In a thrilling GCL Chantilly, there was edge-of-the-seat action to the final fence after Berlin Eagles’ pairing of Ludger Beerbaum and Christian Kukuk kept cool heads under enormous pressure to convert their pole position into the team’s first win of the season.
In an intense ranking shake up, the Miami Celtics’ 4th place today has catapulted the team to the overall lead, where they now sit on 221 points. Shanghai Swans have dropped to second, now on a tally of 218 and the London Knights have regained third where they now sit on 209 overall.
Speaking after their win an elated Ludger said: “Today with only clear teams from yesterday for us it was important to make two clear rounds. Valkenswaard put pressure on as they were so fast, and we knew with our horses that we had to finish clear. There was a bit of pressure towards the end, but it paid off. Christian’s round was absolutely first class and it gave me a comfortable and good feeling for my round."
Christian agreed “For sure [it’s up there in my top wins ever] - I’m super happy, I was looking forward to being on the podium, but now it’s the first time that we win, so it’s even better. It gives us motivation, it’s close in the rankings, so it’s not over and we’ll go with a good feeling in the next shows, so hopefully we can climb up."
The Eagles were the only team to finish with a completely clean score this weekend, taking the win from Valkenswaard United’s Marcus Ehning and Bertram Allen who put in a valiant effort aboard their top horses. Third went to London Knights after Emily Moffitt and Ben Maher produced a flawless finish to keep their overnight score of 4.
Uliano Vezzani’s course was a clever and technical challenge, with faults collected all around the arena. The galloping grass arena featured a triple combination set along the grandstand, a tall Longines plank and a delicate GC vertical set on a curving turn which caused plenty of problems in the first round. An imposing filler featuring the Royal Stables gave the horses something to look at, and a tricky final line with a GCL oxer followed by a delicate liverpool-lined vertical to finish.
Here’s how the action unfolded…
Madrid in Motion
With a heavy overnight score of 24, Madrid in Motion made a strategic horse change with Michael G Duffy swapping from Chappo Chey to top gelding Lapuccino. First to go Mark McAuley was looking for redemption after his unusual 20 faults with Jasco vd Bisschop, but the first part of the double fell, another 4 added to their tally. The front rail of the RMC Sport oxer fell for Michael and Lapuccino, the team finishing today on 32 overall.
Scandinavian Vikings
The Vikings also made a strategic change between rounds, pulling Leopold van Asten off the bench to replace Henrik von Eckermann. First to go was Christian Ahlmann with his LGCT Grand Prix of Paris winning horse Take A Chance On Me Z and the pair produced a flawless round, keeping the team on their overnight score of 16. Leopold stepped up with top mare VDL Groep Miss Untouchable, but the first part of the triple combination fell and the team would finish on 20 today.
Chantilly Pegasus
Roger-Yves Bost was first to fly the flag for the home city time Chantilly Pegasus, changing his horses to compete with Vino d’Espinet today. But the first part of the grey double came down, another 4 faults added to the team score of 16. Francois Mathy Jr kept Uno de la Roque but they too fell short at the GCL oxer, the team tumbling to a total of 24 this week.
Hamburg Giants
Both riders of the Giants elected to make a horse change today, with Lauren Hough competing on Paloma and Simon Delestre second to go and bringing out his grey superstar Filou Carlo Zimequest. Lauren attacked the course with her 13 year old mare, but there was heartache at the last as the delicate vertical fell and the team would tumble to 20 so far. Simon and Filou Carlo Zimequest soared around the course, the grey gelding making a beautiful shape over the fences. They rattled the GCL oxer but left all the fences up, keeping the team on their score of 20, and ahead of the Vikings on time.
Prague Lions
The Lions made no horse or rider changes today, with Wilm Vermeir first to go with Iq van het Steentje. But an early fault at the delicate GC plank would put the team on the backfoot, before it started to come undone as the first part of the triple combination also fell. Marco Kutscher piloted top mare Chades of Blue, keen to finish clear to avoid the team falling behind on places. They took a tight line to the GCL oxer, but also had heartache at the last as the final fence fell, dropping the team to a score of 24 and well down the order.
St Tropez Pirates
Edwina Tops-Alexander kept with Veronese Teamjoy for this round of action, the bay mare leaving plenty of air above the fences. Redemption was the word of the day for the team after their disappointing 12 faults from round one, but Edwina pulled off a masterful clear to keep the team in with a chance. Pieter Devos made a horse change to his top mare Claire Z, but the final part of the triple combination fell, as did the RMC Sport oxer. The team would drop to 20 and behind both the Vikings and Giants.
Shanghai Swans
Overall GCL ranking leaders the Shanghai Swans made one horse change, with Shane Sweetnam first to go with Indra van de Rude Heihoef, the 11 year old grey mare bouncing off the fresh green grass. Shane had to work hard in the triple combination, but after drifting to the final element they clipped the wing which toppled the fences. They had to stretch for the back bar of the skinny oxer and that too fell, the team plummeting to 16 faults. Pius Schwizer would keep his ride Living the Dream, and set off determined not to add any further faults to their tally. But the GCL oxer fell, and the team would drop to 20 too.
Cannes Stars
With an overnight score of 8, the Cannes Stars brought Jane Richard Philips off the bench for this round of action. First to go Margie Goldstein-Engle stuck with the big-striding Dicas, but the GC plank fell dropping the team to a tally of 12. But the Royal Stables fence fell, as did the blue Ily oxer, the team tumbling to a score of 20 today. Jane opted to ride Clipper du Haut du Roy, and they looked set to finish clear. But the final line saw them come unstuck as the GCL oxer fell and the final fence came down - they would drop to 28 overall.
Doha Falcons
The Falcons were another team to make no horse or rider changes, with Bronislav Chudyba first to go for the team on Lester IX. They kept cool heads under pressure to deliver yet another clear for the team - the first to jump with zero faults across the two days of competition. Michael Whitaker brought out his 9 year old grey mare For Fun, but the mare just changed her canter lead in the final stride to the first fence, the Longines pole knocked out as they sought to regain their balance. Michael managed to settle the mare and picked up a steady rhythm for the rest of the course, the Falcons finishing on 9 faults overall.
London Knights
First of the teams on an overnight score of 4 faults, the London Knights brought in team anchor Ben Maher and top horse Explosion W for this round of action. First to go was U25 talent Emily Moffitt who piloted her top gelding Winning Good. Emily produced a flawless performance in the first round, and the pair pulled out all the stops again to bring home another clear - passing the baton to Ben. With his chestnut gelding Explosion W already naturally faster across the ground, Ben guided the enthusiastic horse around the tough track. With their enviable consistency they too delivered the goods, finishing clear and keeping the team on their score of 4 overall.
New York Empire
There was disappointment at the first after Spencer Smith and Theodore Manciais punched out the Longines plank. With the team now on 8 overall, they would slip behind the Knights, but with the final fence also tumbling the team would drop to a tally of 12 so far. Scott Brash made a horse change to bring forward Hello Jefferson, the feisty 10 year old bay gelding. Scott kept his enthusiastic horse under complete control, allowing plenty of room and time to the fences, and it paid off - the pair finishing clear despite a lucky rub of the last. New York Empire would finish on 12 overall.
Monaco Aces
The Monaco Aces brought in their speed demon Julien Epaillard for this round of action in Chantilly, the flying Frenchman opting to ride his 10 year old chestnut stallion Virtuose Champeix. But the GC plank fell, putting the team behind the Knights already. The GC Prague Playoffs plank tumbled too, and the team would drop to a score of 12. Laura Kraut kept her 10 year old bay mare Fleurette for today’s competition, and their tactics paid off - the pair produced the clear and the team would stay on their score of 12 overall, but behind the New York Empire on their combined time.
Paris Panthers
The Panthers had a complete change up in their horse and rider roster today, with Gregory Wathelet first to go on top stallion MJT Nevados S. The impressive grey horse responded beautifully to Gregory’s requests, the pair finishing clear to keep the team on their overnight score of 4 faults. Darragh Kenny brought out his top horse Balou de Reventon for this crucial round, but the experienced combination had the GC plank down, the team dropping down to a total of 8 and behind the Knights. Valkenswaard United Marcus Ehning kept with his formidable stallion Comme Il Faut, the 14 year old stallion fresh and keen to the fences. They produced the clear, keeping the team on their overnight score of 4, and heaping the pressure on teammate Bertram Allen to finish fast and clear. Bertram made a horse change to Harley vd Bisschop, and kept the big striding horse together to pull off a stunning clear, with the team a whole 10 seconds faster than the Knights with their combined time. They would shoot into the lead so far, with two teams left to go.
Miami Celtics
The Miami Celtics kept their complete horse and rider line-up for the second round of action, the first of two teams on a zero score. William Whitaker was first to go, with the slower-striding RMF Cadeau de Muze picking his way carefully around the course. But there was drama at the GCL oxer as the 11 year old bay stallion refused at the final moment. William circled round and jumped it cleanly, but collected 7 faults (4 plus 2 time faults) for his troubles. Michael Duffy knew he had to keep all the fences up for the team to be in any chance of a podium today for the Celtics, and he pulled out all the stops with Mullaghdrin Touch The Stars to keep the team on their score of 7 overall.
Berlin Eagles
The final team to go, the Berlin Eagles also chose to keep their round one line-up for this crucial competition. Christian Kukuk was first to go with his big striding stallion Limonchello NT, the blue-eyed horse powering off the ground to clear the fences. They knew a double clear would bring them the win, and the stuck to their steady strategy, Christian giving the big horse as much time as possible to the fences. They played their part, finishing clear and passing the reins to Ludger Beerbaum with Cool Feeling. With all the pressure on their shoulders, Ludger kept a cool head to produce the clear - thumbs up in delight as the Eagles soaring to the win here in Chantilly.
SOURCE: LGCT