The penultimate episode sees the Tour head to Vienna, where in a truly heart-stopping Grand Prix Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) and Casall ASK narrowly missed winning the overall title leaving the Championship down to the wire in Doha, as top German rider Marcus Ehning (GER) took his second Grand Prix win of the season.
It was an extraordinary night of tension in Vienna for the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna presented by LGT Private Banking, the penultimate leg of the series, with Rolf needing to finish first or second to win the Champion of Champions title ahead of his closest rival Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS). However this evening’s result leaves Edwina’s hopes alive for a historic triple Champion of Champions Title, while Rolf’s dream of winning the LGCT crown is still within reach as the Tour looks to Doha for the final chapter in this season’s Championship story.
The €300,000 Grand Prix of Vienna was won in emphatic style by Marcus Ehning (GER) with a lightning quick round on Comme Il Faut. The power combination crossed the finish line in 38.67s, ahead of Janne-Friederike Meyer (GER) on Goja in 39.68s. Following his win, Marcus said: “It was my day today. My horse was amazing, he was flying. He did a brilliant job.”
In a night of high drama, Edwina suffered agonising time penalties in the first and second rounds and with Rolf into the jump off the Championship race was on a knife edge. In the high-powered jump off Rolf had to pull out all the stops, but Casall put in a dramatic stop at one of the big oxers on Frank Rothenberger’s course. It means the final leg of the 15-event circuit is destined to be a night of world class show jumping drama in Qatar at the stunning Al Shaqab arena, and Rolf goes into the final stage only five points ahead of Edwina.
