The Longines Grand Prix closed the second day of the CSI5*W La Coruna. Fans enjoyed a really exciting struggle among some of the best riders of this modality.
In the jump off, the rider Sameh El Dahan got the first position on the back of Suma’s Zorro with a time of 33.61 seconds in the jump off. It was the first victory of the Egyptian in Casas Novas.
After receiving the trophy from the Elena Orozco’s hands, Director of Longines in Spain, El Dahan was very happy and said that “I always believe we’ll have a good result”. Regarding the course, he thinks that “It was a difficult course from start to finish. Santiago Varela did a good work”. In his view, his horse, Sumas Zorro “is really careful, she always fights for me and that’s how she manages to finish it”.
About Casas Novas, he declares that “is one of the best 5* shows in the world with top riders and the facilities are unbelievable. It is one of the best indoor places in the world, the arena is big, and always have the best riders. It’s a pleasure to come here”. He is going to compete tomorrow “with the same horse and hopefully if she’s feeling fresh and good, we’ll have a good result, top 5 would be perfect”.
The course, designed by Santiago Varela, was quite difficult and there were only three riders that made the phase in time and with no penalties classifying for the jump off, including Carlos López and Jos Verlooy.
On the podium of the test he was accompanied in second place by the Colombian Carlos López who stopped the clock just a few tenths after the first, 34 seconds riding Cuplandra. Carlos López was so close to repeat the victory of last edition. The third position was for the Belgian Jos Verlooy with Igor and 34.56 seconds.
Paola Amilibia was the best Spanish classified riding Prunella d’Ariel getting a fifth position. She took home the Tyco Trophy. Amilibia was recently the first horsewoman to win the National Championship.
Diana Marsá-Lafarge wins the Dachser Trophy
Almost 45 pairs competed to take the Dachser Trophy at 5:30 pm and it was disputed really hard with a lot of talent in A Coruña’s center. The test of 2* had a high sport level of horses and riders. The test, which was disputed in scale fault & time and 1.40 meters high, was very difficult, even with some refusals. Also, it served for the audience as a vibrant prelude to the Grand Prix.
Finally, it was Diana Marsá-Lafarge whom made the stands of the horse riding center of Casas Novas enjoy with a brilliant victory. On the back of Andi D Emiralia, the Spanish was able to make a time of 54.39 seconds. Her course was fast and without mistakes, with a perfect performance.
After she received the trophy, which was given by Jose Ferreiro from Dachser, the horsewoman declared “I am very happy because it is my last competition of the year and it is good to finish with a victory”. Furthermore, she said that “the level is great, especially of the riders, they are very fast and regarding the horses it is very difficult to beat them in these speed tests”. Marsá-Lafarge also announced that she will compete again tomorrow with the same horse of this Trophy. Actually, she is training to go to the next Olympic Games, Tokio 2020, “I’m working hard”. About the winner of the Grand Prix, she thinks that “Marcus Ehning is the best”.
The rest of the podium was all entirely national riders. In second position was Javier González Fraga who could not reach Diana Marsá-Lafarge but stopped the clock with a great time, 54.93 seconds. The third was Jesús Torres riding Orphee du Breche and a time of 57.16 seconds. All of them could hear the Spanish anthem in Casas Novas.
Local rider Javier González Fraga wins Lexus Trophy
The International Show Jumping Competition of A Coruña began today with another Spanish victory thanks to the triumph of Javier González Fraga in the Lexus Trophy. The competition was the first test of the day in Casas Novas.
González Fraga competed with Casanova and stopped the clock in 57.23 seconds without any penalty. The Galician rider is a habitual participant in the jumping show and knows very well the arena of the center, which he has qualified as “one of the best centers in Europe”. He was about to win yesterday in the Inaugural Trophy, achieving the second position. Javier is also a vet and horse breeder and told us that Casanova “was a horse made and trained by me”. For the local rider, the key of his victory “was the horse strides”. He, also, thinks that “the favorites for the GP would be Maikel van der Vleuten, Carlos López or Sergio Álvarez Moya”.
The podium was completed by another Spanish Íñigo López de la Osa Escribano, who led the test a long time riding Gesa with 58.05 seconds and the Mexican horsewoman, and winner of the Inaugural Trophy, Mariel Victoria Aguirre, who made a time of 58.61 with the same horse of yesterday, Taormina. The trophy was given by Leonardo Carluccio, director of Lexus Spain.
The test began at 3:30pm and was played under the speed and handiness scale and a height of obstacles of 1.30 meters.
Maximum expectation for the World Cup
Even though, the event has been a success since its inception, it is undeniable that the peak of emotions will arrive tomorrow, at 5:00 pm, with the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping presented by CaixaBank. This is the seventh round of the world tournament, which since October has been done in Oslo, Helsinki, Verona, Lyon, Stuttgart and Madrid.
Of the current riders at Casas Novas, the best place in the world ranking is Maikel van der Vleuten, who is in the sixth position. As for the Spanish, the first in the FEI table is Sergio Álvarez Moya, in twelfth position. Everyone will be fighting tomorrow to add up and climb positions. The show is guaranteed and will again be full house in the stands of Larín.
Before that appointment, there will be another category 5* event, the Prosegur Trophy. It will be at 11:30 in the morning, and it will be disputed in two phases F&T / C. As for the 2 * contest, it will start at 9:15 am with the Eroski Center Trophy with obstacles at 1.30 meters in two phases modality. There will be another test at 2:00 pm, the Tyco Grand Prix, with jump off and obstacles of 1.45 meters in height.
Full results here.
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