In a thrilling jump-off it was Swedish rider Rolf-Goeran Bengtsson and his 17-year-old Holsteiner Casall ASK that won the Longines Global Champions Tour CSI5*in Valkenswaard this evening.
An amazing competition ended in a show down between six ridersthat kept it a clear during the two round Grand Prix. And with first to go rider in tje jump-off Jessica Springsteen and Cynar V (v.Clarimo) direcly riding a fast clear roundin 43.79 seconds it was on for the prize money tonight.
However she could not maintain her top spot as Italian Alberto Zorzi and Fair Light van 't Heike swiftly crushed her time by more then a second. But the Italian was not sure of a win either because a few top cominations were still to come. One of them being USA's Laura Kraut and the only 9 year old mare Cavalia who took an shortcut from the Tops Arena jump into the double clocking 41.53 seconds, pushing Zorzi to the second place.
Being confident it could go faster Rolf-Görang Bentsson shifting to second gear with his top stallion Cassal ASK taking thelonger route approach, but kept tempo high and strides big. Cheered on by the Dutch crowd that was on the edge of their seats the Swedish rider crossed the finish in 41.36 seconds, martinaly beating Kraut for the win in the Grand Prix.
"I am always happy to come here year after year. It is amazing to see how things have developed and the facility improves time after time." said Bengtsson who was happy to take home todays Grand Prix win.
Jessica Springsteen (Cynar V.) finisht in fourth and Lauren Hough also from the USA completed the top 5 with Ohlala.
Go here to see all the results.
