FUNDIS Reitsport Prize kicked off the weekend of top sport in style.
The opening day saw an intense battle for the top spots, with local hero Nicola Pohl making it a home win onboard Arlo de Blondel cementing her name as a frequent LGCT speed class winner. An on-form Pius Schwizer had to settle for second on Chelsea Z by over a second.
A beaming Nicola Pohl couldn't help but smile at her day one success in Riesenbeck, similar to just two stages ago at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Stockholm. She said: “I am super happy about this win in this amazing arena, and I couldn't be more happy to start my weekend like this.”
She went on to add, “It is my second time here at Riesenbeck International, the last time was about six years ago. The changes and developments are amazing, congratulations to Ludger and the whole team - all the small details make it incredible and we are so happy to have a Longines Global Champions Tour event here.”
Feeling comfortable on the huge grass arena, Jérôme Guery and Great Britain V rounded off the top three, ultimately bumping fellow Belgium rider Abdel Saïd into fourth with Etincelle d'Ellipse. Chasing maximum LGCT Championship points this weekend Maikel van der Vleuten and Dywis HH rounded off the top 5 setting them up perfectly for Sunday’s LGCT Grand Prix of Riesenbeck.
As the sun bathed the venue in a warm glow, the audience gathered in eager anticipation to witness the world's finest equestrian athletes vie for glory. The 1.45m FUNDIS Reitsport Prize posed a formidable challenge, featuring a demanding course designed to test the skill and mettle of each competitor.
The time allowed was tight, and the horses had plenty to look at in the expansive grass arena, but the 43 combinations were all guns blazing, hungry for the win. Opting for a steady round ahead of a big weekend of competition, Christian Kukuk, Philipp Weishaupt and Gilles Thomas all collected a time fault. Proving too tough for some, the course saw faults from some of the biggest names in German sport, including Marco Kutscher, Katrin Eckermann and Christian Ahlmann.
Interestingly, the LGCT Grand Prix of Stockholm winning combination of Olivier Philippaerts with H&M Miro and Michael Pender and HHS Calais opted to retire, saving their top horses for the half a million euro LGCT Grand Prix of Riesenbeck on Sunday.
A total of 17 clear rounds showcased a range of tactics, but it was Nicola Pohl who took all the risks with Arlo de Blondel. The combination set off at a flat-out gallop from before the first fence, shaving seconds off longtime leader Abdel Saïd’s time to beat. Towards the end of the class was when the riders bought a whole new level of speed as Pius Schwizer chased down Pohl’s time trying to deny a home win onboard 11 year old Chelsea Z. However, neither Puis of Guery could match the pace even with tidy inside turns handing the win to Nicola as the only pair to finish sub 65 seconds in today’s exciting speed class.
The opening day saw an intense battle for the top spots, with local hero Nicola Pohl making it a home win onboard Arlo de Blondel cementing her name as a frequent LGCT speed class winner. An on-form Pius Schwizer had to settle for second on Chelsea Z by over a second.
A beaming Nicola Pohl couldn't help but smile at her day one success in Riesenbeck, similar to just two stages ago at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Stockholm. She said: “I am super happy about this win in this amazing arena, and I couldn't be more happy to start my weekend like this.”
She went on to add, “It is my second time here at Riesenbeck International, the last time was about six years ago. The changes and developments are amazing, congratulations to Ludger and the whole team - all the small details make it incredible and we are so happy to have a Longines Global Champions Tour event here.”
Feeling comfortable on the huge grass arena, Jérôme Guery and Great Britain V rounded off the top three, ultimately bumping fellow Belgium rider Abdel Saïd into fourth with Etincelle d'Ellipse. Chasing maximum LGCT Championship points this weekend Maikel van der Vleuten and Dywis HH rounded off the top 5 setting them up perfectly for Sunday’s LGCT Grand Prix of Riesenbeck.
As the sun bathed the venue in a warm glow, the audience gathered in eager anticipation to witness the world's finest equestrian athletes vie for glory. The 1.45m FUNDIS Reitsport Prize posed a formidable challenge, featuring a demanding course designed to test the skill and mettle of each competitor.
The time allowed was tight, and the horses had plenty to look at in the expansive grass arena, but the 43 combinations were all guns blazing, hungry for the win. Opting for a steady round ahead of a big weekend of competition, Christian Kukuk, Philipp Weishaupt and Gilles Thomas all collected a time fault. Proving too tough for some, the course saw faults from some of the biggest names in German sport, including Marco Kutscher, Katrin Eckermann and Christian Ahlmann.
Interestingly, the LGCT Grand Prix of Stockholm winning combination of Olivier Philippaerts with H&M Miro and Michael Pender and HHS Calais opted to retire, saving their top horses for the half a million euro LGCT Grand Prix of Riesenbeck on Sunday.
A total of 17 clear rounds showcased a range of tactics, but it was Nicola Pohl who took all the risks with Arlo de Blondel. The combination set off at a flat-out gallop from before the first fence, shaving seconds off longtime leader Abdel Saïd’s time to beat. Towards the end of the class was when the riders bought a whole new level of speed as Pius Schwizer chased down Pohl’s time trying to deny a home win onboard 11 year old Chelsea Z. However, neither Puis of Guery could match the pace even with tidy inside turns handing the win to Nicola as the only pair to finish sub 65 seconds in today’s exciting speed class.