SWITZERLAND’S Martin Fuchs and his brilliant gelding Clooney 51 showed exactly why they are the European champions when scorching to victory in the third leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Western European League (WEL) at Lyon in France on Sunday.

The 27-year-old rider, who is number two on the current Longines world rankings, was back on familiar territory having also won this leg 12 months ago with the same horse, and rocketed to the top of the WEL after winning in the 13-horse jump-off.