Transalpine Alberto Zorzi sacred in Monaco

Press release – This evening, on Cornetto K, the Italien Alberto Zorzi took the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by Sapinda in front of the German Christian Ahlmann and the French medallist Kevin Staut. In the Global Champions League (GCL) The Vienna Eagles stood out in front of the Shanghai Swans and the Mexico Amigos. Exceptional scenarios that took suspense to a climax, in this second day of the Princely competition.

High point for the teams, the second round of the Global Champions League (GCL) raised the temperature a notch at the foot of the Palace. The 20 clear rounds of the previous day obliged course designer Luc Musette to slightly spice up his plans, the technicality of the 12 obstacles – 15 jumping efforts and the time allowed. Difficulties that were confirmed after rounds by the first 13 competitors who set the class in motion as individuals, like Daniel Deusser (GER) and Kevin Staut (FRA) who each left the ring with a pole on the floor, or Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) and John Whitaker (GBR) who collected the onerous scores of 17 and 18 point respectively, to name just a few.

When the teams took the start for the GCL, the wait for that perfect performance lasted until the n°17 entered the arena, the Austrian Max Kühner, riding for the Berlin Lions. A performance imitated slightly later by six other top pilots. Finally the Princely stage went to the Vienna Eagles (Gregory Wathelet and Niels Bruynseels) who finished on a total of only one time fault after the two rounds. They are followed by the Shanghai Swans (Jessica Springsteen and Roger-Yves Bost), already second in Cannes, and the Mexico Amigos (Christian Ahlmann and Yuri Mansur).

Halfway through the circuit and despite two disappointments in a row, Valkenswaard United have firmly anchored their supremacy over the 17 other teams in the running, keeping their lead on the provisional scoreboard with a total of 133 points. The strategy of Alberto Zorzi (ITA) and Janika Sprunger (SUI) has allowed them to remain on course in front of the Hamburg Diamonds (125pts), and the St Tropez Pirates (122pts), represented in this leg by John Whitaker (GBR) and Jos Verlooy (BEL), Simon Delestre (FRA) and Jérôme Guery (BEL) respectively.

Legendary for his rapidity, it was French medallist Roger-Yves Bost who imposed himself in the individual placings with Pégase du Murier, in a time of 61.58sec, before Max Kühner/Electric Touch (AUT), 62.45sec, and the on-form, Gregory Wathelet/Eldorado van het Vijverhof (BEL) in 65.62sec.

This 2nd round also gave the top 25 qualification for the culmination of the weekend, the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by Sapina and its’ 300,000 € of prize money.

With a twisty course imposed by one of smallest competition arenas on the planet and over a height of 1.60m, the big stars of show-jumping had to call upon all the agility of their rides to obtain the necessary tempo and the correct approaches. Jump number 7, a vertical of planks, proved to be particularly tricky, catching out a good number including the American delegation comprised of Jessica Springsteen, Jack Towell and the World n°1 Kent Farrington who left with 4 faults. The World n°2 Daniel Deusser (GER) was penalised, as was Eric van der Vleuten (NED), Yuri Mansur (BRA) and Grégory Wathelet (BEL) although they were confident after walking the course. Jos Verlooy (BEL), applied himself, but unfortunately didn’t manage to cross the finish line in the allowed time.

Only Christian Ahlmann (GER), Scott Brash (GBR), Kevin Staut (FRA) and Alberto Zorzi (ITA) had the possibility of battling it out in the jump-off. First to go, and known for his spectacular turns, the German and his mare Dolocia, threw down the gauntlet with such a rapid pace (38.20sec) that the rest had no other choice than to pull out all the stops and take every risk. The Briton left with 8 faults with Hello Forever, a little bit lost in the turns and who had to pedal over the oxer coming out of the double. The French medallist, accompanied by For Joy van’t Zorgvliet HDC who returns to this level of competition after injury, had 4 faults. Suspense, it wasn’t until the turn of Alberto Zorzi that the name of the winner was known on the occasion of this 12th Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco. In this magical setting, he dropped the stopwatch by 0.40 seconds and  savoured his Princely consecration.
« I’m absolutely delighted with this victory, my horse jumped so well. My trainer Jan Tops suggested taking out a stride in the first line, I think that it was there that I gained time. I’d like to thank him as we train hard but the result is there », concluded the Italian with a smile. Italy, Germany and France climbed onto the Monegasque podium before revelling in the habitual « champagne shower ».

After his second place at the Miami stage, the Italian climbs in the provisional placings to 3rd place in the rankings with 145 points. Christian Ahlmann takes pole position with his 154 points and relegates Dutchman Harrie Smolders (150 points and absent this weekend) to 2nd place after 7 stages.

Starting in the morning, the rising stars competing in the 2*CSI2 started the ball rolling with the « Medium » and « Small » Tour Grand Prix. In the 1.30m, Mathias Hazebroek and Hanibal (BEL), already third yesterday, left the other four riders qualified for the jump off on the touch line, with a time of 35.07sec. Andre Coutinho Mendonca Nagata/Emoe Tiramsue (ITA) in 35.96sec and Kelly Jochems/Bontendro (NED) in 37.02sec completed the podium.

Over a 1.15m course, it was the turn of local rider Dietlinde Thomel on Roberto de Siju to take the commands, crossing the finish line with a time of 34.65sec, he was followed by Dutch representative, Lauren van Berkel, who took both 2nd and 3rd places with her two rides, Prele du Chanois (35.15sec) and Little Lancer (35.84sec).

There were 27 starters in the 1.40m speed class, Ignace Philips riding Calinesse de Guldenboom (BEL) showed yet again his tremendous form after his victory and third place yesterday, by stopping the Longines Timing clock at 59.24sec. Monegasque Ilaria Sutera/Tabriz de Labarde and German, Nicola Pohl /Bibenbreaker were second and third.

Tomorrow, when the sun is at its highest, the cream of international show-jumpers will be determined to finish on a high note in the Casino de Monte-Carlo Trophy that carries 92,000 € in prize money. The third and final day of the Monegasque show will also again offer competitors in the 2*CSI three possibilities to stand out, with notably the 1.45m Grand Prix which will bring this 2017 edition to a close.

Source: Press release