19 year old Bertram Allen and 17 year old Romanov (Heartbreaker x Fedor) showed everyone how it should be done with three clear rounds and a speedy jump-off - winning the Longines Global Champions Tour in Paris ahead of Luciana Diniz and Darragh Kenny.
It is not often that all the riders on four faults are left out from the second round of the Grand Prix, but that was impressingly enough the situation in the Paris heat as Hamad Ali Mohammed Al Attiyah and Appagino 2 (Arpeggio x Casaretto) was the only combination to qualify for the second round with one time penalty from the first round.
The first round consisted of 13 fences and 16 jumps, while the second round was just slightly shortened to 12 fences and 15 jumps. With his 1 time penalty Hamad Ali Mohamed Al Attiyah was first to go - having faults already on the third fence and finally finishing on a total of 9 faults after two rounds.
Second out was the slowest clear round from the first round - Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Casall Ask (Caretino x Lavall I). Rolf was number three on the overall ranking ahead of today’s class and was of course trying to chase more points. Unfortunately the triple combination did not go Rolf's way and he picked up four faults on the b-element.
Then it was time for the first home rider, Philippe Rozier and the very well jumping Rahotep de Toscane (Quidam de Revel x Laudanum) producing another beautiful clear round. A jump-off was secured already with the next rider as Darragh Kenny was clear with Sans Soucis Z (Surrealist vh Paradijs x Voltaire).
Maikel van der Vleuten and Vdl Groep Verdi Tn N.O.P (Quidam de Revel x Landgraf I) had to see a pole fall in the middle of the course. Christian Ahlmann suffered the same faith with Epleaser van't Heike (For Pleasure x Nabab de Reve) while Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani and First Division (Andiamo x Perhaps vh Molenvondel) had two down.
Bertram Allen and Romanov (Heartbreaker x Fedor) made sure they would enter the ring a third time after another beautiful clear round, while John Whitaker and Argento (Arko III x Gasper) had an unfortunate fault on the second last fence and Margie Goldstein-Engle had eight faults with Royce (Cafe au lait x Grandolit).
Sergio Alvarez Moya and the bouncy Carlo 273 (Contender x Cascavelle) produced a fantastic first round, but in the second round fence 5 fell to the ground. As the fastest combination on four faults they finally ended as number six.
After Sergio both Julien Epaillard and Lauren Hough had faults before the leader of the overall ranking Luciana Diniz was clear with Fit For Fun 13 (For Pleasure x Fabriano). Also the winners from Cannes - Penelope Leprevost and Ratina d'la Raousserie (Quaprice Boimargot Quincy x Apache d'Adriers* HN) – were clear and ready for a thrilling jump-off.
Simon Delestre and Qlassic Bois Margot (L'Arc de Triomphe x Galoubet A) on the other hand had to say good bye for the night with four faults in the second round. Even Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos (Quasimodo v. Molendreef x Nabab de Reve) got a surprising fence down leaving the doors open for Diniz to increase her lead on the overall ranking.
Constant van Paesschen and Citizenguard Toscan de Sainte Hermelle (Surcouf de Revel x Bayac de Sainte Hermelle) were last to go, but eight faults kept them out of the jump-off.
The five-horse jump-off went over seven fences including a combination. Philippe Rozier and Rahotep de Toscane were first out but did not get the best start as the second fence fell. Next out was Darragh Kenny and Sans Soucis Z which is not the fastest horse. But the Irish duo did their best and was clear as they crossed the finish line at 39,36 seconds. Bertram Allen was next and with his incredible turns he shaved off two second off Kenny's time to take over the lead.
Fit for Fun really jumped her heart out trying to secure Luciana Diniz another LGCT-win, but they were 0,52 seconds too slow and slotted in after Allen on the leader board.
Penelope Leprevost was the last one who could threaten Allen, but today things did not work out as smoothly as it normally does. Two poles down as well as a circle placed the French rider as number five and securing another amazing win for Bertram Allen.