Riesenbeck International Wins at the Global Champions League in St. Tropez

Of all people, Olympic champion Checker, ridden by Christian Kukuk, picked up eight penalty points in the first jumping competition of the Global Champions League over a 1.60-meter course. In contrast, the team’s newest addition, Irish rider Ciaran Ballon, rode the ten-year-old Casalla Blue PS to a flawless round, which even earned him second place in the individual standings behind Max Kühner and Up Too Jacco Blue.

In the second round, everything went like clockwork for both pairs. Kukuk and Checker won the 1.55-meter jumping competition, while Nallon and Casalla Blue confirmed their top form by finishing in sixth place.

The fact that the Riesenbeck team had been so fast ultimately gave them the decisive edge over the Prague Lions, featuring Niels Bruynseels on Chacco’s Lando OL and Delux van T&L, as well as Thibeau Spits on the European team champion Impress-K. Here, too, eight penalty points were incurred (by Brynseels and Delux in the first round), but they were a total of three seconds slower than the Westphalians.

By the end of the first lap of the fourth round, Kukuk and Nallon had fought their way to the front. This came as no surprise to the newly crowned German champion:

“I had a good feeling even after the first round. Ciaran had a really, really great round, and to be honest, despite the two knockdowns, I was also happy with my ride because Checker felt really good.” Which he then confirmed in the second round.

You can find all the results from Ramatuelle and St. Tropez here.