Paris Panthers’ duo of Gregory Wathelet and Darragh Kenny stormed to a sensational win in a thrilling GCL Cascais, Estoril showdown. As the Championship gallops to the midway point, the Panthers pulled out all the stops amidst challenging weather conditions to convert their R1 pole position into a win – one of only two teams to do so this season – moving up an impressive five places in the overall rankings.
Lap of honour for Team Paris Panthers, winner of GCL of Cascais-Estoril. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCL
The battle for the top spot has tightened with teams looking to the GC Play Offs and GCL Super Cup, where only 16 teams will qualify to compete for an unprecedented 12 million euros in prize money. London Knights and Valkenswaard United look to be pulling away from the rest of the field, but there was movement up and down the rest of the field. Still in the lead on 174 points are the Knights, however United sit 7 points behind, now on a tally of 167 overall. Shanghai Swans keep hold of third, with 127 points overall, with Miami Celtics and Scandinavian Vikings now just one point apart following the podium finish for the Vikings today.
With a full grandstand, clear blue skies and the shadows lengthening across the picturesque grass arena, the late afternoon competition saw top sport featuring thrills and spills, with unexpected results having a massive impact in the final standings.
Course designer Frank Rothenberger produced an impressive 1.55m track, once again allowing long galloping distances and utilising the full length and breadth of the arena. A scopey GC black and white oxer set as the riders passed the in-gate caught out a few, a double of oxers needed plenty of power and a gappy triple combination across the diagonal required scope, balance and pin point precision with strides.
Team Shanghai Swans – Daniel Deusser (GER) on Tobago Z. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCL
One of the highest scoring teams during R1, the Shanghai Swans had everything to do, but there was redemption for Pius Schwizer with Chidame Z after they delivered a flawless round. He was swiftly backed up by Daniel Deusser and Tobago, the duo fast becoming one of the most valuable players in the Championship as they pulled out yet another double clear this weekend to keep their team on a score of 16.
Speaking after his round Deusser highlighted the importance of team strategy and which horses are selected to play where for each team: “I’m really happy with my horse. He’s only 10 years old and it’s his first season he jumps the big classes so I hope he continues like this! We’ll hopefully move up a little [in the scoring today] but Pius’ horse was very spooky on the first day and had four down. For the rest we had three clear rounds – that’s the game, which horse you ride the first day, which horses you select for the second. Three rounds were good, but one bad one really makes a difference.”
A refusal for Prague Lions’ Gerco Schroder and Glock’s Lausejunge at the GC double, plus the final rail and a time fault meant the Lions plummeted down the order, despite a brilliant clear from teammate Ales Opartny with VDL Fakir. There was further heartbreak for home city team Cascais Charms after four faults in the triple combination from Philip Houston with Chalanda and another four from Luiz Felipe De Azevedo Filho with Chacito kept them down at the bottom of the pack.
Team Cascais Charms – Luiz Felipe de Azevedo Filho (BRA) on Chacito. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCL
It was a day to forget for Monaco Aces, after Simon Delestre collected an uncharacteristic 22 faults with Sultan de Beaufour. Another four from teammate Julien Epaillard and Virtuose Champeix meant the team would tumble down the order. Similarly, David Will of New York Empire picked up 16 faults with Forest Gump, with teammate Scott Brash and the nine year old Hello Shelby rolling a further two poles.
The pressure was on for Valkenswaard United, who sat a pole away from rivals London Knights after the first round, the team keen for a strong result to close the gap in the Championship. Another four faults for Alberto Zorzi and Contanga meant everything rested on anchor Marcus Ehning, but the German maestro delivered another phenomenal clear with Funky Fred to keep United in reaching distance for a good points haul.
Team Valkenswaard United – Marcus Ehning (GER) on Funky Fred. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCL
Marcus spoke about the challenging course: “It’s quite windy, and a little chilly! I had to wait while they fixed the jump, he was fresh in the beginning and didn’t have the best rhythm to start. I’ve had Funky a long time, and he is still improving all the time so I’m looking forward to the Grand Prix today.”
First of the double clears, Montreal Diamonds were hoping for a clean scoresheet but the first part of the double of oxers came down for Mark McAuley with Miebello. Danielle Goldstein and Lizziemary also collected four faults, dropping them down to a score of eight and behind Valkenswaard United.
Team Rome Gladiators – Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) on Halifax van het Kluizebos. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCL
Rome Gladiators made a strategic change with Lorenzo de Luca stepping off the bench in place of Marlon Zanotelli. Riding the fiery stallion Halifax van het Kluizebos, de Luca powered around the arena, managing the hot horse brilliantly and flying to the final fence on five strides to keep the team on a clean score. But it started to fall apart after Abdel Saïd and Jumpy van de Hermitage collected eight faults, dropping the team below Valkenswaard United.
Ranking leaders London Knights kept their GCL R1 line up exactly the same, with Nicola Philippaerts and H&M Harley vd Bisschop and Martin Fuchs with Chaplin taking centre stage. First to go Nicola Philippaerts piloted the dapple grey stallion around the arena, the powerful horse unfazed by the arena. They looked good for a clear until they clipped the final oxer, the pole rolling and adding 4 faults to the team score. An early pole for Fuchs meant the duo had to pick up the pace, to try beat United’s time for a podium position. The young Swiss star delivered, with the team on a combined time 6 seconds faster than United.
Team London Knights – Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) on H&M Harley v. Bisschop. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCL
A clear from Christian Ahlmann and Clintrexo Z of Scandinavian Vikings kept the team in with a chance for a win. Leopold van Asten and VDL Groep Beauty flew around the arena, but a pole down meant they would stay on four, with only a clear or faster four from the final team robbing them of the win.
Team Paris Panthers – Darragh Kenny (IRL) on Balou du Reventon. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCL
Final team to go, the Paris Panthers, were hungry for the win that had so far eluded them this season. Darragh Kenny picked up the reins first, guiding Balou du Reventon masterfully around the arena to give teammate Gregory Wathelet the best possible chance of a team win.
An early pole for Wathelet and his grey stallion Mjt Nevados S turned up the heat, as the experienced rider put pedal to the metal to deliver a speedier time. It would be just enough, the combined score two seconds quicker than the Vikings, meaning that the Panthers would take their first win of the season and a huge points haul.
Team Paris Panthers – Gregory Wathelet (BEL) on MJT Nevados S. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCL
The Championship now looks to round 9, and Monaco, as the fight for a place in the GC Play Offs intensifies.