Pieter Devos, king of Miami Beach

After Doha and Mexico, the Longines Global Champions Tour went to Miami Beach. Thirty-two athletes took part of the Grand Prix in a picture-postcard setting. Among them, eight riders managed to qualified themselves for the jump-off. First to go in second round, last year winner Edwina Tops Alexander put a lot of pressure on her opponents. With her amazing California, the Australian made a strong start but the twelve years old mare tipped off the back rail of the Longines double with a hind toe, finishing on four faults and setting a fast opening time of 37.38. Unfortunately for the couple, their great jump-off was not enough to reach the top three as they just missed out on a medal.

Sixth to go on Uliano Vezzani’s testing and twisting jump-off course, Pieter Devos and Claire Z were as fast on the ground than in the air. They realized the exact same time as Edwina Tops-Alexander without any fence down. “This is a super show and I gave everything in the jump-off but I didn’t take all the risk as I knew Harrie was a really fast candidate after me and I was a bit worried about that.”, confess the Belgian. The tension reach its climax when Harrie Smolders entered the course. Third last week in Mexico City with the same horse, the Dutch finished clear but just 0.04 seconds adrift of Pieter Devos. Last double clear on the sand of Miami Beach, Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson finished third with a slower round on H&M Indiana.

Only rider to take the daring inside turn from the first to the second fence, German Daniel Deusser finished his jump-off in a lightning fast 36.90 seconds. Nevertheless, with Calisto Blue, his 12 years old gelding, the couple did not manage stay clear as two fences went down. Eight faults too for the only British representative in the jump-off. Scott Brash on the ten years old Hello Mr President who was bidding to claim his twelfth Longines Global Champions Tour win, had to settle for a seventh place.

With his victory, Pieter Devos is the new leader of the Longines Global Champions Tour followed by Daniel Deusser and Harrie Smolders. “Being series leader gives you a good feeling,” added Pieter. “I’m in the lead, which means I was consistent, but tomorrow I’ll have my feet on the ground again. It’s top sport so it’s not the same every week, but I am in a good flow at the moment.”

In addition to the Longines Global Champions Tour, a good number of equestrian athletes on hand were also competing in the team-based Global Champions League. The Miami Celtics won this leg followed by the Saint Tropez Pirates and the Berlin Eagles. For now, with two victories, the Shangai Swans lead the general ranking in front of the Saint Tropez Pirates and Miami Celtics.

Miami results : here

Longines Global Champions Tour ranking : here

Longines Global Champions League ranking : here