In a truly heart-stopping Grand Prix Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) and Casall ASK narrowly missed winning the overall title leaving the Championship down to the wire in Doha, as top German rider Marcus Ehning (GER) took his second Grand Prix win of the season.
“My horse is a real fighter, he has a super brain and is always giving his best – in a jump off he can race and I’m very happy that it worked out,” said Marcus after his win. “I saw Simon and knew what I had to do. I rode one and two and it wasn’t what I wanted, so I thought ‘I really have to go’, and thought I could turn a bit tighter at the final three jumps – in the end it was our day.”
It was an extraordinary night of tension in Vienna for the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna presented by LGT Private Banking, the penultimate leg of the series, with Rolf needing to finish first or second to win the Champion of Champions title ahead of his closest rival Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS). However this evening’s result leaves Edwina’s hopes alive for a historic triple Champion of Champions Title, while Rolf’s dream of winning the LGCT crown is still within reach as the Tour looks to Doha for the final chapter in this season’s Championship story.
Edwina Tops-Alexander and Caretina de Joter. PC: Stefano Grasso/LGCT
The €300,000 Grand Prix of Vienna was won in emphatic style by Marcus Ehning (GER) with a lightning quick round on Comme Il Faut. The power combination crossed the finish line in 38.67s, ahead of Janne-Friederike Meyer (GER) on Goja in 39.68s.
In a night of high drama, Edwina suffered agonising time penalties in the first and second rounds and with Rolf into the jump off the Championship race was on a knife edge. In the high-powered jump off Rolf had to pull out all the stops, but Casall put in a dramatic stop at one of the big oxers on Frank Rothenberger’s course. It means the final leg of the 15-event circuit is destined to be a night of world class show jumping drama in Qatar at the stunning Al Shaqab arena, and Rolf goes into the final stage only five points ahead of Edwina.
Round One
It was a full-blown Grand Prix course with the first fence at 1.55m and an oxer spread at 1.60m. The first round was all about power and speed with a gigantic test for the very top riders in the world under floodlights in the sand arena. There was palpable tension in the arena as Ranking Leader Rolf and Casall ASK entered the ring and, after a few heart stopping moments, jumped clear and in time. Edwina was under intense pressure coming into her first round on Caretina de Joter and despite jumping clear clocked up a painful time penalty. Edwina had a nail-biting time waiting for the final riders to complete their first rounds before she even knew if she was in the top 18 qualified for Round 2.
Kevin Staut and Estoy Aqui de Muze HDC. PC: Stefano Grasso/LGCT
A plethora of all-star riders and recently returned Olympians moved on, including Luciana Diniz (POR), Kevin Staut (FRA), Daniel Bluman (COL), and Bertram Allen (IRL).
Round Two
The second round proved another challenging test for the 18 riders through. Edwina was first to go and put in a careful clear, however picked up another time fault leaving her with a tally of two. As the round unfolded, faults were picked up throughout the course; with Bertram Allen (IRL) and Scott Brash (GBR) just two of the names to drop out with poles down. American Lauren Hough had a fabulous trip aboard Cornet 39 to join the Jump-Off. Rolf once more raised the pressure by jumping clear, and a total of 11 riders went through to the jump off as the packed grandstands watched on with mounting tension.
Lauren Hough and Cornet 39. PC: Stefano Grasso/LGCT
First to go Simon Delestre (FRA) powered the galloping course with his chestnut gelding Chesall, with the feisty son of Casall making incredible turn backs and flying to the final two fences. They stopped the clock at 40.18s, putting the pressure on the riders to follow.
Simon Delestre and Chesall. PC: Stefano Grasso/LGCT
Others tried and failed to match their pace, with Daniel Bluman and Kevin Staut both putting in brilliant times but rolling the final pole. Janne-Freiderike Meyer (GER) pushed the huge striding Goja to the fences, with the large horse agile in the tight turns and leaping the fences, just beating Simon’s time. But it was the penultimate rider to go, Marcus Ehning (GER) and the speedy Comme il faut who powered to the win, with the pair bravely flying at the fences and turning on a sixpence to propel them into the lead, the German’s second of the season and his second win in Vienna. Lauren Hough and Cornet clinched sixth overall in one of their best performances on the tour.
All eyes now turn to Doha in November for the final round of action in the 2016 season, where the overall Champion of Champions will be decided in a nail-biting finale.
LGCT Grand Prix Top Ten:
Season Rankings Going Into Finale in Doha, Qatar: