Weishaupt Wins GCT Estoril

By Paula Parisi July 15, 2012

The Global Champions tour youthquake continued, with Philipp Weishaupt clinching his first Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win in Estoril, Portugal July 14.

The 26-year-old German pulled off two brilliant clear rounds on Leoville 2, clocked an unbeatable jump-off time of 44.96 that his boss, Ludger Beerbaum, described as a triumph of “youth over age.” Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker was second on Viking in 45.65 and Beerbaum third on Chaman came in third in 47.46 in a vintage jump off on the eighth leg of the GCT 2012 series.

Weishaupt took a smart inside turn after the second fence, the Cascais wall, and was seriously lucky at the Massimo Dutti fence when a rail rattled but held, allowing him to go flat-out over the final part of the course.

The top-placed U.S. rider, 21-year-old Saer Coulter, came in 17^th in a field of 35, riding Springtime ―just two slots behind her California-born compatriot Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum on Cantano.

Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander remains overall GCT ranking leader and, despite four faults in the second round that ultimately landed her ninth on Vigo Van Orti. She has extended her lead further to 189 points – a whopping 68 ahead of her nearest rival, Ireland’s Denis Lynch.

The climax of the GCT Estoril took place under floodlights in an electric atmosphere in the chic Cascais resort on the Atlantic coast. The footing on the new grass surface was widely praised as the “best ever” by riders including Whitaker and Beerbaum.

It was a breakthrough Grand Prix for leading Saudi rider Kamal Bahamdan, who will be going to the Olympic Games in London in only a few weeks.  Kamal, riding Noblesse des Tess, the bay mare by Cumano, took some courageous risks in a brilliantly executed round with a blistering finish over the final GCT fence in 48.98 and fourth place.

Before a packed grandstand, 20 riders went clear in the first round―more than usual, despite the big challenging course. In the second round there were only six clears, including Christian Ahlmann, but a number of riders fell into the trap set by course designer Frank Rothenberger when they knocked a brick out of the high Cascais wall, which was elevated slightly for the second outing.

Lynch, Gregory Wathelet and Roger-Yves Bost were among the casualties. Other riders who did not make it through to the jump off included Germany’s Michaels-Beerbaum who was caught out at the Jaeger-LeCoultre oxer and the GCT triple.

For complete results, click here.

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