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Vienna Eagles soar to victory in Cascais on a night full of drama

Sunday, 10 July 2016
GCL Cascais 2016

The GCL podium in Cascais. Photo (c) Stefano Grasso/GCL.
The GCL podium in Cascais. Photo (c) Stefano Grasso/GCL.

It was a night of team drama in the 11th Global Champions League of 2016 as triumphant Vienna Eagles stole victory in high winds under floodlights on the Portuguese Riviera.

The pressure was on until the very last moment of the last round as leading US rider Lauren Hough, competing with Danielle Goldstein, delivered the decisive clear round on Waterford (Coolcorron Cool Diamond x Julio Mariner XX) to keep their team score on a perfect zero and propelled them into first place.

“We were quite motivated for this week - we had the attitude that we had nothing to loose as we were at the bottom of the pack. Dani did a fantastic job; the conditions were super difficult in the first round with the triple combination falling down [in the wind], and she really held it together. My horse jumped fantastic, it was really difficult conditions tonight but he’s a brave horse. Going in last with one rail was helpful, and I’m thrilled, it was a fantastic evening. This event is one of my most favourites from the GCT series, so it’s an honour to win here," said Vienna Eagles' Lauren Hough after winning with a totally clean sheet from her and team mate Danielle Goldstein.

Shanghai Swans dynamic pairing of in-form Edwina Tops-Alexander and under-25 rider Alexandra Thornton glided into second place on a team total of 5 faults pushing them up the overall championship ranking to 7th place.

Antwerp Diamonds, one of the most formidable teams in the Global Champions League series, ended in 3rd place after both Marc Houtzager and Katharina Offel had four faults a piece in the second round against the clock after both being clear in the first round. The team finished 3rd, and in 2nd place in the overall ranking on 251 points.

Valkenswaard United are still leading the championship on 256.50 points despite a night of high drama with eliminations and falls in Cascais. Legendary John Whitaker fell off Lord of Arabia (Cassini II x Carry) in round two, and high winds gusting in shore from the Atlantic Ocean blew over several fences during the 1.50/1.55m competition to create quite a few challenges for riders and horses.

The turbulent evening began when Vienna Eagles’ Danielle Goldstein jumped clear, despite one of the fences being blown down by the wind, and was given a time fault. This was later cancelled as she had to re-start her round after the fence was re-built. The unusually strong gusts also blew a fence down during the round of Miami Glory’s Scott Brash and the team did not make it into the second round.

Home team Cascais Charms were cheered on by local fans but experienced a tough round eventually culminating in their elimination. One of the strongest teams in the Global Champions League, Monaco Aces, also had a disappointing night being eliminated after under-25 rider Lisa Nooren took a tumble. Rome Gladiators’ powerful combination of Laura Kraut and Laura Renwick also exited after a series of knock downs.

Paris Jets’ Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts were placed 4th in Cascais despite finishing on a team total of 12 faults. And it was not a night to remember for Cannes Stars’ Roger-Yves Bost who scored an uncharacteristic 13 faults with team mate Marco Kutscher having only one time penalty after two rounds.

 


Source: Press release from GCL // Picture © Stefano Grasso/GCL



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