Global Champions Tour: Christian Ahlmann Speeds to Victory in London Aboard Little Lady Z; Patrice Delaveau wins ahead of highly-anticipated Grand Prix

Source: News Release

Christian Ahlmann speeds to victory in London aboard Little Lady Z

Patrice Delaveau wins ahead of highly-anticipated Grand Prix

photocredits: Stefabo Grasso/ Longines Global Champions Tour

It was Germany's Christian Ahlmann who landed the leading time in a very fast 1.45/1.50 competition this afternoon. Set against the clock, fast combinations such as Denis Lynch and Night Train as well as Ludger Beerbaum riding Chiara certainly did their best to top the international CSI5* class but it was the world's number one ranking rider who won today's first five star competition of the day.

Going early on in the class, Christian maintained the lead with a time of 58.99 seconds. Belgium's leading rider, Gregory Wathelet attempted to catch his friend Christian aboard Rieseling du Monselet but alas, the top Belgian jockey had to settle for second place. France's leading lady rider, Penelope Leprevost, finished in third after a very solid round aboard Flora de Mariposa.

Representing Great Britain, it was the experience of Mark Armstrong and Peter Charles that led these two respected jockey's to fourth and sixth position.

Patrice Delaveau wins ahead of highly-anticipated Grand Prix

photocredits: Stefabo Grasso/ Longines Global Champions Tour

Frenchman Patrice Delaveau did it again, this time in London for the 4th leg of the 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour season. Riding his lovely stallion Lacrimoso HDC, Patrice displayed a wonderful execution of speed and precision amidst a strong line up of horses and riders in the jump off, to win the CSI5* Longines GCT 1.50 Table A competition.

Patrice has certainly been a force to be reckoned with this year with excellent performances in Hong Kong and St. Gallen. "Lacrimoso jumped for the first time today here in London, he was a little bit fresh, in the first round he jumped well a bit fresh, but in the jump off he was very serious and another time he did a very good job" said Patrice after the class.

"In the first round there was a lot of clear rounds, especially at the beginning of the class, not so many clear in the last part of the class. 15 horses qualified for the jump off, I think that is a good number of combinations for a class like this, for this the jump off was very spectacular with a lot of riders and horses going very fast."

Patrice shared his plans for tomorrow's Grand Prix. "Tomorrow Lacrimoso is going to do only the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix and that's all for him."

Alvaro de Miranda, who stands in third on our Longines Global Champions Tour season rankings, was first to compete and first to deliver a clear round. The top-ranking Brazilian, who elected to compete his 11 year old gelding Show Show, set the pace for the first round. Olympic gold medalist Steve Guerdat followed swiftly behind as well as American up-and-coming talent Saer Coulter aboard her top mount Springtime.

Sergio Alvarez Moya and Scott Brash would jump clear and join, what would become, fourteen clear horse and rider combinations in the first round. Patrice was the tenth clear round of the evening with a truly impressive first round for France. A solid track set by Italy's international course designer Uliano Vezzani, riders spoke fondly about the last 1.50 class before tomorrow's Grand Prix.

Ahead of the much-anticipated Longines GCT Grand Prix of London, riders now look to the fourth Grand Prix of the 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour season and their next opportunity to earn points and rise up the current rankings. US Olympic gold medalist Laura Kraut, who is here in London, leads the current standings ahead of Portugal's Luciana Diniz. The margin is small, so both lady riders will be looking to compete with intensity tomorrow as they have brought both their top mounts; Winningmood and Cedric.

Everyone now waits in anticipation as we look to this week's main event; the first Longines GCT Grand Prix of London.