After two rounds and a jump-off, it was Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and Chiara (Contender x Coronado) that were crowned winners of the CSI5* Grand Prix at Al Shaqab taking home the top prize of 165 000 Euro. This was the second time the pair won this Grand Prix, as they were victorious in the 2014-edition too. Daniel Deusser and Christian Ahlmann completed an all-German podium taking home the second and third place.

Only two riders managed to go clear all the way; Beerbaum on the now 13-year-old mare Chiara and Deusser on the 11-year-old gelding First Class van Eeckelghem (Balou Du Rouet x Feinschnitt I Vd Richter). Only 0.21 seconds separated the two riders in the jump-off. Their compatriot Christian Ahlmann was faster aboard Codex One ( Contendro I x Glueckspilz) though, but on the expense of a rail down and the in-form rider had to settle for third place this time around after giving the win a real go.

Portugal’s Luciana Diniz finished fourth on Fit For Fun 13 ( For Pleasure x Fabriano), also she with one down in the five-horse-and-rider jump-off while fifth place went to Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts on Zilverstar T (Berlin x Cavalier) that had eight faults against the clock. 

Text © World of Showjumping // Picture ©  CHI Al Shaqab