DESPITE being delayed by a day due to extreme weather condition, the Longines Global Champions Tour in Miami, one of the most spectacular stops on the tour, ended in a back-to-back Grand Prix success for Germany’s Katrin Eckermann.

Ireland got on the board on day one thanks to a big effort from Darragh Kenny in the 1.45m Table A aboard the 13-year-old mare Vancouver Dreams. The pair were the fastest of 21 clear rounds in the 53-starter class, crossing the finish line in 25.39 seconds.

He saw off a challenge from Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten who finished second, ahead of USA’s Natalie Dean in third.

Denis Lynch, fresh from a top-10 placing at the FEI World Cup Finals, slotted into sixth with Cornets Iberio and Mikey Pender was eighth with the Irish Sport Horse HHS Catwalk (Cit Cak x Clover Echo).

Grand Prix

In a page worthy of the history books, Katrin Eckermann and her 10-year-old Cala Mandia took the Grand Prix title for the second year in-a-row and again collected her ticket for the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix.

In Katrin Eckerman’s LGCT Grand Prix career, she has now had a 50% win rate after claiming her third victory. Speaking after the win, with tears in her eyes, she said: “What can I say, I did it again and I have no words. Being here on the beach, with top horse sport, I am thrilled. After a tricky start [to the week] for all with the weather, a big thank you to the whole Global Champions team, and to Jan Tops, all conditions were really perfect in the end.”

Ulliano Vezzani built a technical, careful course for the 40 riders as the sun bore down on the picturesque Miami Beach and neighbouring Atlantic Ocean. As the sport began to unfold, Saudi Arabia’s Kahled Almoboty stole the show in round one, taking to the arena in his first ever Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix and, with his relatively new mount in Equine America Spacecake, posted the very first clear round. In the end, six more joined him to make it a competitive jump-off.

Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Anzar and Bentley de Sury produced the first clear round of the jump-off in 41.22 and it looked like it would be tough to beat.

However, Katrin Eckermann and Cala Mandia, a small, powerful and careful 10-year-old mare who clearly thrives in the electric atmosphere of Miami Beach, went straight into the lead in 40.26 with just two remaining.

Next saw the only American hope of a podium finish in Margie Goldstein-Engle who, aboard her mount Dicas, pulled off an impressive clear round. Taking the outside turn meant she was just off the podium in fourth place (44.74).

Last to go saw Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z N.O.P. take to the sand. They gave it everything but not quite matching the pace left the pair having to settle for third. However, it was enough to take the Championship lead on 63 points.