It was Belgium's Gudrun Patteet that snatched the win in the CSI4* Longines Grand Prix of Ascona presented by LGT Private Banking.
Riding the 10-year-old gelding Sea Coast Atlantic (Schilling x Aramis de la Cense), Patteet bested a field of 49 riders to take the victory in this 1.60 competition. Thirteen riders moved on to round two in this class, and against the clock the Belgian rider was the fastest one of those who maintained a clean sheet as she stopped the clock on 39.78 seconds.
The lady riders dominated the class as Finland's Anna-Julia Kontio ended second on Pacific Des Essarts (Diamant de Semilly x Totoche du Banney) with a time of 40.10 seconds against the clock, closely followed by home rider Christina Liebherr on L.B. Eagle Eye (Darco x Cento) in third just 0.01 seconds behind. Fourth place also went to Switzerland courtesy of Janika Sprunger on Aris CMS (Nassau x Amethist), while Italy's Alberto Zorzi was the only male rider in the top five finishing ffith on Fair Light van't Heike (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Darco).
Text © World of Showjumping // Archive picture © Jenny Abrahamsson