(Sportfot/GCT)
American rider Jessica Springsteen set the pace in the 1m50 speed class, accelerating and clearing the three challenging double combinations around the compact sand arena in 60.23. Jessica, daughter of “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen, has rocketed into the 5* league and is fiercely competitive. She was clearly delighted with her round on Vornado van den Hoendrik and held on to the lead through much of the class.
But Frenchman Patrice looked like he meant business from the start and took full advantage of the course design which invited riders to take a forward line and pull out all the stops. Patrice jumped clear in 57.63 shaving over 2 second off Jessica’s time.
Swiss riders Beat Mändli and Pius Schwizer came in 3rd and 5th with Marc Houtzager of the Netherlands and Olympic team gold medallist Nick Skelton in 4th and 6th places - all under 61 seconds.
German rider Christian Ahlmann, second on the GCT 2012 ranking, had a nasty fall off Lorena at an early oxer but was fit enough to walk the mare from the ring. A clutch of talented speed riders - Sergio Alvarez Moya, Simon Delestre, Alvaro de Miranda, Roger-Yves Bost and Harrie Smolders - all had fast times but finished on 4 faults as the wide oxers tested the scope of their horses.
The eyes of the equestrian world will be on the 10th leg of the 2012 Global Champions Tour in Lausanne tomorrow when the Grand Prix of Switzerland will see precious ranking points at stake. Edwina Tops-Alexander will be battling to hold on to her lead - which she has held since April in Qatar. But Germany’s Christian Ahlmann is 20 points behind her in 2nd place with Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson in 3rd and Denis Lynch of Ireland in 4th. The outcome of the first-ever GCT in Switzerland will have a major impact on the thrilling championship race which will conclude in Abu Dhabi in November.