Martin Fuchs claims victory in the LGCT GP of Madrid

© LGCT/Stefamo Grasso

Martin Fuchs thrust his hat into the air to acknowledge the capacity crowd’s standing ovation as he landed over the final fence to claim victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid, elation written across his face.
 
Last to go in the 11-strong jump-off, the Swiss rider knew he had to beat Maikel van der Vleuten’s leading time of 39.77 seconds. He attacked Spanish course designer Santiago Varela Ullastres’s inviting track, pushing 12-year-old Chaplin ever faster and higher. He was less than three tenths of a second quicker than Maikel to take the high-octane win under the Spanish spring sunshine.
 
“My horse Chaplin was great; it’s an amazing stadium and an amazing crowd,” said a delighted Martin. “I was lucky to be last to go and then I knew what I had to do and I had the support of all the Spanish fans here.
 
“I was actually watching Maikel’s round in the warm-up on my phone [via GC TV]. It was in my back pocket so I heard the comments about the strides between one and two and to the double. And when Maikel came I pulled the phone out to watch and see what I could do a bit quicker than him. It feels amazing to win here. It’s my first time competing here and I’m definitely coming back; it’s an amazing show.”
 
Speaking about qualifying for the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix, taking place at the GC Prague Playoffs this November, Martin said: "It’s a very special class, and a big goal for us riders to be in the LGCT Super Grand Prix. Last year I wasn’t qualified and I was watching the class and I really wanted to ride in it, so it’s great that I’m now already qualified."
 
From the 34 starters in the first round, early clears were few and far between, with faults cropping up all around this varied track: at the open water, at the combination, at the first fence. The time was also influential as Swedes Malin Baryard-Johnson and Peder Fredricson both left all the fences intact but could not quite get under the 86-second time allowed and picked up a single time fault.
 
But the jump-off was packed with A-list names, and Israel’s Danielle Goldstein set off at a blistering pace on Lizziemary, the duo riding high on their most recent win at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Shanghai. The 13-year-old chestnut mare blazed around clear, steeplechasing some of the fences, with Danielle’s signature feathers in her hair flying. They posted a clear in 40.86 seconds, setting a high bar for the remaining 10 riders.
 
Marcus Ehning (GER), a previous winner here, kept pace with Danielle, but could not keep up the first part of the double up when Funky Fred, a 14-year-old Westfalian stallion by For Pleasure, clocked it with his left fore. He finished on four faults in 40.97 seconds.
 
Bart Bles (NED) and the grey Belgian gelding Gin D had already attracted praise for their performances here, but concreted that by pulling off a fast and harmonious clear to take the lead. The 13-year-old grey horse pinged off the ground and broke the beam in 40.11 seconds. They would eventually claim third — their first LGCT podium finish.
 
Jerome Guery’s (BEL) Quel Homme De Hus has incomparable scope and energy but the 13-year-old Holstein stallion by Quidam De Revel got too close to the first part of the double, lost his shape over the fence and hollowed, catching the top rail. They stopped the clock at 40 seconds exactly, but with four faults.
 
Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) — a previous winner here with Chaplin's sire Verdi — had a clear game plan with Dana Blue to go for it. The chunky grey mare by Mr Blue swept into the lead in 39.77 seconds with a deceptively fast round despite Maikel checking her mid-way through the course. Next to go, Daniel Deusser (GER), had different tactics with the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding Calisto Blue. He played it safe and produced a calm clear round in 45.92 seconds, which will have filled the horse with confidence.
 
Heartbreakingly Ludger Beerbaum (GER) hit the first fence riding the 16-year-old Casello, then eased off the pace. They also had the final fence down and a time fault, so did not trouble the leading pack. Evelina Tovek (SWE) and the young mare Dalila De La Pomme were next to take on the challenge. The 10-year-old Belgian mare clipped the Longines vertical hard, but it stayed up. Their luck ran out at the triple bar though, and they finished on four faults in 42.64 seconds.
 
With just three riders remaining, Luciana Diniz (POR) - another former winner here - set off fast on the inexperienced 10-year-old grey gelding Vertigo Du Desert. The attractive horse had his ears pricked throughout despite lowering the second fence, but the horse would undoubtably be a star of the future for Luciana. Next to go was last year’s LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid’s winner Ben Maher (GBR) on Explosion W. The 10-year-old gelding by Chacco Blue is naturally quick over fences and between them but he lowered the back rail of the oxer coming out of the double with his hind feet. When a second pole clattered to the ground, Ben and the energetic chestnut knew they were out of podium contention.
 
It was all down to the final rider, Martin Fuchs (SUI), Ben Maher’s teammate for their GCL win as London Knights in the earlier team competition. Riding Chaplin, he flew from the first to the second fence, making his intention to win crystal clear. They kicked on around the whole course, surviving a light rub at the Longines vertical. They put in a gigantic leap at the final fence and posted a winning time of 39.41 seconds.
 
After five legs of LGCT competition, Belgium’s Pieter Devos remains top the rankings, with Daniel Deusser (GER) in second and Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) now in third.


London Knights win in split second GCL Duel with New York Empire

A fraction of a second split the fortunes of the top two teams in the GCL of Madrid with the London Knights triumphing ahead of New York Empire in a nail-biting finish.
 
The win by the Knights dynamic duo of Ben Maher and Martin Fuchs propelled the team up the overall ranking after the fifth leg of the 2019 season, but Shanghai Swans remain on top as a ferocious battle develops in the top end of the GCL grid.
 
The home team Madrid In Motion, owned by Marta Ortega, fielded father and son Eric and Maikel van der Vleuten and the family-friendly combination pulled off a third place on the podium to the delight of the local crowd. All three teams on the podium kept impressive clean sheets in both rounds of the GCL competition.
 
The large grass arena is happy hunting ground for the London Knights, who were also victorious here last year.
 
Today, it was supersonic clear rounds from both Martin Fuchs riding Chaplin and Ben Maher on Explosion W that secured pole position ahead of the overnight leaders. With teams tied on points, time was critical, so riders had to be bold and take tight lines to be remain in contention.
 
It was a welcome turnaround for the Knights who were eliminated from two of the first four GCL events of 2019. Martin said: “I was very pleased to be here with Ben, who is always a great teammate and he made a double clear like he usually does.”
 
Ben said: “Martin’s round yesterday on his second horse was great, and we played it right today; we both went quick for the class and we needed to — we were just quick enough. Both of our horses jumped good and we had a difficult decision today because our other team member Emily [Moffitt] was also clear but we’re very happy to be coming from behind this year so far.”
 
The overnight leaders, New York Empire, were last to go and were bolstered by a clear in the fastest time of the competition from the 22-year-old rider Spencer Smith with Theodore Manciais, but Scott Brash’s relatively inexperienced Hello Shelby couldn’t quite hit the pace required to put the team ahead of the London Knights despite a classy clear.
 
Spanish course designer Santiago Varela Ullastres presented a flowing 475m track over this undulating terrain. The 76-second time allowed caught out riders who dallied and the triple combination set on an uphill incline took the most victims, with the vertical first element falling more than any other fence on the course. GCL Co-Founder Jan Tops said: “It was amazing sport here with the three top teams riding double clear. These things don’t normally happen.” Alvaro Arrieta Konyay, President of Organising Partner Oxer Sport, said: “We are proud to have the opportunity to host a leg of the GCL here in Madrid.”
 
The series leaders, the Shanghai Swans, were kept off the Madrid podium by a single time fault, and they finished in fourth. They sit on top of ranking on 109 points. St Tropez Pirates are in second on 89 points followed closely by Monaco Aces and Miami Celtics both on 87 points.

Ben Maher and Martin Fuchs

© GCL/Stefano Grasso
 
 

How the action panned out:

St Tropez Pirates:

The Pirates fielded an unchanged all-female team. Trailblazer Athina Onassis (MHS Going Global) started steady and pulled off a stylish clear, but paid the price with two time faults. Edwina Tops-Alexander the 15-year-old Ego Van Orti set off a touch faster, though the team tactic appeared to be for steady clears to keep the penalties to a minimum. But Ego got a little flat coming into the triple combination and knocked down the first element with a dangling front foot. This took them to a team total of 23.
 
Cannes Stars:

The Cannes’ first rider Karel Cox kept the pace up and the lines somewhat relaxed and wide to keep Evert flowing nicely to produce a classy round in front of the horse’s owners on the kiss ’n cry. Abdel Saïd stepped in to ride for the Cannes Stars for the first time at this show. He piloted Jumpy van der Hermitage to a clear round over the fences, but picked up a single time fault, bringing the team score to 18.
 
Doha Falcons:

Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani’s Sirocco looked spooky coming into the big ring, but the flashy chestnut started his round quickly and confidently. The pair knocked out the first part of the Massimo Dutti triple combination and also rubbed the third element, but it stayed up. Michael Whitaker, riding the mare Strides Hilanasterne, was under pressure was on for him to produce a fault-free round and also rubbed the final part of the triple, but it remained intact. She drifted right over a number of fences, but pulled off a clear round inside the time, leaving the team on a total of 20.
 
Chantilly Pegasus:

This team put forward the unchanged tried and tested combination of the Lopez brothers. Carlos Lopez’s G&C Arrayan started a little unsettled and was another to lower the top bar of the first part of the triple. After the mistake, Carlos upped the pace and posted the fastest time of any rider yet, but the final fence also came tumbling down, giving him eight faults. René Lopez on Histoire DO produced a fast round, but came unstuck at the penultimate fence, punching out the back rail of the wide oxer. The additional faults left them on a team total of 28.
 
Valkenswaard United:

Marcus Ehning once again brought his top horse Funky Fred in to bat for the team. The big horse touched the first fence after a wobbly approach, but it stayed up. Marcus managed him expertly and they quickly found their stride again, but they were yet another pair to come to grief at the triple, lowering the vertical at the first element. The round was fast though — the quickest four-fault result yet. Frank Schuttert stepped in for the team riding Lyonel D. They tackled the tricky triple but the next fence, the Volvo oxer, came down, as did the second part of the Longines double. The disappointing round left the team on a total of 28.
 
Monaco Aces:

The first combination for the Monaco Aces, Julien Epaillard and Virtuose Champeix, lowered an early rail at the GC Prague Playoffs upright at fence three after a rub in front. The rest of the fences stayed up, so they posted four faults. Jérôme Guery was the second rider on the phenomenally consistent Quel Homme De Hus. The horse produced his 12th clear round in a row. His style might not be the smoothest, but the stallion jumped his heart out, putting in some giant leaps. The Monaco Aces, who won in Shanghai, finished on a team score of 16 in Madrid.
 
Prague Lions:

There was disappointment for the Prague Lions after first rider Anna Kellnerova fell from her horse Catch Me If You Can at fence 11. She received immediate medial care on site and was conscious at all times before being taken to hospital for further checks. This meant elimination for the team. Marc Houtzager then jumped as an individual on board Sterrehof’s Calimero, posting a classy clear.
 
Paris Panthers:

Team stalwart Harrie Smolders had an uncharacteristically difficult ride on Don VHP Z. Two elements of the triple came down followed swiftly by a refusal, which prompted Harrie to retire his loyal partner. Although the team was therefore eliminated, Nayel Nassar jumped as an individual on Lucifer V. They started on a forward stride but knuckled out the first part of the triple as well as lowering a second rail. It was a day to forget for the Paris Panthers.
 
Hamburg Giants:

The Giants fielded an unchanged team, with Bart Bles and the grey Gin D once again going first. They started at a relaxed pace but revved up as they went round. The back rail of one oxer clattered and bounced in the cups but stayed up; they produced the first team rider double clear in Madrid. Bart handed the baton to Lauren Hough, who suffered an awkward jump at the first with Waterford. She kept up the pace between fences, then clipped the first part of the triple and Waterford worked hard to stretch and twist to clear the remaining elements, but the horse’s balance and striding was affected and they met the next fence, the Volvo oxer disorganised and couldn’t leave the back rail up. Lauren rode masterfully to finish with just four faults, taking the team total to eight.
 
Shanghai Swans:

Daniel Deusser and Calisto Blue started quickly, opting for inside turns. They touched the front rail of the GCL oxer, but it stayed up. Daniel rode determinedly, keeping a forward position and putting the horse in just the right place to leap clear at every jump. The second rider Pius Schwizer was anxious to avoid his time-fault from the first round riding Cortney Cox and today made sure he kept pedal to the metal. A superb display of riding and judgement handed them a clear inside the time to remain on a team total of one.
 
Miami Celtics:

Jessica Springsteen was first in for the Miami Celtics on RMF Zecilie, a huge jumping mare with unbelievable scope and height over the fences. They took a long line to the last, but were still clear and inside the time. It was then down to the under-25 rider Michael Duffy on Quintano to try to keep the team scoresheet clean. But they ran into problems with an early rub and an early pole tumbling. Then when the final part of the triple, as well as the back rail of the following fence all hit the turf, the team’s chances also took a tumble. One time fault left the team on 13.
 
Scandinavian Vikings:

Another all female team, the Scandinavian Vikings remained unchanged in horses and riders from round one. Under-25 rider Evelina Tovek set out on the big-striding Dalila De La Pomme and put in a tremendous display. Cutting inside to the final fence meant they secured a clear inside the time, the third fastest so far. The experienced pairing of Danielle Goldstein with Lizziemary (LGCT Grand Prix winners in Shanghai two weeks ago) made a tremendous, fast start but rubbed the final part of triple and then took a wide line to reorganise. A late-falling pole at the penultimate fence while en route to an inside line to the last meant the team financed on four faults — not good enough for a podium finish.
 
Berlin Eagles:

Malin Baryard-Johnsson’s H&M Indiana came out fresh and strong, keen to jump. The Belgian mare got very close to the final fence but put in a huge effort to lift her shoulders and leap clear. They handed over to the 21-year-old rider Emil Hallundbaek. His horse Chalisco was firing on all cylinders, but the final part of the triple came down from the lightest of touches. He kept up the pace and the remaining fences for a final team score of four.
 
London Knights:

Martin Fuchs was again first to go, this time with the Verdi’s son Chaplin. The horse made a beautiful shape over the fences and picked up speed between them, producing a classy clear and logging the fastest round of the competition to date. He handed over to Ben Maher, who won the LGCT Grand Prix in Madrid last year. He piloted the naturally fast Explosion W, to the second fastest round. Their combined times put them a full four seconds ahead of the pack. The team remained on a clean sheet with these two fast clears and stormed to the top of the table — where they remained.
 
Madrid in Motion:

The home team fielded father and son Eric and Maikel van der Vleuten and they set off at a slightly steadier pace than the previous two riders. Eric van der Vleuten gave the long-framed Wunschkind a great ride through the triple and coaxed a clear out of the rangy horse. It was inside the time, but decidedly slower than the London Knights. Maikel van der Vleuten’s eye-catching grey Dana Blue came out fresh and full of running. They posted a clean clear, but the long line Maikel opted for signalled that they were not trying to match the very fastest time. The podium place tactic paid off and they went into second, though by a 10-second margin.
 
New York Empire:

The young Spencer Smith (22) came onto the team for the first time riding Theodore Manciais and with a lot of pressure riding on his round. What followed was a magnificent display of horsemanship as Spencer opened up the bay gelding between fences. He was not opting to play safe. They sailed close to the rails, losing no time in the air and posted the fastest round of the whole competition yet. Spencer drew praise for his tactful, intelligent riding. Now all the pressure was on teammate, Scott Brash, who opted for a horse change. If he could stay clear and beat the time set by the London Knights, they would win. It was nip and tuck all the way, but Scott and Hello Jefferson stopped the clock fractions of a second over to secure second place.
 
The GCL now turns to Hamburg, Germany, for the sixth round of the Championship race.

Source: Longines Global Champions Tour

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