Lausanne, Schweiz CSI*****

Rolf-Göran och Casall tillbaka

Rolf-Göran Bengtsson och Casall La Silla är tillbaka i storform på tävlingsbanorna efter att ha behövt avstå OS-finalen för några veckor sedan. I Global Champions Tour blev det en andraplats och närmare en halv miljon i prispengar för ekipagetl

Nail biting Grand Prix finish electrifies the race to the championship
The GCT championship race intensified dramatically tonight with only five points between Edwina Tops-Alexander and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson after one of the most electrifying Grand Prix of the season.

Resultat

American rider Laura Kraut won the first-ever Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Switzerland on her 14-year-old grey Cedric - even beating her partner and Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton in the jump off. Laura admitted she was “over the moon” and the jump off had a nailbiting twist with Australian rider Edwina facing a tough challenge for the No1 ranking spot from Swedish rider Rolf.

The smooth Swede cranked up the pressure dramatically by jumping clear in 45.37 on his champion horse Casall La Silla. Edwina came into the ring on Cevo Itot du Château but notched up 4 faults putting her in third place. Laura was next in and set off at a dazzling pace on Cedric, putting in a brilliant turn to the double and chasing down Rolf’s time to finish in 42.53.

Here is what the winners had to say:
Laura Kraut: I am over the moon. I’m very happy, very excited. I was not expecting this tonight. Cedric just felt really on form tonight, like he was 8 years old again. Both rounds were really big so I was nervous. These events are the best, the best horses and riders in the world. But I was feeling good tonight and my horse is fast. I took a shot and got lucky.

Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: I feel very good now. Both my horses have been jumping very good in the series. I was not fast enough tonight. Laura was quicker and that’s life.
I am in second place now (in the GCT championship) and everything is close and very open. Edwina is super, super strong so I can give it a try.

Edwina Tops-Alexander: It is really close (the GCT Championship). I knew tonight I had to have a very good performance. There is still a long way to go, two more competitions left. The season is more exciting than last year and I’m really happy I’ve been in the lead since the beginning. My horse is in great shape. Laura rode an amazing round.This is the first GCT in Switzerland and it has been fantastic. Incredible facilities and I would like to thank Jaeger-LeCoultre for sponsoring here tonight.