Shane Sweetnam and the 13-year-old son by Kannan (breeder: Patrick Connoly) jumped to victory in 37,68 seconds. The pair was about one second faster as Germany's Richard Vogel. Vogel followed as runner-up aboard the 12-year-old stallion, Cloudio (Casall, breeder: H. Arendt). Together with Alfbuehren's Iashin Sitte, Steve Guerdat completed the stage.

Guerdat and Daniel Boudrenghien's bred sBs-gelding (Bamako de Muze)  referred Andreas Schou and Napoli vh Nederassenthof (President) to the fourth place. The top five was completed by Great-Britain's Ben Maher and the 12-year-old stallion, Point BReak (Action-Breaker).

A battle against the clock

Luis Alejandro Plascencia O. and Huberth B were once again the first combination to enter the arena. A second faultless round in 44.98 seconds established the first time to beat.

The pace quickly increased. Charlotte Jacobs, the only female rider to qualify for the second round, attacked from the opening fence with Playboy JT Z. The American rider stopped the clock in a rapid 40.10 seconds, but four penalties kept her from taking the lead.

Then came Ben Maher.

The British rider and Point Break took every opportunity around Frank Rothenberger's course, turning tightly and leaving out strides to produce a clear round in 40.21 seconds and move into the provisional lead.

Denmark's Andreas Schou and Napoli vh Nederassenthof raised the level once again. Their brilliant clear round in 39.98 seconds sent them to the top of the leaderboard.

But the best was still to come.

Steve Guerdat entered the arena with a clear objective. Ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix, the Swiss rider had made his ambitions perfectly clear: “The goal is simple: to win.”

Guerdat and Albfuehren's Iashin Sitte attacked the course and crossed the finish line clear in 38.68 seconds. After Switzerland's Nations Cup victory, Guerdat was once again at the top of the leaderboard in Falsterbo.

World No. 2 Richard Vogel was next to challenge.

Riding Cloudio, Vogel set the pace from the first fence and produced a remarkably fast clear round. The clock stopped at 38.63 seconds, just five hundredths of a second faster than Guerdat.

The German rider was in the lead.

Jordan Coyle and Chaccolino followed but finished on four penalties. Only one combination remained.

Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz.

Last to enter the arena and leaders after the opening round, the Irish combination knew exactly what was required. Sweetnam attacked from the first fence, combining speed, precision and control throughout the course.

The clock stopped at 37.68 seconds.

Shane Sweetnam had done it.

With two faultless rounds and the fastest time of the afternoon, Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz claimed victory in the Rolex Grand Prix presented by Agria at the Falsterbo Horse Show.

Richard Vogel and Cloudio finished second, just ahead of Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren's Iashin Sitte, who completed the podium after an outstanding week in Sweden.

result