GLOCK Perfection, Dutch-style: Gert Jan Bruggink (NED) triumphs in the first Gaston Glock’s Grand Prix Magna Racino!
Every last place was taken today, both on the grandstands and on the ground around the extensive arena, at the first Gaston Glock’s Grand Prix Magna Racino. For the duration of this world ranking jumping event, with total prize money amounting to 100,000 euros, the obstacles brought specially from the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER in Treffen, the piano black GLOCK banners and the beautiful floral decorations so characteristic of GLOCK events transformed the Magna Racino into a world of its own – the world of Gaston Glock’s Grand Prix Magna Racino.
Thirty five participating duos entered the starting list of this CSI4* show jumping over 1.60 m, all intent on the same goal: ultimately to hold in their hands one of those wonderful and indeed correspondingly specially created GLOCK winner’s trophies. Six rider and horse duos earned their chance through fault-free basic rounds, with victory then to be decided in the subsequent jump-off.
At this point, the first off in the starting order, Austria’s Max Kühner (T), immediately set a fast pace in the saddle of his ten-year-old Cornet Kalua. While his wife Liv excitedly wished him luck in the ‘kiss and cry area’ at the entry, he encouraged his son of Cornet Obolensky to gallop forth and, accompanied by great applause from the spectators, rode across the finishing line in a fault-free 36.56 seconds. Ultimately this would prove to yield third place. It was exciting right to the end, because two extremely fast Dutchmen arrived to contest the result as penultimate and last competitors.
Frank Schuttert (NED) and his KWPN gelding Winchester HS, already so unmistakeable at canter, took the lead from Max Kühner in a time of 35.55 seconds. But the excitement wasn’t over yet! Gert Jan Bruggink (NED), with his incredibly fast KWPN mare MCB Ulke, let loose with a ride that simply couldn’t be beaten! At 34.68 seconds, with no faults at the obstacles: this spelt victory at Gaston Glock’s Grand Prix Magna Racino.
“Here at the conclusion of the tournament we again had the chance to ride a completely new and absolutely beautiful course”, commented Gert Jan Bruggink at the award ceremony interview with presenter Christian Clerici, just after receiving the Gaston Glock’s Grand Prix winner’s prize. “It wasn’t easy – the triple and the steep-steep combination demanded full concentration. My win in the Gold Tour yesterday motivated me and, after those fast rides by Max and Frank, I knew I had to give it all here!”
Following the award ceremony, during which the GLOCK trophies, GLOCK bands, GLOCK winners’ blankets and GLOCK gifts were presented to the qualifying riders, there followed the lap of honour with specially composed musical accompaniment, whereupon the spectators could no longer contain themselves. Gaston Glock’s Grand Prix winner Gert Jan Bruggink (NED) once again enjoyed the crowd’s ecstatic response, while the two placed Austrian riders, Max Kühner and Astrid Kneifel (OÖ), who achieved eleventh place with Royal des Bissons, drew thunderous applause.
The next Gaston Glock’s Grand Prix will take place as part of the Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna Masters (17-20/09/2015) at Vienna’s Rathausplatz.
13 – CSI4* Final Diamond Tour – GASTON GLOCK’s Grand Prix 1,60 m
International jumping competition
Valid for the FEI LONGINES Ranking List
1. Mcb Ulke – Bruggink Gert-Jan (NED) 0/34,68 – Jump off
2. Winchester HS – Schuttert Frank (NED) 0/35,55 – Jump off
3. Cornet Kalua – Kühner Max (AUT/T) 0/36,56 – Jump off
4. Cento Lano – Zvara Ondrej (CZE) 0/37,14 – Jump off
5. Legioner – Hetzel Holger (GER) 0/39,76 – Jump off
6. Caleri II – Zelinkova Zuzana (CZE) 4/39,69 – Jump off
7. Cronos 17 – Brenner Andreas (GER) 4/71,61
8. Vignet – Pals Johnny (NED) 4/74,82
9. Acovaro – Opatrny Ales (CZE) 4/75,00
10. Caruso 394 – Candin Andy (ROU) 4/75,67
11. Royal des Bissons – Kneifel Astrid (AUT/OÖ) 4/76,17
12. Cosimo 48 – Belova Natalia (RUS) 4/76,47
Link to result
All infos about the MAGNA RACINO Spring Festival are avaible at www.magnaracino.at/fruehlingsfest
