Hamburg, Germany—May 7
It was a fairy-tale ending to a stunning weekend of top sport in Germany, as four-time Olympic gold medalist Ludger Beerbaum of Germany took a sensational win with his new horse Casello 2 in front of a sell-out crowd at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Hamburg.
“It is very special to win [in Germany], and if I could have a wish from the 15 [Global Champions Tour] legs, it would be to win here,” Beerbaum said. “Everyone has experienced today the atmosphere—it’s really something very special, and believe me, I’m more than happy and really enjoying this moment.”
U.S. rider Georgina Bloomberg finished up in eighth in the class aboard Lilli with clear rounds over the first two courses but two rails down in the jump-off.
Beerbaum took the top check with a horse he’s only been showing since January. Swedish rider Douglas Lindelow developed the 13-year-old Holsteiner stallion into a five-star horse and jumped to eighth place in the 2015 Longines FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas and on the Swedish team at the 2015 European Championships. In January, Beerbaum’s longtime supporter Madeleine Winter-Schulze bought him for Beerbaum to ride. The LGCT Hamburg was just their sixth show together.
Ludger Beerbaum celebrating his win on Casello 2 at the LGCT Grand Prix of Hamburg. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCT
“It’s really nice to achieve this today with this horse—it’s not expected. If you saw my jump-off two days ago I was swimming around the track. So it was a little bit like Leicester winning the Premier League in England!” Beerbaum joked. “You would have had a good call betting for me today!
“It’s amazing that it can happen. Overall, the first round was OK, the horse jumped good—the fact that the time was short made a difference, and I think it was the most harmonious round. The second round; the time was short but I felt for the first time really confident from start to finish,” Beerbaum said. “In the jump-off there was no special plan—my colleagues here know their horses much better and I still have to find out which is his favorite turns and strides. But I just went for it and thanks to the quality of the horse, it was possible to win today.”
Beerbaum’s only been riding Casello 2 for a few months, but they came up with a big win in the LGCT Grand Prix of Hamburg. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCT
It was standing room only for the big €300,000 Grand Prix class with a worldwide TV and online audience watching Beerbaum head off heavyweight competition from a stellar international field. Beerbaum commented: “If I see the sport from [when I started] to today, it’s unbelievable for myself to have the opportunity to experience this development in the last 10 years. I really also have to say thanks to the Global Champions Tour which was a milestone in the development of our sport. I wish I was 10 years younger!”
Christian Alhmann of Germany now leads the LGCT Rankings on 161 points overall, with second place Emanuele Gaudiano (Italy) on 96 points. World No. 1 Simon Delestre (France) has jumped up to third with 95 points overall.
The young Belgian star Nicola Philippaerts (Belgium) led the way with an impressive performance in the early stage of the 1.60-meter grand prix, which saw 50 starters. Riding his beautiful grey Zilverstar T, Nicola delivered a quick and careful round across the expansive grass arena, while fans packed the grandstands and grassy banks in the picturesque setting.
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Georgina Bloomberg of the USA and Lilli delivered a polished round to progress to Round 2, and Brazil’s Marlon Módolo Zanotelli with the mighty Cash del Mar Z also jumped beautifully to secure their spot in the next round of the grand prix.
Georgina Bloomberg and Lilli jumped to eighth with rails down in the jump-off. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCT
The last couple of fences caused a lot of damage, with the double of verticals posing a challenge to the top riders such as Pius Schwizer (Switzerland) and Leonard de la Ferme CH, who missed out on the second round after rolling the poles. Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (Sweden) and Casall ASK had an unlucky foot on the tape of the water jump despite stunning form throughout the course. Other big names to drop out of the running were Kevin Staut (France) with For Joy van’t Zorgvliet HDC, Marco Kutscher (Germany) with Balermo, and home favourite Janne-Friederike Meyer (Germany) with Goja.
Alhmann delivered an immaculate round with stallion Codex One, much to the delight of the crowd who cheered passionately for the home rider. He was joined by compatriots Beerbaum, who delivered a masterful round with the chestnut, Casello 2, Marcus Ehning with Pret a Tout, Daniel Deusser with First Class van Eeckelghem and young star Andreas Kreuzer with Calvilot who showed serious talent in the expansive grass arena.
Also through were World Number 1 Simon Delestre with the Grand Prix winning horse Qlassic Bois Margot, Bertram Allen (Ireland) with Molly Malone V, Lauren Hough (USA) with Cornet 39, Daniel Bluman (Colombia) with Sancha LS, Harrie Smolders (the Netherlands) with Don VHP Z, and Laura Kraut (USA) with Zeremonie.
The second course was carefully planned, pushing the riders to think about striding and their plan of attack. First to go clear was Denis Lynch (Ireland) with All Star 5, however their earlier time fault meant they would not progress to the jump-off. Young German star Kreuzer rode a stunning double clear with the eye-catching Calvilot, however was just pipped to the post by the time allowed, and the crowds groaned as he was handed one time fault, putting him out off the final round. Smolders was the first to jump double clear, consistent as always and showcasing a masterful round. The crowds erupted in patriotic cheers as he was joined by Beerbaum, Deusser, Ahlmann and Ehning—all earning their places in what promised to be a mouth-watering jump-off to delight local fans.
Eight went through to the jump-off, with the crowd on the edge of their seats as the first rider Smolders with Don VHP Z entered the ring. The course was designed to encourage a flat-out gallop, with intimidating full height oxers, and utilizing the full length of the arena. Setting off at a gallop, Smolders crossed the line with 35.25 seconds, throwing down the gauntlet to the rest of the field.
“With eight in the jump-off I think we had a very strong field today of horses and riders,” Smolders said. “I’ve not the fastest horse but I tried to put as much pressure on as I could. After my round I was satisfied anyway, as my horse jumped good—he was light, and after his break this is the first time I have really felt his power and lightness back.”
Next was the Colombian Bluman with Sancha LS who was unable to beat his time but came close with a 35.29 seconds. “It’s been for many years that I’ve watched the Tour from home on the computer, watching the greatest riders compete,” Bluman said. “It’s the first year that I get to do it, thanks to the Global Champions League, that allowed me to be part of the Monaco Aces. I’m delighted to be jumping three very good rounds with my Olympic hopeful for this year and sitting beside Ludger, who I’ve been looking up to since I was a little kid, and next to Harrie who is having an amazing time and has come from a second place finish in the World Cup Finals—I’m very happy; it’s a great day for sure.”
Deusser had an unusual two down, and a slip for World No. 1 Delestre’s Qlassic Bois Margot cost them a fence putting them in sixth overall.
Ehning with Pret a Tout were incredibly fast with a time of 34.72 seconds, but a tight turn to a vertical with the chestnut horse unfolding a touch too early cost them a fence, but earning them fourth place overall. Ranking leader Ahlmann had one down with Codex One, putting them in fifth, but it was compatriot Beerbaum who stole the show, turning tightly and galloping across the course to meet the line in an impressive 34.81 seconds.
See full results of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Hamburg.
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Youth And Wisdom Win Global Champions League In Hamburg
Valkenswaard United’s formidable duo of John Whitaker (Great Britain) and Bertram Allen (Ireland) rocketed up the Global Champions League team rankings after a stunning win in Hamburg.
This was the first time two teams finished on a score of 0 and the temperature rose as the riders’ combined time came into play to determine the final order providing a fascinating nail-biting finish to the 1.55-meter two-round competition. Valkenswaard United now sit on 130 points overall, with Monaco Aces on 119 points and Antwerp Diamonds close behind on 116 points overall.
The level of competition has moved up a gear, with riders consistently bringing top horses in the new team competition format. This weekend Bertram Allen brought his 2015 LGCT Grand Prix of Paris winning horse, the experienced 18-year-old chestnut Romanov, specifically for this event. In the press conference following his win, he spoke about the high caliber of competition on the League, saying: “I knew I had to bring a good horse. I brought [Romanov] here for one class and he delivered, so it worked a treat for me.”
John Whitaker (left) and Bertram Allen joined forces as the Valkenswaard United to top the Global Champions League at LGCT Hamburg. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCT
Twelve teams lined up for the second European leg of the Championship, as eager fans packed the arena to catch their first up close glimpse of the bright colored shirts and new format. The first round course turned into a game of speed as riders from the majority of the team riders went clear. Four faults caused serious drops in the order, and with three teams—Valkenswaard United, Paris Jets and Antwerp Diamonds—on 0 faults, the pressure was on as eight teams progressed to Round 2.
Miami Glory, Madrid in Motion, Doha Fursan Qatar and last weekend’s winners the Cacais Charms were those who suffered the most, dropping out of the qualifying zone and unable to progress through to the second round.
The Monaco Aces were first to go, with 4 faults and the slowest time in Round 1 putting them lowest in the order. However a stunning double clear in an impressive time from Daniel Bluman and Conconcreto Apardi, and a speedy second round from Schuyler Riley with Dobra de Porceyo placed them high up the grid, ultimately finishing in fourth.
Marlon Módolo Zanotelli was first in for the Rome Gladiators, with Valetto JX, and delivered a fast clear round. Laura Kraut delivered a careful double clear with her relatively young grey gelding Confu, pushing the team up to third overall.
Antwerp Diamonds combination of Audrey Coulter with Alex and Harrie Smolders with Bokai jumped double clear, finishing on a combined time of 153.92 seconds. Harrie has been the most consistent rider on the League so far, jumping every round he’s competed in clear with the beautiful grey horse.
Allen knew he had everything to do as the final rider who could change the top podium position. With a full 6 seconds to make up, and the pressure of jumping clear, Bertram took on the challenge, and in typical style stole the show with a phenomenal round on his horse Romanov. The pair finished in a combined 150.29 seconds, taking the gold medal for the Global Champions League of Hamburg.
“We’re a good team, and we’re going to keep the pressure on!” said Allen’s teammate, John Whitaker. “We had a great day, my horse jumped super. He’s 8 years old and this is probably the biggest he’s jumped in his career—he’s a big horse who enjoys the big rings. We had the same strategy as Miami, so I would get the clears in and leave Bertram to do the speed part—which he did very well.”
“I was trying to do the maths in my head with the few who had gone before me,” Allen said. “I saw Harrie go, and I knew I had to be 6 seconds faster than Harrie so I didn’t know if I could do that! I just went in and tried my best, went fast. I wasn’t sure how fast I had to go. At the double for the start I was very very tight, and I think that got me up on the time a lot, and then I had to keep it fast from there. They’re getting very competitive these Global Champions Leagues, so I knew I had to bring a good horse. I brought [Romanov] here for one class and he delivered, so it worked a treat for me.”
