From press release from LONGINES CSI BASEL
Steve Guerdat (SUI) won Friday night’s CSI5* Longines Grand Prix of Basel, worth 200,000 Swiss francs. Denis Lynch (IRL) finished as runner-up, and Niels Bruynseels (BEL) ended third.
Only eight pairs qualified for the jump-off over the delicate 1.60m course, including the two Swiss figureheads Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat – world no. one and two respectively. Niels Bruynseels opened the jump-off with Illusionata van't Meulenhof (Lord Z x Carthago). The Belgian rider delivered a fluid, fast round and stayed clear in 40.84 seconds. Steve Guerdat and Victorio des Frotards (Barbarian x Prince Ig'or) went in as the third pair for the jump-off, taking full risk and turning very tight. This paid off and they took the lead in 36.98 seconds.
Denis Lynch (IRL) and Pénélope Leprevost (FRA) both repeated their clears from the first round, but slotted in behind the Swiss rider with their times of 39.42 and 41.46 – in second and fourth respectively. Martin Fuchs remained as the final rider aboard Silver Shine (Califax x Balou du Rouet). The world no. one also attacked, took a risk at the third jump, but it was too much and the rail fell – putting him seventh
"The first round was great, I had a fantastic feeling, it all worked out,” Guerdat said. “The jump-off was then less harmonious, but that's the sport. I often had very nice jump-offs, but no luck at all. Today it wasn't very presentable, but it was enough for the victory.”