The Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix also delivered top-level sport in the second round. Until the last five combinations started, it remained super exciting, with Gilles Thomas impressing at the last moment and taking the lead with still 4 pairs to go! Only the last rider could still deny Thomas his victory!"
Bettendorf felt the pressure as the last to go. Together with the nine-year-old SF mare, Foxy de la Roque (Armitages Boy), Bettendorf jumped over three seconds faster than Thomas and took the lead! Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalene (Catoki) followed on the podium. Only these two managed to deliver a completely clear round. Michael Duffy claimed third place with his Quirex (Quirado). With two penalties, the Irishman finished ahead of Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek). In fifth place followed Lorenzo de Luca with Denver de Talma (Vigo Cece).
Tension all around!
Ines Joly and Ambassador Z (Aganix du Seigneur) were the first to start the second round. Together with the 10-year-old gelding, she had two rails down, including the oxer at fence nine and the last oxer.
This brought the total to 18 faults. Olympic champion, Christian Kukuk followed with his 10-year-old KWPN mare, Just Be Gentle (Tyson). Kukuk collected eight faults in the first round due to a spook by his horse. He took a bit too much risk on the approach to fence five, which resulted in a single jump-off fault in the second round, giving him a total of 12 faults.
Nicola Philippaerts followed at the start. Philippaerts seemed to have found the connection with the 14-year-old Katanga v/h Dingeshof (Cardento) again. The pair showed a smooth ride with a clear round! Thus, Philippaerts took the lead. Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen and Hardwich VDL (Arezzo VDL) followed with two jumping faults.
The pair was followed at the start by Thibeau Spits and Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z (Indoktro K van 't Kattenheye). The duo took the inside turn to fence nine after the triple combination and managed to keep the line fluid. The duo immediately showed what they were worth and took the lead in the rankings after a clear second round! With six Belgians at the start, Olivier Philippaerts followed in the arena! In the saddle of H&M Miro (Diamant de Semilly), Philippaerts started with a jumping fault. The pair had a jumping fault at both fence nine and eleven. A disappointing finish for the duo, bringing the total to 16 faults.
Together with the 19-year-old Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot (L'Arc de Triomphe), Eduardo Alvarez Aznar took the lead! The Spaniard took short turns and managed to keep the rails in the cups. The duo thus put pressure on Abdel Said who followed at the start. Abdel Said and Bonne Amie (A Big Boy) also had a false start with a jumping fault at fence one. After that, the pair remained clear. Pieter Devos saddled his own bred Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky) again. Devos seemed focused on a clear round with quite a few wide turns. But on the approach to fence nine, the duo touched the top rail of fence nine with their front leg. With a total of eight faults, the duo dropped to fifth place, with six pairs still to go.
Lorenzo de Luca and his Denver de Talma (Vigo Cece) raced through the course. A brilliant clear round gave De Luca the lead with five combinations to follow. The LGCT Grand Prix winner of Miami, Michael Duffy immediately took the lead with his 15-year-old Quirex (Quirado). Duffy started with two time faults and managed to finish the course clear.
Belgian champion, Gilles Thomas followed with his Catoki son, Ermitage Kalone. Gilles Thomas did what was expected of him and immediately took the lead after a flawless round in which he took short turns and fluid approaches. In the last line, he took one less stride and managed to make the difference! Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmerman and the Belgian gelding, Messi van 't Ruytershof (Plot Blue) followed with one jumping fault. There were two more combinations to start, which already guaranteed Gilles Thomas a podium place! Max Kühner followed with the 13-year-old Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek). Kühner and the 13-year-old gelding managed to set a faster course and went well under Thomas' time. But the penultimate fence fell, which ensured Thomas of his lead. Only Victor Bettendorf and Foxy de la Roque (Armitages Boy) could still dethrone Gilles Thomas!
Bettendorf felt the pressure as the last to go. Together with the nine-year-old SF mare, Foxy de la Roque (Armitages Boy), Bettendorf jumped over three seconds faster than Thomas and took the lead! Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalene (Catoki) followed on the podium. Only these two managed to deliver a completely clear round. Michael Duffy claimed third place with his Quirex (Quirado). With two penalties, the Irishman finished ahead of Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek). In fifth place followed Lorenzo de Luca with Denver de Talma (Vigo Cece).
Tension all around!
Ines Joly and Ambassador Z (Aganix du Seigneur) were the first to start the second round. Together with the 10-year-old gelding, she had two rails down, including the oxer at fence nine and the last oxer.
This brought the total to 18 faults. Olympic champion, Christian Kukuk followed with his 10-year-old KWPN mare, Just Be Gentle (Tyson). Kukuk collected eight faults in the first round due to a spook by his horse. He took a bit too much risk on the approach to fence five, which resulted in a single jump-off fault in the second round, giving him a total of 12 faults.
Nicola Philippaerts followed at the start. Philippaerts seemed to have found the connection with the 14-year-old Katanga v/h Dingeshof (Cardento) again. The pair showed a smooth ride with a clear round! Thus, Philippaerts took the lead. Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen and Hardwich VDL (Arezzo VDL) followed with two jumping faults.
The pair was followed at the start by Thibeau Spits and Impress-K van 't Kattenheye Z (Indoktro K van 't Kattenheye). The duo took the inside turn to fence nine after the triple combination and managed to keep the line fluid. The duo immediately showed what they were worth and took the lead in the rankings after a clear second round! With six Belgians at the start, Olivier Philippaerts followed in the arena! In the saddle of H&M Miro (Diamant de Semilly), Philippaerts started with a jumping fault. The pair had a jumping fault at both fence nine and eleven. A disappointing finish for the duo, bringing the total to 16 faults.
Together with the 19-year-old Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot (L'Arc de Triomphe), Eduardo Alvarez Aznar took the lead! The Spaniard took short turns and managed to keep the rails in the cups. The duo thus put pressure on Abdel Said who followed at the start. Abdel Said and Bonne Amie (A Big Boy) also had a false start with a jumping fault at fence one. After that, the pair remained clear. Pieter Devos saddled his own bred Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky) again. Devos seemed focused on a clear round with quite a few wide turns. But on the approach to fence nine, the duo touched the top rail of fence nine with their front leg. With a total of eight faults, the duo dropped to fifth place, with six pairs still to go.
Lorenzo de Luca and his Denver de Talma (Vigo Cece) raced through the course. A brilliant clear round gave De Luca the lead with five combinations to follow. The LGCT Grand Prix winner of Miami, Michael Duffy immediately took the lead with his 15-year-old Quirex (Quirado). Duffy started with two time faults and managed to finish the course clear.
Belgian champion, Gilles Thomas followed with his Catoki son, Ermitage Kalone. Gilles Thomas did what was expected of him and immediately took the lead after a flawless round in which he took short turns and fluid approaches. In the last line, he took one less stride and managed to make the difference! Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmerman and the Belgian gelding, Messi van 't Ruytershof (Plot Blue) followed with one jumping fault. There were two more combinations to start, which already guaranteed Gilles Thomas a podium place! Max Kühner followed with the 13-year-old Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek). Kühner and the 13-year-old gelding managed to set a faster course and went well under Thomas' time. But the penultimate fence fell, which ensured Thomas of his lead. Only Victor Bettendorf and Foxy de la Roque (Armitages Boy) could still dethrone Gilles Thomas!