Tag Archives: Global Champions Tour

Miami’s South Beach Welcomes Longines Global Champions Tour

Sun, sea, sand and spectacular show jumping

The very first round of the 2015 Longines Global Champions Tour show jumping championship will be staged from 2-4 April on the golden sands of Miami Beach, Florida, just inches from the rolling ocean directly opposite Collins Park. Over three days of competition, the greatest riders in the world will come together to battle for $879,000 in prizes across five 5* classes, including the world-renowned Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix and the prestigious American Invitational.

No ticket required!

Access to this landmark event will be free to the public, allowing spectators to watch world-class sport up close and personal from the 1,400 seated grandstand or along the edge of the arena – seats are non-reservable and available on a first come, first served basis. There will also be fabulous shopping opportunities in the Prestige Village, featuring top brands and the latest fashions. The event follows Miami Beach’s spectacular Centennial celebrations and coincides with the famous Miami Open tennis tournament. A feast of top-class sport and entertainment!

For more information, and to see a provisional schedule for the event, please visit globalchampionstour.com.

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Laura Kraut and Andretti S Go Double-Clear, Finish Fourth at GCT London

Laura Kraut and Andretti S. Photo by Sport Fot.

London, UK – August 18, 2014 – Andretti S, the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by the Stars and Stripes Syndicate, of which Cherry Knoll Farm is a shareholder, is making a name for himself on his European tour.

Olympian Laura Kraut of Wellington, FL topped a field of 55 competitors during the London 2014 – CSI5* – 1.50/1.55m, riding Andretti S to fourth place. She was one of three United States riders to finish among the top six.

The city of London hosted the eleventh leg of the 2014 Longines FEI Global Champions Tour, August 14-16, 2014. Kraut was the twelfth of 59 contenders to take on the challenging track. She left no stone unturned as she navigated Andretti S through the course to a clear first round. Only 15 riders were able to master the opening course and continue on to the short track.

Kraut was one of the first riders to jump against the clock with Andretti S. She was able to secure a double-clear round in 34.26 seconds, a time that would prove hard to beat as her fellow competitors attempted to catch her pace.

Fellow U.S. rider McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y. finally bested Kraut with a time of 33.22 seconds aboard Rothchild to eventually claim second place. Pénélope Leprevost, of Rouen, France, and Vagabond de la Pomme narrowly surpassed Kraut for third place by two-tenths of a second. Harrie Smolders, of Lage-Mierde, The Netherlands, and Regina Z took first place.

Andretti S has proven himself a top competitor on the international stage, showcasing his speed among the best horse/rider combinations the world has to offer.

Cherry Knoll Farm’s Margaret Duprey was among the crowd to watch Andretti’s astounding performance in London. Although Kraut was planning to jump Andretti in Saturday’s CSI5* 1.45/1.50m class, the mutual decision was made to reward his valiant clear rounds from Friday’s fourth-place finish.

“I was thrilled with how well Andretti did during Friday’s class,” Kraut explained. “He has come such a long way this summer, and very quickly. He definitely has the ability to build and become a winning international grand prix mount.”

“Andretti is a very quirky horse in many ways; he’s almost like a thoroughbred,” Kraut said. “He is very brave, and has a good mouth. He is very big, a lot bigger than I am used to riding at 17 hands, but he is very manageable. I am very fortunate to have the ride.”

Kraut will continue her summer tour in Europe with her top mounts, including Cherry Knoll Farm’s Andretti S and Constable. Kraut will next compete at the Jumping International de Verbier in Switzerland.

For more information on Cherry Knoll Farm, please visit http://www.cherryknollfarminc.com/.

Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
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World Class Equestrian Event Coming to London

Photo: Ben Maher.

Horse Guards Parade Ground will be the extraordinary and iconic backdrop to what is set to be an awesome and crucial round of the 2014 Championship race and a flagship event for the Tour as it returns to the UK for the second time.

The historic site, which attracts millions of visitors and tourists every year to watch the Changing of the Queen’s Guard, will see top-level international equestrian sport for the first time ever.

Nine out of the Top 10 riders in the world, including Team GB’s Olympic show jumping gold medallists, will be competing.

The Longines Global Champions Tour is a short walk from Westminster tube and will start from around 11.00am to 19.00pm. For more details about the Longines Global Champions Tour, please visit http://www.globalchampionstour.com/.

WHEN:
Thursday 14th August (08.00am – 19.00pm)
Friday 15th August (09.30am – 18.00pm)
Saturday 16th August (08.00am – 19.00pm)

WHERE:
Horse Guards Parade Ground
The Household Division, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX

Nick Skelton
Nick Skelton

WHAT:
27 of the top 30 show jumping riders in the world will come together to battle for the Longines Global Champions Tour of London Grand Prix presented by Qatar, in a rare coming together of the very best riders in the sport of show jumping at the Horse Guards Parade Ground.

Two years after Team GB’s gold medal triumph at the London Olympics, world No. 1 Scott Brash, World No. 2 Ben Maher, and legendary British riders Nick Skelton and Michael Whitaker will be in action.

The glamorous event will see thousands of fans and hundreds of VIPs, including Royals and celebrities, watching the sport only a stone’s throw from the back garden of No. 10 Downing Street and a few hundred metres from Buckingham Palace.

Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Winner Victoria Colvin Captures Chantilly

Victoria Colvin guides Cesanna to victory in the CSI2* Global Champions Tour 1.35m speed competition in Chantilly, France. Photo by Sportfot.

Chantilly, France – Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL proudly represented the United States in the Global Champions Tour event in Chantilly, France, claiming two victories. The opportunity to compete in Chantilly, France, from July 24 to 27 was one of the prizes on offer to the winner of this year’s Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series (AFYRGPS), presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, held during the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

Comprised of four competitions held throughout the 12-week FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, Colvin emerged victorious in the AFYRGPS over the more than 50 participants competing for increased prize money under FEI sanctioning. The AFYRGPS is open to riders of any nationality between the ages of 16 and 25, making 16-year-old Colvin one of the youngest competitors.

As part of her prize, Colvin was awarded entry to the CSI2* division of the Global Champions Tour at Chantilly and two tickets to the Chantilly VIP lounge, courtesy of event director Gérard Manzinali. Transportation for her winning mount, Don Juan, was generously provided by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte. In addition, Artisan Farms’ lead rider, 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, lent Colvin a second horse, Cesanna, to compete.

Colvin proved on international soil why she was a deserving recipient of the prize, winning back-to-back 1.35m classes on Friday and Saturday in the CSI2* division with Cesanna, an 11-year-old grey Oldenburg mare (Cento x Centauer Z). Riding Don Juan, Colvin took a strong third place finish among a 96-horse starting field in Friday’s 1.40m competition.

“It was amazing; I never would have thought I would be able to go and show in Chantilly!” exclaimed Colvin.

Of her catch ride, Colvin noted, “They were very nice to let me use Cesanna. I went on Tuesday to ride her, and then I went to the show and showed her. She was really fun, straight-forward and easy. She is definitely a good speed horse, considering that both of the classes I won were speed classes. I just turned and went and she left!”

For an American rider who has never before competed in Europe, there were some adjustments to be made.

“I had to get used to it, first of all because I did not speak French,” related Colvin. “They don’t post the orders of go until the morning, and they don’t tell you the jump-off course until the end of the first round. And everyone was so calm! It is completely different than showing in the U.S. Next year, it will be easier if I get to go again.”

Competing in the AFYRGPS, which featured four events held in three different venues, helped prepare Colvin for the new experience.

“The Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series got you acclimated to come to a new venue,” said Colvin who was accompanied by her parents, her trainer, Ken Berkley, and Don Juan’s owner, Karen Long Dwight. “There were a few Americans here, like Kalvin Dobbs and Adrienne Sternlicht, but also a lot of French people that I have never shown against. The show itself was amazing, and it was on grass. I really gained from the experience, because everything is so different. It was so much fun!”

Carlene and Andy Ziegler of Artisan Farms created and developed the AFYRGPS to provide a bridge between the junior and amateur divisions to the grand prix level, allowing up and coming riders to gain experience at the upper levels of show jumping sport while still competing against their peers.

“Tori’s success in Chantilly was so gratifying to us,” said Carlene Ziegler, who was in Chantilly to witness Colvin’s two victories. “It is a validation of what our Young Riders Series is all about. She works so hard, and to see Tori make so much of the opportunity that was presented to her was fantastic. We are sure this won’t be her last international competition!”

In four short years, the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series has produced an elite list of champions including Reed Kessler of the United States (2011), Nayel Nassar of Egypt (2012), Chloe D. Reid of the United States (2013), and Colvin. All four riders are currently enjoying incredible success as their international careers advance.

The fifth annual Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series will be held during the 2015 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival from January 7 through March 29 in Wellington, FL.

Leading by example, Artisan Farms is committed to the continued improvement and promotion of competitive show jumping. Based in Wellington, FL, and Vrasene, Belgium, Artisan Farms is home to rising amateur Andy Ziegler, young professional Caitlin Ziegler, 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, and Olympian Tiffany Foster.

Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
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Laura Kraut Finishes Third in Longines Global Champions Tour Series with Cedric

Laura Kraut and Cedric at Doha 2013 CSI5*. Photos By: Stefano Grasso/Longines Global Champions Tour.

Doha, Qatar – November 26, 2013 – It has been a whirlwind of excitement for Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm’s Cedric during the 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour (GCT). After leading the GCT Series from the start, they played their last pawn at the state-of-the-art Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre in Doha, Qatar during the final event of the GCT. The anticipation continued as they entered into a heated battle of the best, finishing third in the series with 187 points.

The 15-year-old grey gelding recently returned from an injury in September, rising to the challenge of the Doha 2013 CSI5*. The class consisted of two rounds, with the top 18 from the first round progressing into the second round.

The pair was nothing short of incredible as they adeptly navigated the first round course. They made a brilliant turn to the daunting wall, clearing it with ease, and as Kraut and Cedric approached the last line the audience sat in a frenzy of anticipation. A clean round was in their grasp, but the second to last fence fell as they accrued four faults for their effort.

“I would have been willing to bet you that he wouldn’t have had a rail down coming down the last line, but he just got a little quick off the ground. It’s plain and simple; he just jumped too low,” Kraut said. “It was just an unfortunate time because for the rest of the course he jumped amazing.”

Kraut continued, “He was phenomenal out there, especially after his injury, but that’s sort of Cedric. He has made a career out of having some funny incidents happen and coming back and putting it behind him. I had a lot of faith in the fact that he wasn’t really going to remember his experience in Lausanne. Thankfully, I was right. Every horse makes a jumping error now and then. I am thrilled with how he went, and now we are going to go to Paris and try to win that.”

Although Kraut and Cedric did not progress into the second round of the competition, their partnership throughout the GCT proved successful enough to score Kraut a 187-point total and eventually the third place finish. Christian Ahlmann (GER) found his way into the second round with a clean first effort, and although he finished fourth in the final event, he sealed his spot as second in the series. It was Scott Brash (GBR) aboard Hello Sanctos who jumped in the standings from eighth to first place to clinch the Longines Global Champions Tour Series Title.

Laura Kraut sealed the third place rank in the Longines Global Champions Tour Series aboard Cedric during the Doha 2013 CSI5*
Laura Kraut sealed the third place rank in the Longines Global Champions Tour Series aboard Cedric during the Doha 2013 CSI5*

“I am pleased with that [third place]. When I went there, I told them that if I stayed in the top five I would be happy,” Kraut explained. “I was pleased with third. It was a very nice bonus, and if it weren’t for Margaret [Duprey] and Cedric, as well as the Le Bon’s allowing me to ride Jubilee d’Ouilly, I would not have had such a wonderful series and finished where I did.”

Owner Duprey was onsite at Al Shaqab, watching the competition unfold before her eyes. It was a very exciting event for Team Cherry Knoll Farm, and Duprey could not have been more proud of the partnership Kraut and Cedric have.

“It was an exciting time on Saturday,” Duprey expressed. “I am so proud of Laura and Cedric on a great series this year. After Cedric’s accident in Lausanne, his comeback to jump like a stag at Doha was fantastic. What a pro he is!”

Kraut concluded, “It was a beautiful facility; I was pleasantly surprised with the whole sort of week. The people were so friendly; the facility was incredible; so were the people and the horses. It was an incredible event; I would be very pleased to go back.”

For more information on Laura Kraut and Cedric’s performance throughout the Longines Global Champions Tour, please visit http://www.globalchampionstour.com/.

Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
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Two Victories in Valkenswaard for Eric Lamaze

Eric Lamaze, pictured here with Cristalina, scored two victories in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, on August 16. Photo – Global Champions Tour.

August 16, 2013 – Valkenswaard, The Netherlands – 2008 Canadian Olympic champion Eric Lamaze made two trips to the winner’s circle on opening day of competition at CSI Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, running August 16 to 18.

A marquee event on the Longines Global Champions Tour (GCT), the three-day show jumping event is staged at the home stable of GCT founder, Jan Tops, and attracts the best horse-rider combinations in the sport.

On opening day, August 16, Lamaze scored back-to-back victories for Canada, winning the 1.35m Young Horse competition with Check Piccobello Z before taking the 1.40m competition with Cristalina.

In the Young Horse class which attracted 50 entries, Lamaze stopped the clock in 60.54 seconds to hold off Holland’s Maikel van der Vleuten who crossed the timers in 62.08 riding VDL Groep Ouatro and current world number one Christian Ahlmann of Germany who clocked in at 62.34 with Barco 6.

“I think the experience he gained at Spruce Meadows this summer got him ready to be competitive on the opening day of this big show in the main grass arena,” said Lamaze of Check Picobello Z, a seven-year-old grey Zangersheide gelding (Cardento x Orlando) owned by Carlene and Andy Ziegler’s Artisan Farms and Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable.  “I liked him from the very beginning.  I took my time with him in Florida this winter making him up, and now it’s paying off, as today proves.  It’s a horse for the future.”

In the 1.40m competition, Lamaze faced stiff competition from 78 challengers.  Undaunted, Lamaze put the pressure on by posting what would prove to be an unbeatable time of 61.70 seconds to celebrate his second victory of the day with Cristalina.

“It’s a horse that I love,” said Lamaze of Cristalina, an 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Carolus x Contender) that he owns in partnership with Gilbert de Roock of Belgium.  “It’s a horse that we bought to resell.  She is very much my type.”

Lamaze will contest Saturday afternoon’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix with his top horse, Powerplay.  While the partnership is new, having only been formed in June when Artisan Farms purchased the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Limbus) from Swiss rider Pius Schwizer, Lamaze and Powerplay gained experience together at the Spruce Meadows summer tournaments in Calgary, AB.  In preparation for Saturday’s main event, Lamaze opted for a confidence-building round in Friday’s CSI5* 1.45m event, jumping clear over the course set by Italy’s Uliano Vezzani with two time faults.

Following Valkenswaard, Lamaze will return to Canada for the Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament held September 4 to 8.  Lamaze will ride as a member of the Canadian Team in the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday, September 7, alongside Tiffany Foster who is also competing at CSI Valkenswaard and placed 12th in Friday’s CSI5* 1.50m competition with Verdi III.  Lamaze is the all-time leading money winner at Spruce Meadows with earnings in excess of $3.7 million at the Calgary venue alone.

Hailing from Schomberg, ON, Lamaze now divides his time between training bases in Wellington, FL, and Vrasene, Belgium.

Contact:  Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca

Laura Kraut and Constable Make International Debut at the Longines Global Champion Tour Jumping Chantilly

Laura Kraut and Constable won the Prix Equidia Life International Jumping Competition at the 2013 Jumping Chantilly. Photo Courtesy of Sport Fot.

Chantilly, France – July 27, 2013 – The Longines Global Champion Tour Jumping Chantilly saw a new star emerge last week: Cherry Knoll Farm’s Constable. The competition was fierce at the international horse show Jumping Chantilly France 2013. From July 18-21 the sport’s most renowned riders picked up the reins to compete for the top prizes. Kraut guided Constable to several top rankings in the 6-Year-Old Jumpers, riding to the win in the Prix Equidia Life International Jumping Competition.

The chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding rose to the top of the rankings from the start of the competition. Kraut expertly guided him to the seventh place position in the two-phase Prix Equidia Life International Jumping Competition on Friday, August 19. The gelding took the 1.30m course with ease, snatching the seventh place position with a final time of 38.50 seconds. It became apparent that the duo was only beginning to warm up for the Prix Equidia Life International 6-Year-Old Jumping Competition on Sunday.

“I think he is probably one of the most talented young horses I have ever had, and it probably won’t be until he is 8 or 9 that we try to go out and win a lot, but it was nice in this instance,” Kraut explained. “There were only a few clear and the clear ones in the jump-off each had a rail, so I was able to go around slow and win the final. I didn’t have to push him for time, and he jumped four rounds this week without a rub. I am very proud of him; he is very special.”

Kraut continued, “He is super sensitive, like all of the ones I have. I don’t use spurs or a stick; he is a very quiet ride and is very brave. He is brave about the jumps and he is very adjustable, but very sensitive. He doesn’t try to pull you around or do anything bad. He has the best intentions, he doesn’t try to pull you around, and I am just lucky to have him.”

Luc Musette and Erica Sportello designed Sunday’s course, using 15 efforts to challenge horse and rider alike. The course included an oxer-vertical double combination, vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, hard rollbacks, bending lines and an oxer-liverpool. It was the jump-off round that would prove to stand the test for the horse and rider combinations. The course began over a vertical set down the diagonal, and then headed to an oxer on the far side of the arena, where they then made a left turn over a second oxer where they then headed through a vertical-oxer double combination. A right turn over a vertical then led riders to the opening oxer of the outside double combination, where riders raced toward the finish line to seal their fate in the rankings.

Kraut navigated Constable to the first place finish in the class, surpassing 14 contenders for the win. She beat out Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden aboard Cassini’s Angel, as well as Abdelkebir Ouaddar and Bacarat de Sainte Hermelle who claimed the third place. Kraut took the win in 51.85 seconds leaving all rails in place, to claim Constable’s first victory internationally.

“It was very testy. I think the ring in Chantilly for the young horses is a difficult ring because it is on a hill with a little bit of a bowl, and is on grass,” Kraut explained. “The course was definitely sizeable, and they used a triple combination and a double on the end, which was a good test. I think it is good for July, for 6-Year-Olds, it is big enough, and it was difficult, but he handled it no problem. He is an experienced in his mind 6-year-old, so I don’t think he needs as much mileage as some of the other horses. I might show him locally in England, but he will have some time to relax before the Winter Equestrian Festival.”

Kraut will continue to show Constable for Cherry Knoll Farm, as she continues to compete among the top-ranked international riders in the Longines Global Champions Tour. For more information on the Longines Global Champions Tour where Kraut currently ranks first, please visit http://www.globalchampionstour.com/events/.

Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
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Eirin Bruheim Captures Amateur Jumper Championship for Norway at GCT Wiesbaden

Eirin Bruheim and NLF Newsflash at GCT Wiesbaden. Photo By: SportFot.

Wiesbaden, Germany – May 22, 2013 – The Global Champions Tour event in Wiesbaden proved to be the best show yet for Norway’s Eirin Bruheim and her new mount, NLF Billy On Show. The pair dominated the competitive Amateur Jumper division, winning all three classes and claiming the championship award for Bruheim’s Nordic Lights Farm.

Bruheim and NLF Billy On Show began their streak with the Amateur Jumper Speed class, where they clocked in a full second ahead with all the fences intact to claim the winning prize. The next day they competed in the Accumulator Amateur Jumper class. Once again they were on point, this time finishing over three seconds faster than the rest of the field with a clear effort. The duo once again led the lap of honor, but their week was not complete yet.

On Sunday, 24 competitors gathered at the arena for the final event in the Amateur Jumpers. Nine horse and rider combinations managed to best the first round track and advance to the tiebreaker. Four produced double clear efforts, but it was Bruheim and NLF Billy On Show who stole the show. They galloped through the timers two seconds ahead of the leader, capturing their third win at the Amateur Jumper Championship.

“Wiesbaden was an amazing show,” expressed Bruheim. “NLF Billy On Show jumped amazing in all three classes, and I really feel like we are starting to build a wonderful relationship. I have learned a great deal since coming to Europe and it has been a fantastic opportunity. It was for sure a weekend that will be hard to beat. I am so proud of my horses, and it was an honor to earn these wins while representing Norway.”

The weekend was also successful for Bruheim’s second mount, NLF Newsflash. The duo placed sixth with a clear round in the speed class and then had just a single rail during Sunday’s jump-off event for another sixth place finish.

Nordic Lights Farm will continue showing throughout Europe during the spring and summer.

Nordic Lights Farm is a 70-acre establishment located in Tomball, TX, that was founded in 2007 by the Bruheim family to help further the equestrian goals of 20-year-old Eirin Bruheim and 18-year-old Lene Bruheim. Both girls have worked their way up through the ranks and are currently competing at the top levels in the hunter and jumper divisions aboard their incredible string of horses.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Laura Kraut and Cedric Lead the Longines Global Champions Tour Rankings after Wiesbaden

Laura Kraut and Cedric rose to the top of the Longines Global Champions Tour rankings yesterday during the Grand Prix of Wiesbaden with a jump-off time of 45.12 seconds. Photo courtesy of the Longines Global Champions Tour.

Wiesbaden, Germany – May 19, 2013 – Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm’s Cedric rose to the top of the Longines Global Champions Tour rankings yesterday during the Grand Prix of Wiesbaden. Kraut’s winning jump-off beat out two-time Champion Edwina Tops-Alexander and her all-star horse Cevo Itot du Chateau by a mere two tenths of a second.  Kraut now sits in the top spot on 77 points, leading the Global Champions Tour standings, and she has her eye set on the fourth leg of the GCT at the Olympic Park in London.

Yesterday saw a first-class lineup of horse and rider combinations in the jump-off, all fighting for the €285,000 in Grand Prix money, but it was Kraut and Cedric who took home the lion’s share.

“It is Cedric’s fourth win on the Global Tour and I am very proud of him,” Kraut stated. “We have a long way to go, but I am just pleased to start off as strong as I have. I am excited about all the upcoming events, London in particular.”

The start list for the third Longines Global Champions Tour boasted 50 of the fastest horse and rider combinations across the globe. The best 18 riders made it through to the second round, and it became clear that the jump-off would see a true battle of the best between top riders Edwina Tops-Alexander, Hans-Dieter Dreher and Laura Kraut. It came down to six in the jump-off, but Kraut and Cedric would prove consistent with their accuracy and speed.

The tension mounted in the stands as the best in the world went neck-to-neck for the coveted championship. Four-time Olympic medalist Ludger Beerbaum took his turn at the short track, clearing all of the obstacles and becoming the pathfinder for the jump-off round. Gregory Wathelet attempted to shave the seconds off of his track, but a slice to the vertical cost him a clean round with a final total of four faults earned.

Tops-Alexander and Itot took over the lead with a fantastic time of 45.35 seconds. Although Dreher gave it his all, he would fall short with a clean round in 46.76 seconds. The tension was palpable as Kraut and Cedric entered the ring. Their performance in the jump-off was the epitome of top riding, demonstrating their long-time partnership as a true bond and understanding throughout their round. They completed the course in 45.12 seconds, never touching a single rail. They captured the victory, and outshined the competition to take the win and stand at the pinnacle of the podium.

“I think it was a good second round course; I had a lot of confidence. I didn’t feel I was that efficient in the jump-off, but I think the mad gallop to the last fence,” Kraut said. “I was a bit lucky; it made the difference. I am very pleased. It is Cedric’s fourth win on the Global Tour and I am very proud of him.”

It was a very exciting event for Team Cherry Knoll Farm as they watched the exhilarating victory unfold. Kraut will continue to compete in the Global Champions Tour, especially excited to show in the approaching leg in London. Kraut plans on staying at the top of her game with Cedric during the approaching legs of the tour. There is no doubt that the talented horse and rider team will stay in peak condition, and be one to watch as she gives her competitors a run for their money.

To stay informed about the dynamic duo’s results, please visit http://www.globalchampionstour.com/events/.

Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Laura Kraut and Cedric Cash In at the GCT Grand Prix of Switzerland

Laura Kraut riding to victory in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Switzerland. Photo By: SportFot/GCT

Lausanne, Switzerland – September 21, 2012 – It was a thrilling night for the United States as Laura Kraut and Cedric rose to the top of the leader board during the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Switzerland. Kraut left nothing to chance on Saturday night, surpassing the two forerunners of the GCT championship race, Edwina Tops-Alexander and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson. The event proved to be one of the most thrilling Grand Prix of the season.

The class was consisted of two rounds, with the second round timed, and then a demanding jump off. Only six of the 44 entrants were able to make it into the short track where they were faced with a large course designed by Rolf Ludi/Gerard Lachat SUI. The course was comprised of eight obstacles from the original two rounds of competition. It began over a large oxer, and as the timer began to tick, the horse and rider combinations had to move over a vertical and then toward the liverpool set on the inside of the arena. With a hard right rollback, they then moved forward over s single vertical and then made a left rollback to the oxer-vertical shortened combination. Having to utilize the space of the ring, riders then moved their agile mounts forward over the final two oxer obstacles to break the beam in the time allowed of 56 seconds.

Continue reading Laura Kraut and Cedric Cash In at the GCT Grand Prix of Switzerland