Kreuzer and Will ensure Cascais Charms dazzle in Global Champions League in Shanghai

Another exciting round of competition went down to the wire but 25-year-old Kreuzer with his compatriot, 27-year-old Will, who were representing the Cascais Charms for the first time delivered a flawless performance over the two round class to take a deserved win.

Shanghai was the fourth stop for what is turning out to be an exciting inaugural season alongside the Longines Global Champions Tour. The overall championship is still wide open and despite a strong lead by new ranking leaders Valkenswaard United, the competitions so far have shown how quickly the order can change, adding to the excitement and drama of the new series.

Eleven Global Champions League teams lined up for the Asian leg, with Antwerp Diamonds looking to defend their ranking lead of two points over Valkenswaard United and Monaco Aces.

The first round course put forward enough challenges to test many of the best in the sport, with a few caught out by the tricky combination element. As always, the combined faults of the team riders would determine their place after the first round with the top eight going through to round two.

Doha Fursan Qatar put in a strong opening performance, with Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani on Anyway II and Faleh Suwead Al Ajami with Come Soon both clear after round one. Joining them were Monaco Aces’ duo of Maikel van der Vleuten with VDL Groep Quatro and Leopold van Asten with VDL Groep C Tara Z, who looked on fine form as the competition unfolded. Kreuzer put in a faultless performance with Zerafina and team mate Will did not disappoint with his horse Monodie H meaning they too would progress through with a score of zero.

Eight teams went through to round two, with Antwerp Diamonds, Vienna Eagles and Miami Glory relegated from the next stage of the competition. Cannes Stars’ Roosje Brouwer riding van Helsing had jumped clear in round one, however they picked up an unlucky four faults to add to the one time fault from team mate Marco Kutscher’s earlier round.

The Paris Jets carried through four faults, but quick clear rounds from both world number 6, Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet with Eldorado van het Vijverhof and compatriot Olivier Philippaerts with H&M Henna de Goedereede meant they finished on a combined time of 142.66 seconds. The Monaco Aces matched their fault score, but were slower on combined time, finishing in 145.11 seconds and fourth overall.

The home team Shanghai Swans, who fielded two Under 25 riders in the shape of Jessica Springsteen and Alexandra Thornton, each rode a great second round. Both rode clear rounds and with just one time fault for Thornton added to the nine faults they carried through, it raised them back up to seventh position overall.

Will was the final rider of the day with Monodie H, and with the team completely clear so far, he went for a slow and careful round, knowing that one fence would drop them far down in the order and off the podium positions. As the crowd – and team mate Andreas – watched on the pair rode a clear round and picking up just two time faults to put them on the top of the scoreboard ahead of Valkenswaard United in second and Paris Jets in third.

The outcome from Shaghai now sees Valkenswaard United regain the ranking lead with 100 points in total, just four points ahead of Monaco Aces who currently stand on 96.

The Global Champions League now heads back to Europe and to Hamburg in Germany where the next highly anticipated leg will take place on 7 May.

Longines Global Champions League 2016
Overall standings after leg 4 – Shanghai, China

1. Valkenswaard United 100 points
2. Monaco Aces 96
3. Antwerp Diamonds 89
4. Cascais Charms 81
5. Shanghai Swans 78
6. Doha Fusrsan Qatar 75
7. Rome Gladiators 75
8. Cannes Stars 74
9. Miami Glory 74
10. Paris Jets 70.5
11. Vienna Eagles 63.5
12. Madrid in Motion 59