All eyes were on him. Harry Charles, straight to Gijón from Aachen, where he won two bronze medals (team and individual) at the World Cup last weekend, was unbeatable on the grass arena this afternoon. Riding Ballypatrick Tiberius, the pair were among the fastest in the first round, qualifying for the jump-off, where they went on to beat the other 12 qualifiers.
Charles was the second-to-last rider in the second round; he faced difficulties at the second obstacle due to an awkward stride from his horse, but from that point on, it was all speed and not a single rail down. He was one of the favorites this afternoon, and his victory made it clear why.
Some other horse-rider combinations have also wake up the passion of Las Mestas: Scott Brash and Kohiba, who had one rail down in the jump-off; Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida and Chicco Van De Doornhaag Z, who made it down at the final obstacle; or Robert Whitaker and Equine America Vermento, whose refusal cost them any chance of success.
German rider Tom Schewe finished second with Congress Blue PS, and Italian rider Luca Coata took third place with Holly Del Rilate.
