Delight for Fuchs in Mexico

YOUNG Swiss star Martin Fuchs (25) kicked off the 2017 Longines Global Champions Tour season with a spectacular victory in Mexico City with his formidable stallion Chaplin. The win marked Fuchs’ first GCT Grand Prix success and his first outdoor five-star Grand Prix win.

The curtain went up on the hotly-anticipated championship series and the action was electrifying with fans on the edge of their seats as world class sport played out. Last to go against the clock, Fuchs and Chaplin (Verdi x Concorde), had to beat the quick time of 37.58 set by Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels and Gancia de Muze.

Fuchs had a daring shot back to third last vertical, where he most likely made up the time, to cross the line in 37.07 seconds for a stunning victory, which saw him collect a prize fund of €105,600. A delighted Martin hailed his Grand Prix victory as “amazing”, saying: “My horse Chaplin gave his heart for me and I’m very happy.”

It was a successful weekend for the young star, who now holds an advantage at the top of the 2017 ranking, with the rider collecting over €175,000 through the Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League competitions.

Bertram Allen produced the first clear of the competition aboard Hector van d’Abdijhoeve and was unlucky to fault just once in six-horse jump-off when first to go, which saw him finish in eventual fifth place and get his first points on the board for the 2017 season.

Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten took third on the podium with VDL Groep Arera C (0/0 38.37), ahead of the only other double clear, Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and Armitages Boy (0/0 43.40).