Source/photo: GCT News Release

Denis Lynch, who has an especial fondness for wet weather, finally got what he was waiting for on All Inclusive NRW when he was first pass the post in the last GCT class of the day in Valkenswaard. Following on from a rider like Ludger Beerbaum is never easy, particularly when he has just completed an Olympic Games with distinction, but Denis and his owner, Thomas Straumann, have been patient and after several near misses (including one earlier this week!) the pair finally came out on top.

And this was no easy win either. As the rain came tumbling down in torrents, 19 horses made it through to the jump off. Third in was Bernardo Alves on his brilliant mare Bridgit and his round in 45 seconds looked very good as the conditions worsened. But the lead did not last long. Just two rounds later Denis took the lead by over four seconds!

This served as a wake up call to the remaining 14 riders who realised the 8000 Euro purse could have been handed to Ireland by virtue of being slightly cautious. There was nothing cautious about the approaches of Lauren Hough (Casadora) and needless to say, Laura Kraut, this time back on Unique. However despite their best efforts their times of 42.74 and 43.70 only ended up good enough for third and fourth. That was because the best attempt to take the prize from the Irishmans clutches was made by Guy Williams. The British rider clearly had no intention of settling for second and got the crowd cheering his every stride on Torinto van de Middelstede. But the worsening ground meant he had to take a slightly wider line to the second last which left him .5 adrift as he went though the gate. "It was a good effort" said Guy ruefully, "but the trouble is that Denis keeps making a better one and beating me!"