Niels Bruynseels (BEL) won Friday's CSI5*-W Longines Grand Prix in Basel riding the 10-year-old Delux van T&L (Toulon x Landetto).
A total of 14 horse-and-rider combinations cleared the first round of the 1.55m class to continue into the jump-off where another eight clears were delivered. Bruynseels stopped the clock in 36.81 seconds, only 0.04 seconds ahead of runner-up Marc Houtzager (NED) with Sterrehof’s Calimero (Quidam de Revel x Achill).
"I've been riding Delux for seven months. He's very cautious and has all the scope. The atmosphere in the arena was fantastic," the winner said after the class.
Philippe Rozier (FRA) followed in third with Cristallo A Lm (Casall x Corofino I) after stopping the clock in 37.47 seconds. Italy’s Emanuele Gaudinao crossed the finish line in 37.72 seconds riding Chalou (Chacco Blue x Baloubet du Rouet) to end fourth, and Bertram Allen (IRL) with Molly Malone V (Kannan x Cavalier) followed in fifth.
Earlier in the day Kevin Staut (FRA) won the 1.45m Prize of Abt Automobile AG riding Ayade de Septon et HDC (Wandor van de Mispelaere x Belle d’Avril du Mazy). Bertram Allen (IRL) with Izzy by Picobello (Cicero Z x Capriano) was second, and Yuri Mansur (BRA) with Carlson (Calido I x Silvio I) third.
In the 1.45m Prize of Thermoplan AG, Bertram Allen (IRL) went off with the top honours riding GK Casper (Canto 16 x Quantum). Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) ended second with Quinn van de Heffinck (For Pleasure x Concetto), and third place went to Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) with Twenty Clary (Calvaro x Muguet Du Manoir).
Source: Press release from Longines CSI Basel
Photo © Katja Stuppia