Saturday, 29 August 2015 CSI5* CSI2* CSIYH1* CSIAm-A

Philippaerts ahead of Fruehmann in Gaston Glock’s Championat!

The second qualification round for the GLOCK’s CSI5* Grand Prix, taking place on Sunday, was completed today in the form of the Gaston Glock’s Championat over 1.55 m with single jump-off, with a prize pot amounting to 75,000 euros. Forty-one participating duos were entered in the list of starters for this world ranking show jumping competition. Ten of them succeeded in qualifying for final placings by virtue of clear basic rounds encompassing 13 obstacles and 16 jumps.

Among them were the world-ranking-fourth rider Daniel Deusser (GER), winner of the Gaston Glock’s Grand Prix Magna Racino 2015 Gert Jan Bruggink (NED) and the twice winner of the GLOCK’s Grand Prix John ‘The Living Legend’ Whitaker (GBR), all true grand masters of the equestrian sport of show jumping. Yet ultimately in top position, as yesterday, was that ambitious and talented rider from Belgium. Twenty-two-year-old Olivier Philippaerts, with his nine-year-old H&M Legend of Love, entered the jump-off as second participant and laid the first benchmark in a penalty-free 44.72 seconds - and this held right to the end! Not one of the eight duos entering the course after him was able to beat this score; only David Will (GER) with Mic Mac du Tillard might have been faster. But a knockdown pushed him back to fourth place.

"My horses are jumping incredibly well here" said a beaming Gaston Glock’s Championat winner, now on the CSI5* winners’ list with two horses. "Tomorrow I’ll be riding H&M Armstrong van de Kapel, and he’s more experienced. Let’s see whether that’s enough for another victory." said the twice junior European champion and youngest winner of the CSIO5* Grand Prix in Spruce Meadows (CAN/2012) who, with the Belgian team, took part in the World Equestrian Games in Caen (FRA) last year.

There was a huge response from spectators for the Austrian Thomas Fruehmann. The 64-year-old solid success story and his 19-year-old The Sixth Sense, son of Zorro T, gave it everything today. Full throttle into the jump-off and, with 45.25 seconds, they secured a fantastic second place in Gaston Glock’s Championat. In the Gaston Glock’s Grand Prix Magna Racino 2015, Gert Jan Bruggink (NED) and his KWPN mare MCB Ulke were right at the top, whilst today, thanks to a magnificently ridden jump-off, it was third place (0/46.84).

04 - CSI5* Gaston Glock’s Championat
Int. jumping competition with jump-off 1.55 m
Competition counts for the LONGINES Ranking list

1. H&M Legend Of Love - Philippaerts, Olivier (BEL) 0/44.72 jump-off
2. The Sixth Sense - Fruehmann, Thomas (AUT/W) 0/45.25 jump-off
3. MCB Ulke - Bruggink, Gert Jan (NED) 0/46.84 jump-off
4. Mic Mac du Tillard - Will, David (GER) 4/44.07 jump-off
5. Concordija - Al Thani, Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid (QAT) 4/44.79 jump-off
6. Sans Soucis Z - Kenny, Darragh (IRL) 4/45.58 jump-off
7. Argento - Whitaker, John (GBR) 4/47.53 jump-off
8. Acovaro - Opatrny, Ales (CZE) 4/48.90 jump-off
9. Hidalgo VG - Deusser, Daniel (GER) 4/59.39 jump-off
10.Mevisto’s Poorboy - Englbrecht, Roland (AUT/OÖ) el. jump-off
11.Captain Chaos 8 - Modolo Zanotelli, Marlon (BRA) 1/81.19
12.AD Nouvelle Europe Z - de Miranda, Doda (BRA) 4/74.04
Link to results

Under Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) H&M Legend of Love enters the winners’ list in the Gaston Glock’s Championat. © Michael Rzepa

Together their age adds up to 81 years and yet they’re still up to it. Thomas Fruehmann and The Sixth Sense come second in the Gaston Glock’s Championat. © Michael Rzepa

Gert Jan Bruggink (NED) and his MCB Ulke came third in the Gaston Glock’s Championat. © Michael Rzepa

This smile says it all! Today Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) made it to number one in the Gaston Glock’s Championat, making this his second GLOCK’s winner’s trophy. © Nini Schaebel