Longines Global Champions Tour, Vienna: Second win of the day for Lynch in Gaston Glock's Championat Vienna; Marcus Ehning is No1 in Vienna while Ludger Beerbaum dominates the Championship

Source: News Release

Second win of the day for Lynch in Gaston Glock's Championat Vienna

(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

The Friday night feature class CSI5* Gaston Glock’s Championat Vienna was won by Denis Lynch (IRE) and All Star 5 - Denis’ second win of the day! The Irishman threw everything he had at the challenging course set by Frank Rothenberger to push Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher with Embassy II and Ludger Beerbaum with Chaman into 2nd and 3rd, respectively. A rare smile broke across Lynch’s face as he accepted his prize before the packed VIP and the title sponsors family Glock.

The first round course was a tough one, beginning with the black Glock wall at No1, including tricky distances and awkward lines in the middle, and ending in a flimsy upright. It was a course requiring a horse with power and scope. The time allowed was also tight, so every rider set off at pace, cutting corners and taking tight lines wherever they dared. Clears were rare towards the beginning of the draw, but the big names quickly rose to the challenge.

By far the most demanding line was the very short treble combination across the floodlit arena on a long five strides to a wide, square Longines oxer. Getting the perfect stride to the oxer going into the treble was key, then riders had to chose whether to hold for six short strides to the Longines oxer or press for five. Many of the less experienced riders or those who didn’t get the perfect shot in picked up faults here.

Ludger Beerbaum and Marcus Ehning (GER) with Plot Blue both chose to add a stride between the difficult combination and the Longines oxer, using their horses’ power and scope to their advantage. Unfortunately Championship favourite Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) with his bouncy Clarimo ASK picked up one unfortunate time fault. The knowledgable crowd were incredibly supportive, commiserating with riders who picked up faults around the imposing course and cheering loudly for clears.

Of the 47 starters, 10 jumped clear. The jump-off course was a twisting route with the options to both gallop and turn back tight. Hans-Dieter Dreher and Embassy II set the standard of 36.39s early on before Ludger and Chaman executed an elegant round to slot into second with 36.56s. From the middle of the draw Denis Lynch, inspired by his earlier win, took all the risks galloping to the last to set an untouchable time of 35.90s drawing cheers and yells from the audience.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna Grand Prix presented by Icuras, Ranking Leader Ludger Beerbaum looks like the man to beat as he maintains his glittering form. Though Rolf-Göran Bengtsson is the only rider who can overtake Beerbaum on the leaderboard here in Vienna, many are eyeing World No1 Scott Brash (GBR) for another great result to add to his record three Longines GCT Grand Prix wins so far this season.

You can watch round 13 of this year's 14-leg Championship, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna Grand Prix, tomorrow on GCT TV, ORF Sport +, ClassHorseTV and Equidia Life from 6.30pm CEST, and on Eurosport and beIN Sports 4 from 9pm CEST.

Ireland's Denis Lynch wins the opening CSI5* class

(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

The first CSI5* class of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna, the Granit Bau 1.45m, was won by Ireland’s Denis Lynch who claimed his first 5* Longines GCT win of the season with the 13-year-old grey Double O seven. Second place went to Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano with Admara 2, and 3rd to another in-form Italian Luca Maria Moneta with Connery. A few of the favourites for tomorrow’s crucial Grand Prix also put in eye-catching rounds, including Scott Brash (GBR) with Hello Sanctos, and Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) with Old Chap Tame.

Stars in the Saddle: Gerco Schröder (NED)

Look out for our exclusive, up-close and personal interview with recent World Team Gold medal winner and last year's Longines GCT Vienna Grand Prix winner Gerco Schröder tomorrow afternoon on GCT TV ahead of the feature Grand Prix.


"I've had (Glock's London) since he was five, so we grew up together. I had a year of not knowing what would happen (before he was put up for auction). When family Glock bought him for me, it was incredible." Gerco Schröder

Vienna welcomes equine greats

(Photos: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

Clockwise from top left: Plot Blue, Chaman, Glock's London, Hello Sanctos

Marcus Ehning is No1 in Vienna while Ludger Beerbaum dominates the Championship

(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

The Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna Grand Prix presented by Icuras was won by Marcus Ehning (GER) and 17-year-old Plot Blue who looked untouchable from the start and finished with the only treble clear following a roller-coaster class filled with thrills and spills. Second place went to 2014 WEG Team Gold medallist Simon Delestre (FRA) with Qlassic Bois Margot and third to Portugal’s Luciana Diniz with Winningmood. Championship Leader Ludger Beerbaum (GER) finished 5th, one place ahead of his close rival Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE), enabling him to maintain his lead. Despite picking up 8 faults in the second round, reigning Champion Scott Brash has jumped up from 6th to 3rd making the race for the overall 2014 title between these three riders.

A testing first round

Tonight saw one of the toughest Grand Prix courses of the season set this evening by Frank Rotheberger. The first round course was described as ‘not nice’ by one star rider. The placement of the fences was awkward, the distances were demanding and the lines were jagged. The time was also tight, meaning riders had to push when they might prefer to hold and cut corners where they would rather use the precious space available. The biggest test was the final line of the Longines combination on five long strides to a flimsy upright, similar to the line that sorted out the best from the rest in last night’s Gaston Glock’s Championat Vienna.

Championship Leader Ludger Beerbaum (GER) picked up four faults in the first round with his World Championship ride Chiara, putting him out of podium contention but high enough to make it through to the second round with the top 18. Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) jumped clear with his inexperienced mare Unita ASK putting him in a great position to challenge for the overall lead. But World No1 and defending Champion Scott Brash with Hello Sanctos also made it around the course clean with a view to adding another medal to the three Golds and one Bronze the record-breaking pair have won this season.

A spooky second round

There would be some stiff competition in the second round however as the Championship contenders were joined by 11 other clears from the 46 starters, including Daniel Deusser (GER) with Cornet d’Amour, Cassio Rivetti (UKR) with Sea Coast Forlap, Alberto Michan Halbinger with Carusso LS La Silla, Pénélope Leprevost (FRA) with Vagabond de la Pomme and winner of two classes yesterday Denis Lynch with All Star 5. Four riders went through on four faults, including Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) with Old Chap Tame and Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani with Eurocommerce California.

The second round brought a few surprises as the course once again presented very difficult fences - halfway through the course a brightly coloured orange double caught the eye of a few horses who didn’t jump the fence well, including Hello Sanctos who picked up faults here. As with the first round, the course asked a lot of the horses and riders, and the more experienced combinations fared much better than those with less mileage - only eventual winners Marcus Ehning and Plot Blue made every round appear deceptively straightforward.

A fault-filled jump-off

Four made it through to the final jump-off with a double clear - Diniz, Ehning, Delestre and Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) with VDL Groep Sapphire B. The course took the riders on a long route around the arena, with obstacles coming in quick succession and off tight turns. First to go was Simon Delestre, who tried to set a strong time but lowered the final fence. Luciana Diniz also set off with a win in her sights, but a tight turn to the Longines double across the middle cost her the first part. Maikel van der Vleuten was next to go and though his horse rattled a few fences on his way around it looked as though he would complete the first clear, but he too lowered the final fence. With no clears on the board, Marcus Ehning had only to jump clear to win.

The Championship comes down to the wire

The hotly-contested final round of the 2014 Championship will be hosted by Doha from the 13-15th November. Now a three-horse race between Brash, Beerbaum and Bengtsson, it will come down to this final result before the 2014 Champ is officially crowned. Beerbaum is fighing hard for this victory and has said he will be keeping a close eye on rivals. With the lion's share of €1million on offer to the season winner, each rider will be battling hard to clinch victory at Al Shaqab, but at this point there is still everything to play for for the top three.

Press Conference

Present:

Jan Tops - President Longines Global Champions Tour
Dr Wolfgang Dirnberger - Icuras
Benedikt Domaingo - Organiser Vienna Masters
Marcus Ehning (GER) - Grand Prix winner
Simon Delestre (FRA) - Grand Prix runner-up
Luciana Diniz (POR) - Grand Prix 3rd place
Ludger Beerbaum (GER) - Championship Leader

Marcus Ehning - “I had the most work in the last round. I already had two rounds yesterday in a 1.50m class and I think he was a bit tired in the jump-off, but he had his experience to help him - I had the luck from the other three. It was not my best round, but I won. You could see in the jump-off all horses had one down because it was a hard jump-off course.”

Simon Delestre - “We are on good form, I had two very nice rounds today. I was first to go in the jump-off with quick horses after me, so the only way was to try to go first. I was unlucky to have the fence down. I had a super feeling in the jump-off, but I am super happy.”

Luciana Diniz - “I am so happy. Congrats to everyone here, it is a fantastic show. I am so happy to have Winnie back, because last year he had an injury and some people told me he would never be in the sport again and here he is back on the podium, so I am so happy.”

Ludger Beerbaum - “In the first round I had a stupid fences down which was my fault, I rode bad. I was second to go in the second round and really thought I have to get this right. I spoke to Marcus Ehning and he said to not think too much just go fast and clear. To rise 12 places between round one and two was a surprise, so looking back, that was positive. I needed to do better here to be in a safer position. If Scott is in the first four in Doha and I am not there then he wins. So it’s open and we will see what comes.”

Wolfgang Dirnberger - “First of all, congratulations to the winners. It was a wonderful competition. For Icuras, we are very proud to be part of the Longines Global Champions Tour family and very proud to be presenting sponsor of Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna Masters. I think the most important think is that the LGCT is an inspiration for all the riders in the world. We have here the best riders and horses in the world, and we have to thank Jan Tops for this.”

Benedikt Domaingo - “I would like to thank Mr Tops. He is the mastermind behind this fantastic Tour that has revolutionised show jumping like nothing has before. It’s so important for Austria to be part of the Tour, it’s a great honour, and its a chance for our national sport to come back to the top international level.”

Jan Tops - “The top three could still win the Championship. Scott has a good advantage with one less score that the rest, on the other hand Ludger is way ahead so it’s going to be very exciting. They are all champion riders and winners - every event is like a championship. Great riders are winning all the time and riders who have been No1 in the world are coming to the top. It’s great for the public to see.”

WEG Gold medallist Vrieling wins the Lenz Moser Trophy

Release date: 20/09/2014

(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

The CSI5* Lenz Moser Challenge Trophy was won by 2014 World Chamionship Team Gold medallist Jur Vrieling (NED) with Flash Dance V. Kalevallei, who produced a neat and classy round in the two-phase competition to push Pius Schwizer (SUI) with Rafale Des Forets and Samuel Parot (CHI) with Sensation 21 into 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Yesterday’s double winner Denis Lynch (IRE) finished 4th with Double O Seven having led the way for a good portion of the class.