As many as 53 riders were in action in the second round of the GCL competition. The class counted as qualification for the Grand Prix and was run without a jump-off. So the riders had to be on edge right away in this second round.
No problem for Niels Bruynseels (BEL) as it turned out. Holding the reins of Matador (v. Emerald van ‘t Ruytershof), Bruynseels started early and went flawlessly through the 1.60m high course. A fast time of 65.64 seconds earned them fifteenth place. The mere difference of one hundredth of a second kept Gregory Wathelet (BEL) behind him. In the saddle of Bond Jamesbond de Hay (by Diamant de Semilly) Wathelet also stayed clear and came in sixteen. Both fell just outside the prizes with these listings.
The fastest time came in the name of Christian Kukuk (GER). Armed with the jumping power and speed of the BWP bred Mumbai (by Diamant de Semilly) he went into battle. The duo set the time to beat at a fast 60.38 seconds and were not passed. Kevin Staut (FRA) managed to finish within the same second with Cornet’s Velvet RS (by Cornet Obolensky) but had 60.71 on the clock making him second. With 60.72 seconds, Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) just missed out on silver and had to settle for bronze for Julius.D (by Arezzo VDL).
Full individual results
New York Empire wins GCL St Tropez
In the team competition, New York Empire went into the lead. In the first round, Scott Brash provided a zero score with Hello Mr President (by Comme d’Api vd Hacienda). Frank Schuttert had only one jumping fault with Nikias v. Bisschop (by Echo van T Spieveld) and thus finished with four penalty points. Those points were the only ones attributed to them and were thus dropped. Spencer Smith stayed clear on Theodore Manciais (by Kashmir van Schuttershof) and Scott Brash also did it a second time without faults on Hello Jefferson (by Cooper vd Heffinck).
Madrid in Motion followed in second place with a total of zero penalty points as well. A difference of just over a second in speed kept them from victory. Only Laura Kraut was charged with a jumping fault in the first round on Calgary Tame (by Old Chap Tame), Eduardo Alvarez Aznar stayed clear on d’Orient Batilly (by Numero Uno). Maikel van der Vleuten came clear in the second round on Beauville Z NOP (by Bustique) and Eduardo Alvarez Aznar also stayed clear a second time on Bentley de Sury (by Sunday de Riverland).
Full team results