Michael Whitaker claims the Grand Prix in Madrid: Luciana Diniz sixth
British superstar Michael Whitaker took control of a power-packed jump off on his champion gelding Viking in the first Grand Prix of the Longines Global Champions Tour 2013.
In a tight battle at the opening event of the season, the coveted title went to British legend Whitaker with his lovely chestnut gelding Viking, the only combination to jump three clear rounds. The high calibre jump off was destined to be quick and competitive, with strong combinations such as Richard Spooner with Cristallo, Harrie Smolders with Exquis Walnut de Muze and Laura Kraut with Jubilee d’Ouilly jumping double clear.
First Round
The first round of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid, presented by Volvo, saw 50 combinations, including some of the very best in the sport. Qatar’s Ali Al Rumaihi was the first rider to start off the challenging first round designed by Louis Konickx. Rumaihi was one of a number of Qatari riders, including top rider Sheik Ali bin Khaled Al Thani, who will have a strong presence through out the 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour season. However, despite plenty of talent in the first half of the class, spectators and riders alike had to wait some time for the first clear round of the evening.
Plenty of top combinations jumped the first round clear, but failed to finish within the time allowed. Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda, riding his Olympic mount AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno, delivered the first clear. Two-time season winner Edwina Tops-Alexander, on her legendary Cevo Itot du Chateau had an early rail down and did not qualify for the second round.
The second clear round of the evening from young Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano on his bay mare Cocoshynsky prompted generous applause from the Spanish crowd. Clear rounds then seemed to come thick and fast. Michael Whitaker, Pius Schwizer, Penelope Leprevost and Denis Lynch all followed, matching one another’s clear rounds to qualify for the second round.
Solid attempts from the young Maikel van der Vleuten and Frenchman Simon Delestre saw rails fall as the difficulty of the first round became ever more clear to both riders and horses. The Grand Prix course offered its challenges including a difficult double combination coming out of the corner at fences 8a and 8b and the last three fences also proving to be difficult to clear.
Spanish rider Sergio Alvarez Moya and leading French rider Kevin Staut each scored four faults, before Portugal’s very own Luciana Diniz earned a clean sheet aboard her stunning grey stallion Winningmood. It was American gold medallist Laura Kraut who would follow suit with her newly acquired 16 year old mare Jubilee d’Ouilly. A truly fast combination and one to look out for this season, it was no surprise to see Laura and Jubilee in the second round.
Olympic gold medal Champion Steve Guerdat had the first fence down on his graceful grey mare Nasa. His fast time ensured a strong chance he would remain in the top eighteen and comeback for the second round for Switzerland. Show jumping legend Nick Skelton and his Olympic champion Big Star delivered a flawless first round, earning the identical time to Alvaro de Miranda and AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno. Gerco Schroder and New Orleans elected to retire as the last combination after three faults in succession. After round one 18 solid and entertaining combinations were set to come back for the second round.
Second Round
Rider’s lined up beneath the towering Longines pillars, to walk the second round course, which would prove to be more challenging and only slightly shorter. Notable season winners such as Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut discussed the track intensely as they worked through their tactical plan.
Last year’s winning combination of the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, Katharina Offel and Fidji Island, were the first to enter the ring and left with 8 faults making a total of 12. Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya, hugely popular with the home crowd, also exited the Grand Prix with a total of 12 faults. It was down to the masterful German technician Marcus Ehning to deliver the first clear of the second round. Riding his experienced and notable 16 year old mare Noltes Kuchengirl, Marcus delivered a textbook round. Longines Global Champions Tour patroness Athina Onassis de Miranda was next with her very-capable grey mare Camille Z. The pair, which look to be a growing combination for the season, earned four faults bringing her total over two rounds to six.
Kamal Bahamdan and Noblesse des Tess earned wonderful applause from the huge Madrid crowd, as they entered the ring but earned 9 faults with two rails and one time fault.
American speed demon Richard Spooner rode a fantastic first double clear round of the evening with his athletic bay gelding Cristallo. Pius Schwizer and Powerplay would match that score for Switzerland as well as Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Abbervail van het Dingeshof. France’s leading lady rider, Penelope Leprevost was sure to earn a double clear round with her chestnut stallion Topinambour but unfortunately the French combination earned a four fault score instead. The Netherland’s Harrie Smolders rode a wonderfully smooth round aboard his careful mare Exquis Walnut de Muze and Michael Whitaker came through clear to ensure a super fast jump off.
Top-performing Longines Global Champions Tour rider Alvaro de Miranda ensured Brazil joined Holland, Great Britain and the USA in the jump off with a breezy clear round aboard Bogeno. Some disappointing rails for Nick Skelton and Big Star meant that Nick would not join his fellow countryman in the jump off. However, the last ladies of the second round, Luciana Diniz and Laura Kraut guaranteed more riders in the jump off as they both delivered strong, effortless rounds.
Jump off
We were set to see eight horse and rider combinations in the jump off. Richard Spooner and Cristallo were the first to jump off and they looked as though they intended to set a strong time. But alas, a fence down in the double combination would mean a 4 fault score for the “Master of Faster”. Pius Schwizer and Powerplay also failed to keep all the rails up. Ireland’s Denis Lynch was the third rider to enter the Grand Prix arena for the jump off and despite earning a very fast time of 48.54 seconds, Abbervail would also knock a single fence down for a frustrating four faults. Dutchman Harrie Smolders picked up a strong pace with his mare Exquis Walnut de Muze but the two were unable to jump clear.
So it was down to British legend Michael Whitaker who showed us how it’s done with Viking. Consolidating a strong time of 49.53 seconds, Michael landed the lead with only three more riders to go. Leading Brazilian rider Doda Miranda had 4 faults but earned a very fast time of 47.66 seconds placing him in second place. Luciana and Winningmood looked to be in excellent position, but the combination knocked down the last fence, a wide Longines oxer, and finished with a time of 50.34 seconds.
Only one horse and one rider left. Laura Kraut and Jubilee d’Ouilly entered the ring to applause and then a hush descended on the arena. Would the first leg of the 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour season see a British win or an American win? Laura picked up a quick pace to set the tone for her clear ambitions; she wanted to win. But a fence down early on left Whitaker as the only rider with a fault-free jump off – giving him a ranking start to the season.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Michael Whitaker
After his €94,050 win Whitaker said of Viking: “He is always knocking on the door of the big wins, so it is the first time he has won. It’s good for me and it is good for the horse as well.” Whitaker, on his champion gelding Viking, was the only rider out of a 48-strong start list to ride three clear rounds, sealing victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid presented by Volvo.
Whitaker finished 3rd in the overall championship last season with a fantastic performance in the Final and pledged to focus fully on the Longines Global Champions Tour in 2013: “I was focused on it last year and you always need a bit of luck and I had that today and I will be focusing on this Tour.”
Laura Kraut
US rider Laura, who finished second on Jubilee d’Ouilly, said: “Like Michael I am planning to focus on this Tour, I plan to jump as many legs as I can and finish high up. I have two top horses now, in the past it was just Cedric and now it is nice to know I have Jubilee also. I have a lot of confidence in her now. It was her first time on grass and she really liked it and I hope it will continue. I love Madrid it is a fantastic place to start the Tour.”
Alvaro de Miranda
Brazilian rider Alvaro de Miranda praised his bay gelding AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno and said of his 3rd place: “I am very happy, especially with my horse. He is jumping really well and I hope we can keep improving because he is doing a great job. The show here is just beautiful, the ground is perfect.”
Jan Tops, President Longines Global Champions Tour
Sport has been the winner this weekend. We are very happy with the new association with Longines. It is fantastic to have a sponsor like this for our sport and will bring it to a higher level. All the efforts of the riders coming here to compete, the organisers, the city of Madrid and the organiser Oxer Sport. It has been a great weekend for everybody.”