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LGCT 2018 EDWINA TOPS ALEXANDER WINS SUPER GRAND PRIX STUNNER

By LGCT PRESSE

EDWINA TOPS ALEXANDER AND CALIFORNIA FACED DOWN PHENOMENAL PRESSURE TO WIN THE FIRST EVER LONGINES SUPER GRAND PRIX AS RUNNER UP DECLARED THE NEW GC PLAYOFFS A “MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF SHOWJUMPING”

14 15 The €1.25 million showdown took Earlier the passionate crowd was contest. place in front of a sell-out crowd at thrilled by the dazzling Walk of the O2 Arena in Prague with victory Champions opening ceremony with As the countdown began, the for Edwina greeted with a standing flaming torches lining their parade anthemic We Will Rock You blasted ovation after the Australian rider and in the arena adding a touch of show out, the spotlights focused and the her amazing mare clinched victory. business to show jumping. Olivier doors opened; let battle commence Philippaerts said the event had set a Celebrating her win Edwina declared new benchmark in the sport: “Before Uliano had predicted five or six clears her mare California “incredible” “and we got here we did not know what from these world class contestants in said: “I really didn’t think I had to expect because the Playoffs are the opening round but pressure told won, I couldn’t see the scoreboard. new and in a new city, but they and there were some surprisingly After I had the fence down I have pulled it off, amazing. The high scores. thought I have just got to go for it. shows are something we have not I can’t believe it, I’ve had the most seen in our sport before and it has The first to prove the course was amazing three weeks of my life brought it to a different level.” jumpable was fourth-drawn Shane and to finish by winning the LGCT Breen from Ireland, who rode for his Super Grand Prix is incredible.” Courage, skill and determination life on the chestnut gelding Ipswich was required to conquer all in this van de Wolfsakker, leaving all the Speaking about the event Ludger fierce battle set over two rounds and fences standing but adding just a said: “The setup is something really the 16 elite contenders were set a single time-fault. special. The sport, the drama. For formidable 1.60m first round track by me, being in the sport for many years, Uliano Vezzani in this indoor sand One of the shock results came it is a new feeling. I am quite sure this arena. Airy verticals and gaping wide from 2018 LGCT season champion is a milestone in the history of show oxers were strategically placed for the with his multi-winning jumping.” ultimate challenge, with the fearsome Explosion. With two rails down they Longines treble combination coming were one of four combinations to The first-ever LGCT Super Grand towards the end of the course, finish on eight faults in round one Prix featured the 16 top riders who meaning horses still needed to be on qualified during the 2018 LGCT full power to clear the oxer-vertical- But the pivotal round was to come championship series and the vertical test. A skinny oxer on a blind from the world number one Harrie extreme pressure to go fast and clear bend away from the in-gate was the Smolders. An electric clear round produced electrifying sporting drama final trick up Uliano’s sleeve and it with Zinius propelled them straight to from start to finish. all made for an intriguing first round the top spot.

“He was amazing, he was fighting Nicola Philippaerts on his tremendous As the raft of four-faulters came for every fence — but then so was partner H&M Chilli Willi. forward, Frank Schuttert of the I,” said Harrie, with a huge smile on Netherlands immediately produced his face. With a clever shake-up of the track for a mesmerising clear on Chianti’s the second round, tensions sizzled Champion to post a two-round total As tensions rose, the pressure told for the ultimate showdown. The early of four and secured the coveted top amongst competitors and it wasn’t riders were on a recovery mission spot. until the penultimate rider that Harrie and both Lorenzo De Luca of Italy was forced to surrender his lead to riding Ensor De Litrange LXII and Ben Germany’s Daniel Deusser and the marginally quicker clear set by Maher of Great Britain on Explosion Tobago Z are usually one of the most Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander W rose to the occasion, bidding for a reliable combinations at the top level and mare California. far bigger share of the prize money by but added an unlucky rail before it all jumping quick and clear to remain on unraveled for Paris victors Sameh El This pair qualified for the GC Playoffs eight faults. Dahan and Suma’s Zorro, who came early in the season in Miami Beach home on a total of 17 faults. and this course rode well for California, New leader Ben Maher said: “Today who has a relatively short stride but wasn’t our day. It’s easy to forget Ludger Beerbaum rode with his is agile and ultra-careful. Edwina Explosion W is only nine and has trademark precision and soared squeezed her round every inch of the limited experience indoors but I’m ahead of Frank Schuttert by over 3s. track and her clear in 70.54s gave her happy he grew so quickly in the the edge over the Dutchman’s 71.15s. second round. I can’t be disappointed And then there were three. But when he’s had such an amazing year.” on a night of fluctuating fortunes, So at the conclusion of round one, with Shane Breen, carrying through just scores carried through to round two, Nerves of steel were required as the one penalty on Ipswich Van De Edwina was perfectly poised in pole the competition intensified and, Wolfsakker, sadly elected to retire position, but with Harrie snapping at proving that anything can happen in when the rails started falling. her heels for top honors. Shane Breen this sport, drama came at the final was primed for a strong challenge in fence for well-placed Belgian rider All eyes turned anxiously to Harrie third spot on one penalty; ahead of Gregory Wathelet when Iron Man Smolders, the first of the two riders on the five-strong chasing pack of four- van de Padenborre refused to jump a zero score. But in an excruciating faulters including Ludger Beerbaum the final Longines wall, resulting in repeat of events on day one, his ride and double LGCT Grand Prix winner elimination. Zinius ducked out at the Rolls Royce 16 17 vertical at fence nine and the world fantastic sound and light show for the applause for the organisation team in number one hit the deck. As quick as first LGCT Super Grand Prix prize- Prague.” a flash, Harrie’s chance for glory had giving ceremony, with VIPs arriving in vanished. a horse-drawn carriage. International Edwina agreed: “It is a huge honour course designer Uliano Vezzani was and one of the most prestigious So it all came down to Edwina, who presented with a special medal for Grand Prix I have ever won. This has been riding the crest of a wave his extraordinary skill challenging the competition is unique. Every recently, with several big wins to her world’s top riders and horses at the class in this whole show has been credit. She needed to jump clear for GC Prague Playoffs and throughout pressure for the riders and that’s victory; one down and she had to the season. what makes it so exciting. I really beat the time of 61.56s set by Ludger have to thank the organisation Beerbaum. She set off with typical To the anthemic song “Legendary” the in Prague for pulling this off, it is determination but, agonisingly, a winning riders mounted the podium amazing.” rail at fence eight tumbled. Edwina’s as flames shot up into the air behind agenda immediately switched and them in a podium extravaganza. There Runner-up Ludger said: “It was quite she accelerated down the final line were huge cheers from spectators emotional even for an old guy like and soared over the finish, crucially as Edwina triumphantly raised the me. Today we have seen the future less than half a second quicker beautiful silver LGCT Super Grand than Ludger. Prix trophy, which was presented by in terms of athletes, modern venue, Longines President Walter von Känel. technical, it is something really And so history was made, with exciting. To me it is a milestone Edwina Tops-Alexander crowned the There was special recognition for the and I enjoyed being part of it.” brilliant victor of this revolutionary grooms as they received a medal after new competition that has showcased leading the champion horses into the Frank said it felt “unbelievable” to finish showjumping at its very best. Ludger arena for the closing moments of the on the podium“I am so happy, my Beerbaum was thrilled to finish awards ceremony and the rousing lap horse jumped amazing today,” he runner-up and “top rookie” Frank of honour. said. “I had only one chance with so Schuttert placed third. many good riders around me. I’m very At the press conference LGCT lucky I am here, it is such an amazing Special effects never seen before President Jan Tops said: “It could not show - the opening ceremony and in show jumping entertained the have been better. From A to Z it was the Walk of the Champions, it was crowd as the arena was filled with a fantastic and a great atmosphere. Big amazing.”

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