In the LGCT Grand Prix, it was a wildly exciting jump-off between thirteen combinations. Michael Duffy was the first to go and immediately set a high pace for the rest to come. Belgium's Pieter Devos was able to go faster but it was Dutch Maikel van der Vleuten who eventually won this Grand Prix of Cannes! By doing so, the Dutchman strengthened his position in the overall standings and is now forty points clear of the rest!
With Niels Bruynseels as the very last combination to start in the basic round, the list for the jump-off was known. There were thirteen of them in action one last time on the slopes of Cannes. Bruynseels unfortunately knocked two faults out of the scoops with Delux van T&L (by Toulon), so we did not see them again in the jump-off.
Michael Duffy (IRL) took the lead on Cinca 3 (by Casall), a fourteen-year-old Holstein mare. The duo immediately delivered a clear round in a time of 40.15 seconds. Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) came in second on the KWPN-bred Fellow Castlefield (by Je t'Aime Flamenco). The Australian rider did stay clear in this LGCT competition three times in a row in the GCL team competition!
Harrie Smolders (NED) came seventh in the arena with Monaco NOP (by Cassini II). They were the first to match Duffy's time and even improve it by about 2.5 Seconds but a jumping fault stopped them from taking over the lead position. It was Christian Kukuk (GER) who was able to provide the second clear jump-off in the saddle of Mumbai (by Diamant de Semilly), but their time of 40.90 seconds put them second.
Gilles Thomas (BEL) was the first Belgian in action on Elfra van Beek Z (by El Salvador). He too could not steer the nine-year-old Zangersheide stallion through the course without faults and came in a provisional fifth place with four penalties. Andreas Schou (DEN) was also behind Duffy's time, sending Darc de Lux (by Darco) clear through the course but clocking in at 40.80 seconds. Faster than Kukuk, but still no better than the leading Duffy!
But then came Pieter Devos (BEL)! Armed with the cautious MoM's Toupie de La Roque (by Kannan), the audience watched in suspense as they left the obstacles in the scoops obstacle after obstacle and seemed faster than the Irishman in the lead. Once over the last obstacle it was clear, there was a new leader! The new time to beat was set by Devos and the 16-year-old mare at 39.92 seconds.
Philipp Schulze Topphoff (GER) rode a clear round with Carla (by Comme Il Faut) and came in at three. The eyes were on Maikel van der Vleuten (NED). The Dutchman was the very last one at the start and was still able to mess everything up. In the saddle of the Zangersheide gelding Beauville Z NOP (by Bustique), he did what was thought to be impossible! He rode even faster than Duffy and Devos and mercilessly took the victory. The winning time stood at 39.37 and was ridden by van der Vleuten and his 13-year-old gelding.
TOP FIVE
- Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) - Beauville Z NOP (by Bustique)
- Pieter Devos (BEL) - MoM's Toupie de La Roque (by Kannan)
- Michael Duffy (IRL) - Fellow Castlefield (by Je t'Aime Flamenco).
- Philipp Schulze Topphoff (GER) - Carla (by Comme Il Faut).
- Andreas Schou (DEN) - Darc de Lux (by Darco)