ph. Stefano Grasso
Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) and Quaoukoura du Ty won the CSI5* Mercedes Benz Championat von Hamburg this afternoon in dramatic style ahead of Pénélope Leprevost and Mylord Carthago, with Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Cornado, and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Casall ASK in joint 3rd. Crowds gathered in the beautiful sunshine at the historic Derby Park Hamburg for an afternoon of great sport, featuring nearly all of the world’s Top 30 show jumpers.
This afternoon’s class was the first big test of the show from course designer Frank Rothenburger ahead of the LGCT Hamburg Grand Prix on Saturday. The tricky first round set at 1.55m saw many of the 47 starters pick up 8 faults or more as tall uprights, technical distances and square oxers proved troublesome throughout.
In the 13-strong jump-off the standard was set by Geir Gulliksen (NOR) third to go, who jumped the first double clear, but his time was immediately bettered by Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and Chaman by almost 3s. Hamad Al Attiyah (QAT) and Whitaker put in a class performance to slot in behind Beerbaum on the leaderboard.
But France’s Pénélope Leprevost and Mylord Carthago showed just how fast the French are against the clock, knocking over 2s off Beerbaum’s time from the middle of the draw with some fast tight turns on her handsome grey. LGCT Hamburg 2013 Champion Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Cornado, and the ever consistent Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE) did their best to catch Leprevost but could only get within 1.5s of her, both finishing on exactly the same time.
Reigning European Champion Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) won his second class of the show from last to go in the draw by throwing all caution to the wind and taking every risk he could think of to take the win just over a second faster than Leprevost for a french 1st and 2nd. Bosty is looking on fine form ahead of Saturday’s Grand Prix and he could well be back on the LGCT podium for the first time this season here in Hamburg.
Longines Global Champions Tour Championship Ranking No2 Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) won this morning’s CSI5* Accumulator class with a fantastic round on Admara 2 to take the victory. Norway’s Geir Gulliksen and Grand Balou 4 took 2nd place exactly 0.5s behind the winner. Germany’s Katrin Eckermann and Nabab de Revel took 3rd, again exactly 0.5s behind Gulliksen.
With so many of the big names in show jumping competing in Hamburg this week, the competition in every class is fierce. The 48 starters in this morning’s first class featured many of the top names competing in Saturday’s Longines Global Champions Tour of Hamburg Grand Prix – Round Three of the 2014 series.
Canada’s Eric Lamaze is at the top of the LGCT points table, and following two incredible Grand Prix wins over the last week for him in La Baule and Rome, the 2008 Olympic Gold medallist is on top of the world. But the young Italian Gaudiano has equal points with Lamaze and lies in 2nd place on a technicality – he will be hungary to gain as many points as he can on Saturday afternoon.
Source: Global Champions Tour