Weishaupt and Kukuk battle it out in CSI5* Grand Prix of Doha

Weishaupt and Kukuk battle it out in CSI5* Grand Prix of Doha

Doha just kicked off the first CSI5* Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of the season and what a denouement! Of the 39 starting combinations, 12 managed to jump a clear first round. A jump-off with 12 therefore had to decide the winner. With riders like Kevin Staut, Malin Bayard-Johnssen and Maikel van der Vleuten in that jump-off, one thing was certain: only a very fast jump-off could get you the win.

Quick results

1. Philipp Weishaupt - Just Be Gentle

2. Christian Kukuk - Nice van't Zorgvliet

3. Simon Delestre - Dexter Fonteins Z


The first rider to start in the jump-off was Rashid Towaim Ali Al Marri. He rode his 13-year-old Concordess Nrw (by Congress) to the finish in 41.09 seconds but unfortunately got eight penalties in the process. He could therefore draw a line under his dream of winning the Grand Prix today. Hans-Dieter Dreher was next up. The German rider saddled the VDL Zirocco Blue descendant Elysium to jump to the finish in 35.95 seconds. The duo left all the obstacles in the scoops so the other combinations already knew what to do: keep the clear and go faster than Dreher. 

Dreher's time would not last in the end. Dreher was knocked off the throne by his compatriot Philipp Weishaupt. The Ludger Beerbaum Stables rider, in the saddle of Just Be Gentle (by Tyson), was able to jump a clear round in 34.47 seconds, a time no other combination was able to set. His colleague Christian Kukuk came closest. He rode the 10-year-old BWP mare Nice van't Zorgvliet (by Emerald) clear round in 34.42 seconds. This earned him second place. Simon Delestre completed the top three. His Dexter Fontenis Z (by Diarado) left all the bars in the scoops and stopped the chrono after 34.46 seconds.

The rest of the top five came in the hands of riders. Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana (by Kashmir van Schuttershof) finished in fourth place. They jumped a clear round in 34.65 seconds. Ioli Mytilineou and Levis de Muze (by Elvis ter Putte) finished in fifth place after a clear round in 35.51 seconds. 

Click here for the results