The Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix just took place in Prague. The fifteen big GP winners of the LGCT competitions managed to qualify to start in this big Grand Prix Final today! There were two different rounds to fight for the victory. The ultimate win was for Henrik von Eckermann who rode an incredible second round with his legendary BWP gelding King Edward (by Edward 28)! He stayed clear in both rounds and recorded a very fast time of 60.82 seconds in the second round.
King Edward won team gold with Henrik at the Tokyo Olympics and placed fourth individually at the Games. The eleven-year-old BWP gelding was bred by Wim Impens in Ressegem, Belgium.
Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward in the LGCT Super Grand Prix. (Picture: Tomas Holcbecher)
Henrik von Eckermann appeared speechless just after his winning round. "This is just another level. It's unbelievable. In the second round King Edward felt the tension and the pressure. So I could really ride with much more self-confidence. He jumped for his life tonight," von Eckermann told GCTV.
Sergio Alvarez Moya and Alamo (by Ukato) took home second place. They too managed to keep the zero in both rounds and he rode his second round in a sharp time of 62.48 seconds that only von Eckermann managed to beat.
Sergio Alvarez Moya and Alamo in the LGCT Super Grand Prix. (Picture: Tomas Holcbecher)
Olympic duo Ben Maher and Explosion W (by Chacco Blue) scored four penalties in the second round, which put them in third place. They crossed the finish line in 60.65 seconds.
Darragh Kenny and VDL Cartello (by Cartini) saw a fence knocked down and had to record four penalty points. Although they had a fast time of 60.72 seconds in the second round, it was just not fast enough for a podium finish and had to make do with fourth place.
Scott Brash rode his second round in 62.00 seconds with Hello Jefferson (by Cooper vd Heffinck). However, he had to carry a jumping fault from the first round. This made the duo end up in fifth place.
Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson in the LGCT Super Grand Prix. (Picture: Tomas Holcbecher)
Earlier today, it was announced that crowd favorite Malin-Baryard Johnsson was going to leave H&M Indiana in the stable for this final and instead made a bold choice by using her relatively inexperienced, nine-year-old stallion El Barone 111 Z. This resulted in a shocking refusal in the first round of this final. As a result, Malin did not start in the second round.