GREGORY WHATELET IN ELDORADO!
Press Release | Showjumping – The 12th edition of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco began yesterday on the Port Hercule. Start of the Monegasque competition, this first day kept every one of its’ promises in front of the spectators who turned out in large numbers to applaud the best riders on the planet.
The big class of the day, the first round of the Global Champions League presented by Massimo Dutti, over a 1.50m/1.55m, welcomed a very top class group of riders made up of 48 couples, including the 18 teams. The same scenario as the Cannes leg, the St Tropez Pirates, second to go, attacked the course with the bit firmly between their teeth, offering themselves the provisional top slot on the leader board, thanks to the fast clear rounds of Jérôme Guéry/Garfield de Tiji Des templiers (BEL) and Simon Delestre/Chesall Zimequest (FRA). On form, the Vienna Eagles (Gregory Wathelet/Eldorado van het Vijverhof (BEL) and Niels Bruynseels/Cas de Liberté (BEL)) and the Mexicos Amigos (Yuri Mansur/Unita Ask (BRA) and Christian Ahlmann/Dolocia (GER)) joined them for the prize-giving.
Remaining interesting, the course did however reveal itself to be easier than expected, allowing 20 riders to qualify for the jump-off. The keywords were therefore precision and speed if the pilots wanted to finish in the top 8. Some great sport this evening on the Riviera… With 11 finishing double clear, the tension was palpable! Finally, it was Gregory Wathelet who took the Prix Massimo Dutti, riding clear in the fastest time of 30.72 seconds. Simon Delestre just missed victory, finishing second in 30.81 seconds, followed by Daniel Deusser (GER) in 31.21 seconds.
Earlier in the afternoon, the 5*CSI started with a 1.45m two-phase, a “warm-up” round for the weekend with 48 riders taking the start. Despite the height, the lines required careful riding. Indeed, number 4, the double of verticals proved to be the decider. A large number paid the price, including the first to go Jennifer Gates (USA) on Pumped Up Kicks. The German, David Will conserved the lead for a long moment with Mic Mac du Tillard, only to have Scott Brash, steal victory from him at the very last moment on his fizzy Hello Annie: « I entered Hello Annie in the small class to have some fun, I’d planned to go fast. I was lucky to be last to go in the class! She really did jump well, I’m pleased. »
Jessica Springsteen (USA) completed the top three line-up with a superb performance on Davendy S.
It was from 8.45pm that the atmosphere reached a peak with the Longines Pro –Am Cup, a class that is very much the trademark of the Jumping International de Monte-Carlo. 14 pairs, composed of a professional and an amateur who compete together in aid of a good cause. Under the patronage of Charlotte Casiraghi, it’s a class in aid of charity that is particularly appreciated by both riders and spectators. A moment of shared emotions with a win by the Sapinda team made up of Americans Lucy Davis et Flo Fulton Miller!
A 1.15m 2*CSI class opened the festivities here at the Monaco event, that saw 24 starters. The first to stand out this weekend was Venezuelan Gustavo Mirabal, in the saddle on G and C Lucy. Behind him and completing the podium, Dietlinde Thomel/Salomon de Graves (MON) and Maxime Hazebroek/Chivas (BEL).
In the 2*CSI class standing at 1.25m/1.30m that followed, it was the turn of Italy to shine thanks to Andre Coutinho Mendonca Nagata on Emoe Tiramsue. He was closely followed by the Netherlands and Belgium, represented respectively by Kelly Jochems/Bontendro, second and Mathias Hazebroek/Hanibal, third.
To round off the first day of the 2*CSI, the 1.40m class was dominated by the formidable Ignace Philips (BEL) who seized both first and third places with Calinesse de Guldenboom and Denychin Ryalk D Lobstination. Nicola Pohl (GER) slipped into the second slot on Bibenbreaker.
Today, athletes will compete in the second round of the Global Champions League which will see the denouement of the Monegasque leg, and equally allow the most seasoned amongst them to qualify for the high point of the weekend: the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by Sapinda. Over jumps standing at 1.60m, they will try to avoid all the pitfalls of a course designed by Luc Musette, aiming to add their name to the list of Monte-Carlo winners. Spectators can enjoy the competition from 10am onwards with the 2*CSI offering classes from 1.15m to 1.40m.
Source: Press Release
