FRANCE’s Simon Delestre grabbed a five-star win by the narrowest of margins as three top riders came within two hundredths of a second of each other in an extraordinary demonstration of high calibre sport at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Antwerp.

It was a battle of mere nanoseconds as the World No 1 and former LGCT Antwerp Grand Prix winner took the honours in the 1.50/1.55m CSI***** BMW-sponsored class. The pace and performance was sensational under floodlights on the River Scheldt in Europe’s ‘Diamond City’.

With spectators holding their breath, Wexford’s Bertram Allen on the 18-year-old Romanov and France’s Penelope Leprevost with Vagabond De La Pomme, were joint second, crossing the line at the exact same time in 38.39s - something highly unusual in the sport. It was seen only once before last year in Paris, when Britain’s Ben Maher and Karim El Zoghby took a joint win in the final class of the day.

Ten riders went through to the jump-off, with some of the world’s top horse and rider combinations in the mix for this electric round of competition. Leprevost and Vagabond de la Pomme were the first to jump clear in the strong time of 38.39 seconds.

World number 1 Simon Delestre and his Grand Prix winning horse Qlassic Bois Margot crossed the line just two tenths faster than his fellow French rider, in an impressive 38.37s. Britain’s Jessica Mendoza and Canadian speed class winner Eric Lamaze both caught an unlucky pole as they pushed for the fastest time. Switzerland’s Janika Sprunger and Uptown Boy caught a time fault with their jump-off round, and Britain’s John Whitaker with the stunning grey Echo Of Light joined those on four faults launching a little too early into the combination. France’s Patrice Delaveau was the final rider and despite putting in a valiant effort also came away with four faults, leaving his compatriot Simon with the win.