The audience in Prague was once again treated to the highest level of entertainment and were presented the top of the top riders. After two exciting rounds for the Global Champions League, it was ultimately the Miami Celtics who were victorious.
Valkenswaard United was leading the rankings until the last but then the Miami Celtics had yet to appear on the scene. With only four penalties in the first round, they had one clear goal in mind: To stay under the 12 penalty points on which Valkenswaard United was stranded. Bertram Allen guided Pacino Amiro (by Pacino) clear twice through the technically built course. Michael G Duffy had a first clear round behind him when he started his second, but Clitschko 17 (by Christian 25) could not match that performance again and knocked two bars out of the scoops. All the pressure was now on Edouard Schmitz's shoulders. Gamin van 't Naastveldhof (v. Chacco Chacco) had understood his task and stayed clear in contrast to the first round! So the team, like Valkenswaard United, ended up with a total of 12 penalty points. But their accumulated time had a total of 190.98 and Valkenswaard United's... 196,69. The Miami Celtics had snatched the lead from Valkenswaard United and went away with the victory.
Valkenswaard United could count on John Whitaker to go clear in the first round on Equine America Unick du Francport (by Zandor) and not touch any wood in the second round either. Andre Thieme's Dsp Chakaria (by Chop 47) had one beam on the ground in the first round but lifted the feet nicely in the second. Marcus Ehning, in turn, was charged with a jumping fault in both rounds in the saddle of Priam du Roset (by Plot Blue).
The bronze was for the riders under Shanghai Swans. They too had a top combination hidden under them with Christian Ahlmann and Dominator 2000 Z (by Diamant de Semilly). The stallion proved once again what a talent he harbors and could not be caught at any fault. Leone Jei (by Baltic VDL) had a jumping fault in the first round but corrected it by leaving all the rails in the second round. Most unlucky was Max Kühner. After his first, clear round on Elektric Blue P (by Eldorado vd Zeshoek), the duo seemed on target but the second round brought 12 penalty points for them. Thus, the team finished with 16 penalty points and Kühner will probably have been cursing for a while anyway but still grab the bronze handsomely.
Photo ©: Tomas Holcbecher