After several placings this show Germany’s 27 year old Daniel Deusser won the opening class on the final day of the GCT of Spain beating Saudi Arabia’s Kamal Bahamdan by almost a second. This result was rather a good one for GCT president Jan Tops because both riders are based at his yard and are trained by him, Kamal for five years and Daniel for three.

Winning 6000 Euro the Darco mare Vonka is owned by Stal Tops and has been placed in all the classes she has jumped at Valencia. Daniel has also been in the money on his other horse Aboyeur W who he had only ridden three times before coming to Valencia and was also winner of several classes in Lummen last week. With the European Championships coming, Deusser is clearly a man to watch. ” But I am not thinking about them at all, just if it happens, it happens” said the rider.

Kamal bought his mount Pinochetta a year ago and a 4000 Euro second place  was  not a bad effort in this company for the Saudi’s first visit as a rider  to a GCT show. Spain also got something to celebrate when Jesus Garmendia Echeverria and Rutherford Latham snatched third and fourth spots at the very last minute, being the final two riders into the ring.

The second class of the day was worth a similar figure and 12 horses were clear in the first round to make an exciting jump off.  Four had gone to each record at least four faults before the USA’s Laura Kraut jumped completely clean on her veteran Anthem. The horse had got a slight injury while travelling to the show and had been unable to jump the first day but had obviously no long lasting effects. However Laura’s lead was short lived when Henk Van de Pol was the next in and absolutely set Rhodus alight  as he had done when the combination won in Arezzo. To gasps and cheers from the crowd he stopped the clock in an astonishing 32.9, a full three seconds faster. Only Marco Kutscher (Cash 63) and Jos Lansink (Amour du Bois) left the rails all intact there after but were not even a danger to Laura’s position let alone Henk’s.

Earlier in the day the 2** amateur tour which runs concurrently with the Global Champions Tour concluded with the Grand Prix of Valencia. This was notable because it featured two of the world’s leading lady socialites, Athina Onassis Miranda and Princess Charlotte of Monaco. However although Athina was third the victory went to a member of a famous show jumping family. Nicholas Phillipaerts is the son of Ludo and obviously taking after his father. Great Britain’s Jane Davis was second.

After this finale, the Tour takes a short break before moving onto Hamburg in ten days where most of the major protagonists will renew their rivalry and continue on the road to Doha and the GCT Finals.

Source: www.globalchampionstour.com
Photos: Martín Sama (except the photo of the title)

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