Valkenswaard United stretch Global Champions League ranking lead after victory in Vienna

It was another great performance by the two riders as Whitaker brought out his Rio Olympic horse Ornellaia whilst Allen rode top stallion Romanov brought specifically for the competition.

With the two athletes separated by 40 years in age, the pairing delivered four clear rounds between them to earn Valkenswaard United their fourth win of the inaugural Global Champions League season.

The latest success means they have netted €422,576 in prize money so far, not including the €4.5 million euro bonus to be split between the teams after the final in Doha in November.

Valkenswaard United lead the overall ranking on 309.5 points but are only 8.5 points ahead of Antwerp Diamonds on 301 points, who are still their closest threat in the fiercely-contested team competition. The Diamonds lost some ground on the leaders by coming fourth in Vienna with the total of eight faults; four each from Harrie Smolders and new transfer Michael Whitaker.

There was better news for the Rome Gladiators as their combination of Laura Renwick on Bintang II and Jack Towell on Emilie de Diamant AS were the only other team to achieve four clear rounds, earning the team second place on the podium to leave them in fourth place on the overall rankings ahead of the final event.

Monaco Aces are still in third place 10 points behind the leaders, and they were looking strong to reduce that gap until four faults from Leopold van Asten on VDL Groep Miss Untouchable hit their score and pushed them into third place.

Global Champions League 2016
Overall team ranking standings – after round 13, Vienna, Austria

1. Valkenswaard United 309.5 points
2. Antwerp Diamonds 301
3. Monaco Aces 299.5
4. Rome Gladiators 281.5
5. Cannes Stars 247
6. Paris Jets 242.5
7. Shanghai Swans 241
8. Cascais Charms 231.5
9. Doha Fursan Qatar 231
10. Madrid in Motion 230
11. Miami Glory 229
12. Vienna Eagles 224.5