Text © World of Showjumping

The victory in Sunday's CSIO5* 1.60m Defender Grand Prix of Switzerland in St Gallen went to the hosts nation's very own Martin Fuchs and the 11-year-old gelding Commissar Pezi (Commissario x Böckmann's Lord Pezi).

The Grand Prix was the only competition of the day in St Gallen, as the venue has fallen victim to adverse weather conditions this week with Friday's third leg of the Longines League of Nations™ among the many cancelled classes. However, the Swiss spectators braved the weather and met up to cheer on their home heroes – and were rewarded when Martin Fuchs and Commissar Pezi posted the only clear round of the Grand Prix to take the win. 

"I am very happy with this home victory," Fuchs commented to World of Showjumping. "I was also very happy with how the footing was holding up; since I was the last to go, I was not really sure what to expect. I was positively surprised and felt good throughout the whole round. After the first few fences I could tell that the footing was good, and Commissar Pezi is in good shape, so I really tried to stay focused and give him the best chance to jump a clear. It was amazing to win in front of such a big home crowd." 

Second best of the 22 horse-and-rider combinations participating, were Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) and Ventago (Van Helsing x Hunter's Scendix) who followed as runners-up with a time penalty in 78.30, while a time penalty in 78.50 left Romain Duguet (SUI) and Hunger Games du Champ du Bois (Elvis ter Putte x Mytens) in third place. As the fastest four faulter, Timo Heiniger (SUI) and Don (Don Diarado x Sion) finished fourth, followed by Pedro Junqueira Muylaert (BRA) and Quax 76 (Quo Vados x Come On) in fifth.