Photos: Stefano Grasso / LGCT

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 Austria 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.

It was a full-blown Grand Prix course with the first fence at 1.55m and an oxer spread at 1.60m. The first round was all about power and speed with a gigantic test for the very top riders in the world under floodlights in the sand arena. There was palpable tension in the arena as Ranking Leader Rolf and Casall ASK entered the ring and, after a few heart stopping moments, jumped clear and in time. Edwina was under intense pressure coming into her first round on Caretina de Joter and despite jumping clear clocked up a painful time penalty. Edwina had a nail-biting time waiting for the final riders to complete their first rounds before she even knew if she was in the top 18 qualified for Round 2.

The course delivered plenty of challenges from the demanding time allowed to the wide oxer in the middle of the Longines triple combination. There were thrills and spills with faults for Marco Kutscher (GER), Daniel Deusser (GER), Ludger Beerbaum (GER), John Whitaker (GBR), Harrie Smolders (NED), Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA), Sheikh Ali Al Thani (QAT) and Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) with retirements by Pius Schwizer (SUI), Jessica Mendoza (GBR) and Faleh Al Ajami (QAT). Round after round had a potential influence on the championship with fans on the edge of their seats and after the final rider Pius, Edwina was confirmed for the second round and a shot at maximum points.

The high quality field resulted in a star-studded line up of 18 riders qualified for the second round. Scott Brash (GBR) with Hello Forever, Bertram Allen (IRL) with Hector van d'Abdijhoeve, Kevin Staut (FRA) with Estoy Aqui de Muze HDC, Luciana Diniz (POR) with Winningmood, Marcus Ehning (GER), Simon Delestre (FRA), Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) with VDL Groep Arera C, and Great Britain’s Laura Renwick and Bintang II were among the world class horses and riders joining Rolf.

Janne-Friederike Meyer (GER) and the powerful Goja, Daniel Bluman (COL) on Apardi and Kamal Bahamdan (KSA) on Delphi also jumped clear along with Jane Richard Phillips (SUI), Jack Towell (USA), Leopold van Asten (NED) and Gonzalo Anon Suarez (ESP).

The second round proved another challenging test for the 18 riders through. Edwina was first to go and put in a careful clear, however picked up another time fault leaving her with a tally of two. As the round unfolded, faults were picked up throughout the course; with Bertram Allen (IRL) and Scott Brash (GBR) just two of the names to drop out with poles down. Rolf once more raised the pressure by jumping clear, and a total of 11 riders went through to the jump off as the packed grandstands watched on with mounting tension.

First to go Simon Delestre (FRA) powered the galloping course with his chestnut gelding Chesall, with the feisty son of Casall making incredible turn backs and flying to the final two fences. They stopped the clock at 40.18s, putting the pressure on the riders to follow. Others tried and failed to match their pace, with Daniel Bluman and Kevin Staut both putting in brilliant times but rolling the final pole. Janne-Freiderike Meyer (GER) pushed the huge striding Goja to the fences, with the large horse agile in the tight turns and leaping the fences, just beating Simon's time. But it was the penultimate rider to go, Marcus Ehning (GER) and the speedy Comme il faut who powered to the win, with the pair bravely flying at the fences and turning on a sixpence to propel them into the lead, the German’s second of the season and his second win in Vienna.

All eyes now turn to Doha in November for the final round of action in the 2016 season, where the overall Champion of Champions will be decided in a nail-biting finale.

Seine Durchlaucht Prinz Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein: “It was quite amazing, and a gripping [Grand Prix]. The public were amazing and it was a great end to the competition. It was a great event, Vienna is a very nice city and it’s been a great show.”

Jan Tops, Founder & President LGCT: “It’s very exciting, we will see who [takes the title] at the very end. At this moment nothing has changed, Rolf is still ahead by five points and the battle is between him and Edwina. Every sport dreams that you can keep the tension until the last event, and we have that individually, and in the [Global Champions] League as well, and the winner will be decided at the last event. It was a great jump-off with a great result. Simon was excellent but had the bad luck to go first today - his horse was very consistent. Marcus had everything to lose at the end but he went for it and it was a great, great win - his second in Vienna!"

Marcus Ehning, LGCT Grand Prix of Vienna Gold Medallist: “My horse is a real fighter, he has a super brain and is always giving his best - in a jump off he can race and I’m very happy that it worked out. I saw Simon and knew what I had to do. I rode one and two and it wasn’t what I wanted, so I thought ‘I really have to go’, and thought I could turn a bit tighter at the final three jumps - in the end it was our day.”

Janne-Freiderike Meyer, LGCT Grand Prix of Vienna Silver Medallist: “I’m really happy with Goja. I’d like to say thank you to Jan Tops, because of him and the Shanghai Swans I have the great opportunity to ride in this show. I’m really proud of my horse - I saw Simon and knew I had to really ride to be faster and I tried all my best, I was so proud we were fast enough, but still I knew that Marcus could go faster - he’s unbeatable fast, so it feels like a win for me!"

Simon Delestre, LGCT Grand Prix of Vienna Bronze Medallist: “Of course to be first in a jump-off like that with so many quick and top riders is hard, so I tried to go as fast as I could but I was a little too slow today. Chesall was second in Rome, and for the last three shows has been something incredible."

Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, LGCT Ranking Leader: “Nothing changed in the [overall ranking] position today. I messed it up myself - I pushed for the stride, then saw it was not going to go, so tried with another stride but it was too late. Casall jumped three times clear again, it was my fault today. Of course it’s going to be super exciting to the final in Doha."


Top Ten LGCT Vienna

1. Marcus Ehning (GER) // Comme il faut

2. Janne-Friederike Meyer (GER) // Goja

3. Simon Delestre (FRA) // Chesall Zimequest

4. Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) // VDL Groep Arera C

5. Luciana Diniz (POR) // Winningmood

6. Lauren Hough (USA) // Cornet 39

7. Kevin Staut (FRA) // Estoy Aqui de Muze HDC

8. Daniel Bluman (COL) // Apardi

9. Jane Richard Philips (SUI) // Dieudonne de Guldenboom

10. Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) // Casall ASK