Global Champions League Rome: Philipp Weishaupt and Marco Kutscher Take Second Place with Riesenbeck International, Ahead of the New York Irish
Second Attempt After Rain-Shortened GCL Race in Rome: Strong Irish Contenders Finish Ahead of Weishaupt and Kutscher
from Jan Tönjes 
Marco Kutscher (right) and Philipp Weishaupt finished second in the Riesenbeck International competition at the 13th Global Champions League stage in Rome. Photo: LGCL The “New York Empire” team won the team competition at the Global Champions League leg in Rome. Denis Lynch, Bertram Allen, and Michael Pender won the 13th of 15 legs on their second attempt. The show jumping competition had been suspended on Friday due to heavy rain. Lynch, who was the first rider to start, had already entered the course but had to leave it without completing the round.
Lynch Faultless, Riesenbeck with One Knockdown
In today’s second round, Lynch rode Ping Pong van de Lentamel by Emerald to a clear round in the first round. In the second round, he rode Chicago by Cascadello. The Holsteiner also finished the course without any faults. Bertram Allen followed suit on Pacino Amiro. Michael Pender and Magdeslane Louis by Luidam had also completed the course without faults in the first round.
Kutscher and Weishaupt, with one knockdown across four courses
, took second place with the Riesenbeck International team. For Philipp Weishaupt, Round 1 with Oreo D.R. did not get off to an ideal start. The Kannan son knocked down a pole. Marco Kutscher and Pikeur Lemar NRW didn’t put a foot wrong in either round. In the second course, Weishaupt rode the nine-year-old Callao L. The gray horse, a son of Congress, was bred by Kai Ligges. Weishaupt finished without any knockdowns.
Although the Germans were four seconds faster than the Irish team from New York Empire, Weishaupt’s mistake in the first round meant they finished in second place. In the individual standings, Weishaupt placed fourth with Callao L, and Kutscher placed seventh with Pikeur Lemar.
Delestre Takes Individual Victory, Warriors Finish Third
Third place went to the Istanbul Warriors, who are now just ahead of the New York Empire in the overall standings. Belgian rider Abdel Said rode two clear rounds, first on his World Championship horse Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z. He then also rode a clear round on Wathnan Calvaro by Cascadello, who had been prepared for major competition in the Hessian-Bavarian border region. French rider Simon Delestre incurred eight penalty points in the first round with Gatsby du Tillard. In the second round, he rode clear and posted the fastest time, winning the individual classification.
