Flying Dutchman
Harrie Smolders and his super fast
15-year-old bay mare Regina Z blazed
to victory in the Longines Global
Champions Tour of Shanghai.
The pace was
electric at the climax of the
$485,000 Grand Prix as eight riders
won through to the jump off in the
Chinese leg of the 2015 championship
series.
Smolders beat off
tough challenges from speed masters
Pius Schwizer and Michael Whitaker
to emerge victorious scooping
$160,000 in prize money and 40
valuable ranking points as winner.
It was his first ever Grand Prix win
and he said "it's a very special
moment for me. To win at a Global
Champions Tour Grand Prix with her
is really great." Great Britain’s
Scott Brash remains on top of the
overall season ranking stretching
his lead to 10 points ahead of
Luciana Diniz.
The jump off also
included last year’s Shanghai Grand
Prix winner Pieter Devos, Olympic
bronze medallist Kamal Bahamdan of
Saudi Arabia,Taizo Sugitani of Japan
and young Jessica Mendoza of Great
Britain.
There was a
lively social scene at the
impressive show ground as VIP guests
arrived in chic outfits and hats
more reminiscent of Ladies’ Day at
Royal Ascot. Thousands of
enthusiastic Chinese spectators
whooped and gasped as they watched
in awe of the world’s top
international sport horses.
The first round
by course designer Uliano Vezzani
saw plenty of confident clear
rounds, 13 in total, with John
Whitaker and Luca Moneta both
missing out with 1 time penalty.
Only the three fastest on four
faults were able to squeeze into the
second round with Daniel Deusser,
Ludger Beerbaum, Steve Guerdat and
Kent Farrington among the
casualties.
The second round
in front of packed grandstands
raised the stakes and riders
including Ben Maher, Sheikh Ali Al
Thani and Gregory Wathelet unable to
capitalise on their clear round
status. Luciana Diniz, back in
action on Lennox, had an agonising
moment at the second to last fence
with a rail down putting her out of
the jump off. Pius Schwizer and his
mount Caretina de Joter proved an
impressive combination with a double
clear and young Jessica Mendoza on
Spirit also pulled off a double
clear.
There were
excited cheers as Japanese rider
Taizo Sugitani and his bay
16-year-old gelding Avenzio 3
delivered an impressive double clear
for Asia - and a few bucks and kicks
to the delight of the fans. Pieter
Devos, riding Candy, made sure of a
place in the jump off setting is
sights on a Shanghai double.
Scott Brash
remains on great form and pulled off
a double clear on Hello M’Lady along
with fellow Brit Michael Whitaker on
the trusty Viking and Kamal Bahamdan
on his Olympic star horse Noblesse
des Tess.
The jump off saw
bitter disappointment for Pieter
Devos who clocked up four faults.
But the other seven riders all
delivered triple clears. It came
down to a ferocious speed battle
after Swiss rider Pius Schwizer set
a lead time of 34.20. Harrie
Smolders was always going to be a
threat with the lightning quick
Regina Z and he didn’t disappoint
stopping the clock at 33.57. Michael
Whitaker and Viking were last to go
but could not beat Harrie’s time.
With Scott Brash
still on top of the ranking, the
Tour moves to Hamburg, Germany for
the 5th leg of the championship race
next weekend.
Press
conference:
Juan-Carlos
Capelli - Vice President, Head of
International Marketing of Longines
We are very proud to be here in
Shanghai for the Longines Global
Champions Tour. China is an
important market for us. It was the
first edition of the show last year.
For this second edition, we have
here the best riders and the best
horses of the world. We have one of
the best horse shows of the world
here in China and this is an
important moment in the history of
equestrian sports. Also I want to
mention the fact that we have a
fantastic rider with us in Shanghai,
Scott Brash, who is the leader of
the Longines FEI World ranking and
of the Longines Global Champions
Tour ranking.
Jan Tops -
Founder and President, Longines
Global Champions Tour
It was a very exciting competition.
We thought several times that we had
the winner of the competition and
that the class was finished and then
the following rider was even better.
But of course Harrie Smolders had a
very well deserved win! Also, I
think Scott Brash is already on his
way, he did a very good start of
this Longines Global Champions Tour
season with already two big wins.
His best horse is coming next week
in Hamburg, so there is probably
some more spectacular sport to come.
Harrie
Smolders - Grand Prix winner
It’s a very special moment for me. I
have a fantastic partnership with my
mare Regina as I have ridden her for
5 years already. It’s the first time
we win a 5* Grand Prix and to win a
Global Champions Tour Grand Prix
with her is really great.
Pius Schwizer
- Grand Prix second place
I’m delighted with my second place
tonight. I knew that some very quick
riders were coming after me. I want
to congratulate Harrie Smolders and
Michael Whitaker for their great
performances and of course the
Longines Global Champions Tour with
Jan Tops for this fabulous event.
Michael
Whitaker - Grand Prix third place
Viking was very good today in the
Grand Prix. I just misjudged the
distance to the last fence but our
round was very fast until then. M.
Uliano did a very good job with the
course.
Scott Brash -
LGCT ranking leader
I’ve had a very good run but Daniel
definitely deserved to be No1 when
he was number 1 and I was just lucky
to have a good show in Miami and
that’s how I regained the No1 band.
It would have been nice to get the
record and unfortunately that wasn’t
possible in the end but I’m just
happy to be there again.
