Fuchs, Valkenswaard United Win Mexico City Launch of 2017 Longines Global Champions Tour and League

Against 24 of the sport’s biggest names in the Mexican capital, it was young Swiss rider Martin Fuchs and his stallion Chaplin who captured Saturday’s outdoor CSI5* Grand Prix in front of thousands of spectators under blue skies at the Campo Marte equestrian venue in Chapultepec Park. The site has previously hosted Olympic Games dressage and individual jumping events.

Heading into the Grand Prix, Great Britain’s Scott Brash had had a faultless round with Hello M’Lady in the team Global Champions League competition, which put him into a leading position for the individual Tour Final. But with a change of horses to Ursula XII, the pair were knocked out of contention after rolling poles. Nevertheless, Brash’s win in the 2nd GCL competition at 1.55/1.60 metres earned him €89,100.

Fuchs said his Grand Prix win, which puts him on top of the LGCT rankings after the first leg with 40 points, was “amazing”: “My horse Chaplin gave his heart for me and I’m very happy.” The resident of Zurich, who is coached by his Olympian father Thomas, also earned €105,600 after his 6-rider jump-off victory in 37.07 seconds.

A half-second behind Fuchs in Campo Marte’s 125m x 75m arena was Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels with Gancia de Muze, who picked up 37 points in his own quest for the series Champion of Champions title — as well as €89,150 for his second place finish. “Niels is one of the fastest in the world with Gancia but my horse is also super fast and I took all the risks,” Fuchs told the media on hand. Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands, with VDL Groep Arera C, took third, ahead of Italian Lorenzo de Luca and Armitages Boy.

For the first time this year, the individual LGCT tour and LGCL 5-rider team events are fully integrated, with Valkenswaard United (represented in Mexico City by Alberto Zorzi (Cornetto K) and Bertram Allen (Hector van d’Abdijhoeve) picking up 30 points for their win, ahead of the St. Tropez Pirates (Simon Delestre/Hermes Ryan, Jerome Guery/Grand Cru van de Rozenberg). Third place went to Chantilly Pegasus, whose two riders for the first leg were Nicola Philippaerts and LGCT Grand Prix winner Martin Fuchs. 

Next week, the LGCT and LGCL heads to the second event of the series, a 33-hour, 3,500 km drive or 3-hour flight across the Gulf of Mexico to Miami Beach, Florida, from April 13-15.