Emer Bermingham

SWISS rider Martin Fuchs beat a star-studded field of riders, which included names such as Ludger Beerbaum, Steve Guerdat, Daniel Deusser and Scott Brash.

The City of Lights is obviously good for the 22-year-old rider, since he’d already been placed twice during the weekend and won the Prix du Salon du Cheval with Picsou du Chene on Saturday.

Considered one of the most challenging tracks on the show jumping circuit, it came as no surprise that there wasn’t an empty seat to be found in the grandstand as 44 combinations battled it out for the winners prize of €115,500.

Belgian course designer Luc Musette built a challenging course which consisted of 17 obstacles. A triple combination at 9abc caused its fair share of problems and as a result only 12 combinations proceeded to the jump-off.

Roger Yves Bost was proved unlucky as it was just a single time fault that kept him out of the jump-off.

As expected, the jump-off was a nail-biting affair. First to go against the clock, France’s Philippe Rozier produced the first double clear aboard Rahotep De Toscane in 37.20 seconds, which later proved good enough for eventual sixth.

Next in, Fuchs set off strongly and it was his turn to the fifth fence, the plank that gave him the upper hand. He went on to clear the last Gucci vertical with all fences intact and stopped the clock in 34.58 seconds to take the lead.

All eyes were on Ludger Beerbaum riding Zinedine and as expected he left nothing to spare in the jump-off.

Approaching the final vertical it looked like the German maestro would be faster than Fuchs but when the clock stopped he was 0.09 seconds (34.67) behind the leader and was forced to settle for the runner-up spot.

Constant van Paesschen riding Citizenguard Toscan De Sainte Hermelle also delivered a foot-perfect round, albeit in a slower time of 34.80 for third.

Gucci ambassador Edwina Tops-Alexander delivered a clear with Fair Light van’t Heike, a performance that saw her occupy eventual fifth place.

Last to go, it was all down to Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren’s Paille, but although the combination delivered the all important clear in 34.95, they weren’t fast enough and slotted into fourth.

Irish riders Cameron Hanley and Jessica Kurten were also on the start list but both failed to make it to the jump-off.

Hanley and Living The Dream finished the first round on five faults, while Jessica and Arezzo VDL recorded a total of eight faults.

Kürten got the show off to a promising start as she featured in the line-up on the first day in the 1.45m against the clock.

Riding VDL Zapatero she slotted into third place when clear in 56.15. Victory went to Jane Richard Philips (Upanisad Di San Patrignano), 53.42, ahead of Constant Van Paesschen (Citizenguard Taalex) 55.64.

Hanley recorded his best result of the show in the 1.50m jump-off class on Saturday. Riding Amira, he picked up four faults in 35.15 seconds, which was enough to slot into seventh place.

Riding to victory was Martin Fuchs riding Picsou Du Chene, clear in 31.87, while Christian Ahlmann (Aragon Z) slotted into second, 32.14. Third place was occupied by Maikel van der Vleuten (VDL Groep Eureka) 32.78.

The Mayo rider also featured in the line-up in the speed and handiness (1.45m) class on Saturday.

Riding Dundee V Dwerse Hagen, he finished in a time of 62.61, which meant that he slotted into 10th. The class was won by Doda de Miranda who finished in 59.13.