Dream home win for Shanghai Swans in electric GCL of Shanghai
Mdmar – Shanghai
In a drama-filled day of top sporting action, it was last to go Shanghai Swans had the sold-out stadium jumping with joy. On home turf Daniel Deusser with Gangster v/h Noddevelt and Pius Schwizer on Vancouver de Lanlore were the only team to jump four clear rounds taking home the win much to the local crowds’ delight.
German maestro Daniel Deusser smailed: “Going in I knew I could have two or three down, that feeling is something exceptional. Of course here in our home show in Shanghai, it’s brilliant to have the support of the local crowd which makes a very, very special show.”
The city of Shanghai played host to the fourth stage of the 2024 GCL season as the teams descended upon its vibrant streets. With an epic crowd pulsating with excitement, today’s thrilling showdown marked a triumphant return to the new venue in China.
Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem shot up the rankings today after securing second place on a team total of 12 faults. New signing due to injuries in the team Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli made her debut on the team one to remember while a flawless double clear from Andreas Schou on two different horses showed how they will be ones to watch this season.
A beaming Andreas Schou spoke with Rosie Tapner of GCTV of the support from the Istanbul Warriors back at Home in Europe, including fellow rider and team owner, Efe Siyahi, he said “The team back home are full of joy, really happy. I’ve had a FaceTime call with Efe already, and he was so happy, we’re so pleased to finally have a good result.”
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He went onto add “This venue is unbelievable, I think everyone here is so very excited and everyone is talking that for sure they will be coming back. It is great to have smiles back on our faces now as the last shows in the GCL didn’t work out so well for the team, and when you’re on a team, you want to deliver, and today, it all came together for us.”
Four teams finished on a score of 16 faults but Doha Falcons took full advantage of going late in the pack once Jérôme Guery and Julien Anquetin realised they had fences down they put the gas on to slide ahead of Scandinavian Vikings and secured their first podium this season.
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Talking about the venue Jérôme Guery explained: “It is an amazing place, I honestly have seen a stadium like this. It is really unbelievable. Jan said before we came that we will see it’s special, but it’s far more special than I was thinking. It’s really amazing. The crowd is so motivating, it’s been full every day until now, it’s so nice to be here”.
After the previous stage of GCL in Mexico City there was 40 points between the first and last team on the Championship standings table but the drama today in Shanghai has closed the gap down to just 25 points. Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames leap back into the lead on 75 points after a 5th place finish today. Just three points behind them Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses and Doha Falcons on 72 points.
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A shock elimination in round one after a fall from Pieter Devos and Karamba Z de Poteau Z put the championship leaders out of contention today dropping them down the order to 5th place on 70 points after stage four.
Spectators from around the globe gathered in anticipation, filling the stands with energy and enthusiasm, creating an electrifying atmosphere throughout the state-of-the-art stadium. It was a dream start for the home team Shanghai Swans as they took pole position leading after round 1 with Valkenswaard United Edwina Tops-Alexander and Marcus Ehning also delivering a clear to go into round 2 on a clean sheet.
The drama continued in Round 2 under the lights as last year’s Champions Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland Equestrian were the second team of the day to be eliminated after two unusual refusals from U25 rider Harry Allen and Calculatus.
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The clean sheet in round 2 seemed impossible as the poles kept falling making it a very tense ending to the fourth stage of the season until… home team… last to go…
It is one for the history books as Pius Schwizer and Vancouver de Lanlore rode a foot perfect round making it look easy and taking the pressure off his teammate who had three rails in hand. Daniel Deusser and Gangster v/h Noddevelt kept their head and punched the air waving at the home crowd as he brought it home on 0 faults and secured the home win!
But it was not just the stunning venue that captivated the audience; it was the extraordinary two rounds of breathtaking performances where competitors pushed the boundaries, leaving spectators in awe and admiration.
As the sun set on another unforgettable day in the heart of Shanghai it was a fairytale ending to stage four as all eyes now turn to the European stages of the tense championship battle in Madrid from 17 – 19 May 2024.
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