IN the perfect Rio prelude, victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard went to Brazil-bound Rolf-Göran Bengtsson of Sweden with the brilliant 17-year-old stallion Casall ASK. The overall LGCT rankings have taken a dramatic turn, with the Swedish rider now sitting in second place.

No fewer than 23 Olympic-bound riders were in action over the course last weekend at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard, and crowds flocked to the Tops International Arena to cheer on the riders before they flew directly to Brazil.

Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander keeps hold of her overall LGCT ranking lead with a tally of 265 points overall, but Rolf-Göran Bengtsson has shot up to second on 240 points overall. Just eight points away is world number one, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, on 232 points, with Wexford’s Bertram Allen in fourth.

Uliano Vezzani’s course was a true test for the world’s best, with 49 athletes taking part in the 1.60m Grand Prix and six returning for the jump-off. First to go in the final round, America’s Jessica Springsteen had the toughest job of all, but put in a stunning performance and jumped a brilliant clear to stop the clock in 43.79. She was then beaten by Alberto Zorzi, who pushed to the finish in 42.53, almost a second faster.

Third to go, Tops-Alexander, despite being quicker initially, had an unlucky pole down after a daring turn. America’s Laura Kraut and Cavalia galloped to the fences, with the relatively young nine-year-old grey mare jumping beautifully. They stopped the clock in an impressive 41.53, a full second faster than Alberto. It looked to be an unbeatable time, until the formidable pairing of Casall ASK and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson stopped the clocks in 41.36. Last in, America’s Lauren Hough gave it her all on Ohlala but clipped a pole to leave the victory to the Swede. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and All Star 5 jumped a four and a clear to place eighth, and Wexford’s Bertram Allen made it through to the second round with a four on Molly Malone, but with one down in that, he finished 14th.

joy FOR DEUSSER

Earlier at the five-star venue, Germany’s Daniel Deusser landed a feature win with his new nine-year-old chesnut mare Happiness van T Paradijs. In a 20-rider jump-off, the duo took the top honours over a 1.55m course ahead of an impressive field of 50 international riders, taking home the lion’s share of the €61,800 prize purse on offer in just their second show together.

Less than a second behind Deusser was Denis Lynch with All Star 5, finishing double clear in 36.23. Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren’s Happiness claimed third place just tenths of a second away in 36.80s, and Brazil’s Marlon Zanotelli with Extra van Essene rounded out the top four.

The Longines Global Champions Tour now moves to Rome, Italy, (September 8th-11th).