The Real Just Riding: GCT News

Lorenzo Lights Up LGCT Cannes with Spectacular CSI5* Win

The second evening of competition on the Longines Global Champions Tour of Cannes showcased another night of top sport and world-class entertainment as the stars came out on the French Riviera. On-form LGCT Ranking leader Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) wowed the crowds by winning a 12-rider jump-off by over a second from the rest of the field with Halifax van het Kluizebos, winning the lion’s share of the €62,000 and an all inclusive holiday to Mauritius. 

Speaking about his round, Lorenzo praised his phenomenal stallion: “My horse jumped fantastic. He loves to do the jump-off, he’s always competitive. He loves to go fast! It’s a fantastic atmosphere here.” 

Uliano Vezzani’s course was all about keeping focus, with the spotlights shining on the 54 strong field. Related distances, imposing oxers and full height verticals were all in the mix with the Italian course designer featuring big parallels, wide and square. 

First to set the pace again with a clear was on-form Simon Delestre (FRA) with chestnut gelding Chesall Zimequest dancing around the arena as the sky changed from blue, to pink to deep purple while the sun began its slow descent. The home town hero drew cheers from the crowd, with the top French rider not disappointing after a masterful display of show jumping prowess. Local fans had plenty to celebrate, after Mathieu Billot (FRA) with his stunning dapple grey Vent du Sud Kerglenn and Kevin Staut (FRA) jumped beautiful clears to earn themselves a place in the jump-off.

19 year old German talent Philip Houston (GER) has been impressing around the world with his skills, however took an unusual tumble at the gappy vertical after a miscommunication with Ulane Belmaniere while pushing for a longer stride saw them stop at the very last minute. Jane Richard Philips (SUI) was another rider to taste drama, after Calinesse de Guldenboom checked before the treble combination, adding a stride before crashing through the black and orange oxer, and Scott Brash (GBR) was eliminated after Hello Annie stopped at the BMW oxer, somersaulting Scott over her head with the British Olympian landing on his feet.  

Clears came throughout the field, with Darragh Kenny (IRL), Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Pieter Devos (BEL), Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami (KSA), Alberto Zorzi (ITA), Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP), Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and Denis Lynch (IRL) making up the 12-strong jump-off. 

First to go was Simon Delestre (FRA) and Chesall who set off at a pace with all the intent of a home win. But a shock stop from the chestnut gelding at the Longines plank saw the pair collect four faults, before Simon retired his feisty horse from the competition. Darragh Kenny (IRL) had the pressure of setting the bench mark, but mastered the course with Chanel setting the time at 38.55s. 

Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami (KSA) gave it a spin with High Quality J, but the pair were unable to match Darragh’s time, as did Pieter Devos (BEL) and Claire Z and Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) with Hermes de Mariposa who jumped beautiful clears but all finished outside the Irishman’s time. 

Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) blitzed around the arena with G&C Unicstar de l'Aumone, with the pair rolling the dice at their gallop to the last. Luck wasn’t on their side, and the pole fell to the groan of the crowd, dropping them down the order. Their faster time however showed there was still room for manoeuvre, with the final riders yet to come. 

An unlucky pole for Italian star Alberto Zorzi (ITA) and Cinsey put them out of the running, and Ludger Beerbaum (GER) also picked up a refusal after coming at the vertical with too much of an angle for his young horse Chacon. The pressure was on local rider Mathieu Billot (FRA), who also clipped a pole to collect four faults. 

Three big guns were yet to come, with the LGCT Ranking leader Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) storming into the ring with Halifax van het Kluizebos. The pair seriously meant business with the speedy Italian galloping the course and taking an absolute flier to the last to stop the clock in 37.46s. Denis Lynch (IRL) and RMF Bella Baloubet looked strong but a rub of a pole dropped them down the order with four faults. 

The final rider to enter was local star Kevin Staut (FRA) and Silver Deux de Virton HDC, with the crowd erupting for their home hero. The crowd drew their breath as the pair set off around the course, but it wasn’t to be after they clipped a pole and picked up four faults. 

So it was Italian star Lorenzo who shone brightest tonight in Cannes, with all eyes on the LGCT Ranking leader to see if he can keep hold of his lead in tomorrow’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes. The Global Champions League of Cannes final will kick off at 18:30, with the top 25 individuals qualifying for the Grand Prix which will take place at 22:00 local time. 

For the full results to tonight’s class, please click here. 

Credit for article: www.globalchampionstour.com

Lorenzo de Luca chooses to ride in Animo Italia

Star strikers out in force as GCL Madrid Team riders revealed

With just a few days to go until the Global Champions League of Madrid kick starts the European segment of the 2017 Championship, the team riders for Round One can today be revealed. With rivalry and tactics fierce, the 18 teams are calling serious strategy into play for the fourth leg of the Championship.

Scott Brash will join his team Miami Glory among a whole host of other Animo Italia sponsored riders. We of course will be rooting for Scott and any other Animo associated riders this year.

Photo Credit: scottbrashequestrian.com

Reigning Champions Valkenswaard United will bring star striker Marcus Ehning to Spain, with the top German rider bringing a history of success at the gorgeous Club de Campo Villa de Madrid after a Grand Prix win in 2016. Alongside him will be team anchor, top Italian rider Alberto Zorzi, who has competed at every leg of the Championship so far this season. Snapping at their heels in the overall Ranking battle are the London Knights, who bring in U25 Emily Moffitt alongside experienced Mexican rider Enrique Gonzalez, who debuted for the team in Mexico City. St Tropez Pirates will return to a proven combination, with best friends Jérôme Guéry and Simon Delestre re-uniting for this round of action, and hoping to return to form after their gut-wrenching result in Shanghai where they looked set to win the event, until it unravelled in the final round. 

The huge grass arena of Club de Campo Villa de Madrid will throw in a new challenge to the teams, after the tight square Shanghai set up suited the smaller, more agile horses quick on their feet. Galloping distances and wide open spaces mean the teams had to think carefully about which horses and riders would be best suited to the fourth leg of the Championship. With the option to change horses and riders between rounds, all eyes will be on the first round of action to see how the sport plays out, with teams vying for pole position and the advantage of going last in round two.

2016 GCL Madrid winners, the Rome Gladiators will bring back Laura Kraut who was one half of the winning combination last year. This time, the top American rider will be teaming up with Lorenzo de Luca, the young Italian star making a big impression on the show jumping circuit so far. Home team, Madrid in Motion will field their U25 Spanish star, Gonzalo Anon Suarez alongside Dutch Champion Maikel van der Vleuten, with the pair combining forces for the first time on home turf and looking for a strong result in front of their local fans. Tens of thousands of visitors flock to the venue every year to witness their heroes in action, contributing to an electric atmosphere as passionate spectators enjoy top sport and world class entertainment. 

Heavy-weight German riders Ludger Beerbaum and Marco Kutscher will be out in force again for the Cannes Stars, and Miami Glory will field new recruit Denis Lynch alongside team anchor Scott Brash for the first time this season. Local fans will have plenty to cheer for as Spanish rider Sergio Alvarez Moya debuts the GCL for the first time with his team, Chantilly Pegasus, teaming up with U25 American rider Lucy Davis. Another brand new combination will be Vienna Eagles’ Emanuel Andrade and Kerry Mc Cahill, with the pair both taking their first start this season. Consistent duo Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohammed will be back for Doha Fursan Qatar and Cascais Charms follow suit with their winning combination of David Will and Andreas Kreuzer.

Audrey Coulter will also make a return to the Hamburg Diamonds, teaming up with trainer Harrie Smolders, and young Dutch talent Kevin Jochems will be returning to his first CSI5* following serious injury last year, teaming up with Michael Kearins for the Moscow Bears. The Mexico Amigos will continue their strategy, with Christian Ahlmann and Henrik von Eckermann teaming up for their second consecutive event, and Daniel Deusser will unite with U25 rider Alexandra Thornton for the first time this season for the Shanghai Swans.

Fresh from their success in Shanghai, the Paris Panthers will keep Jack Hardin Towell up front for the team, this time adding new U25 star Lillie Keenan into the mix for her first event on the Championship race. The Monaco Aces will also test out new recruit Pieter Devos alongside long-term Ace Daniel Bluman, and the Berlin Lions will be looking fierce with Gerco Schroder and Ales Opatrny taking up the mantle for the team.

The first round of action will take place this Friday 19th May, with the first horse and rider entering the ring at 17:30. The teams will fight for pole position, with faults carried through to Saturday’s final which takes centre stage at 15:30 local time. All the action can be viewed via GCL TV, with expert commentary, in-depth analysis and exclusive studios.

For the full team rider list for GCL Madrid Round One, please click here.

See full list of venues and dates here below:

Article Credit: globalchampionsleague.com

Photos Credits: scottbrashequestrian.com, worldofshowjumping.com