Lexington, KY - The jump-off of the 285,000 Euro Grand Prix Global Champions Tour in Monaco was nothing short of spectacular. Four of the world’s finest riders made it through after two exciting rounds of competition. Richard Spooner represented the US, John Whitaker for Great Britain, and Rodrigo Pessoa and Alvaro de Miranda for Brazil. Spooner and his 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Cristallo went into the ring first and flew around the course clear in 35.46 seconds. Pessoa and Let’s Fly, who had bested Spooner’s time in the Nations Cup jump-off at CSIO Rome, could not duplicate that feat and finished almost two seconds slowerDe Miranda and his Olympic partner AD Picolien Zeldenrust, were able to cruise past the time set by Pessoa, but could not catch Spooner. Whitaker and Casino were last to go; the pair set a remarkable pace beating Spooner’s time, but took down the last fence to finish in fourth. Americans Lauren Hough and Laura Kraut finished 14th and 16th respectively.

This marks the second time Spooner and Cristallo have won the Global Champions Grand Prix, last year they beat out Germany’s Marcus Ehning.


The Global Champions Tour moves on to the sixth leg of the tour in Estoril, Portugal, July 9-11, en route to the finals which will take place in Doha, Qatar November 11-15.

ENDS

For more information on the Global Champions Tour including dates and rankings, please visit http://www.globalchampionstour.com.