Bernardo Alves claims the GCT in Hamburg

Brazil and Germany have for years dominated the soccer world but today on home territory, a Brazilian took a major prize in a sport where the German's have had no equal for years. Although their riders were knocked off their World and Olympic showjumping pedestal recently, they are still the ones to beat especially on home soil. But with 18'000 spectators willing it otherwise, Bernardo Alves did just that.

Today's GCT Grand Prix was worth a cool 95'000 Euro to the winner and 48 riders from 14 countries had arrived in Hamburg to bid for the prize. The first round course produced a healthy 17 clears who included Albert Zoer on a back to his best Oki Doki, Jos Lansink, Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum on Shutterfly.

The combination in the second round proved the real bogey fence and it ended the challenge all of those named above, except Meredith who was clear over the jumps at least. However to the astonishment of the watching crowd the clock stopped showing a time penalty next to their favourite's name.

Bernardo was the second to go and the first to get a double clear, leaving him in the unenviable position of having to lead off in the third against the clock jump off round when former German national champion Carsten-Otto Nagel joined him on the in form Corradina. Yesterday's French winner Roger-Yves Bost matched them with Ideal de la Loge and the third round line up was completed when Billy Burr and William Funnel joined them for Great Britain.

When the clock stopped Chupa Chup was clear in 51.05, and when Carsten could not quite catch him, Roger had one rail and William two, a momentous upset had occurred. “I think this has been very great sport today, and it has been a priviledge to see it and even if we did not have a German winner, we are still happy for Bernardo, he rode super” said a member of the German press team later.