St Tropez Pirates Ride Wave of Success at GCL Hamburg
Via GCL
Excitement flowed to the final fence as the St Tropez Pirates duo of Laura Klaphake and Pieter Devos held off enormous pressure to sail to the team’s first win of the season at GCL Hamburg.
U25 German star Klaphake and Devos of the Pirates jumped fluid, fast rounds, with a single back rail of an oxer late on the course falling during Klaphake’s round, failing to dent their prowess. They claimed the top step of the podium in Germany, as the top four teams all finished within one fence of each other in a nail-biting showdown, keeping the packed grandstand on the edge of their seats.
By putting just four penalties on the board across their two riders, Jur Vrieling and Marcus Ehning, Valkenswaard United shot up the leaderboard from overnight fourth to finish second. The Shanghai Swans (Pius Schwizer and Shane Sweetnam) held onto their overnight third spot.
Setbacks make the best comebacks, and the current GCL Ranking leaders, the London Knights, finished fifth after posting the only double clear of the day — a staggering rise up from 16th place overnight after a strategic horse and rider change to field Nicola Philippaerts (Chilli Willi) and Martin Fuchs (Chaplin). They remain at the top of the championship, with Valkenswaard United in second and the St Tropez Pirates rising to third after their untouchable performances in Hamburg. But there is still all to play for ahead of the season finale where 16 teams will qualify for the GCL Super Cup at the GC Play Offs in December.
Only 17 horses of the 56 starters jumped clear over Frank Rotheberger’s testing course, which contained three doubles and a tricky line to the last where riders had to choose whether to go for five for six strides from the Mercedes 1.70m wide spread to the tricky brown upright at the last. Time was influential too, as riders taking too much time to set up for the short doubles were caught out by the clock.
In Hamburg, it all came down to the wire in the climax of the GCL team contest. It was only a clear round from Belgian rider Pieter Devos of the St Tropez Pirates that could ensure his team stayed atop the leaderboard. Having changed horses from the first round, his partner was the bright chestnut Apart, and the 13-year-old Dutch gelding responded to every question asked of him in fine style.
"That was amazing,” beamed the 24-year-old German rider Klaphake, who once again rode the Oldenburg gelding, Catch Me If You Can. “Pieter did an amazing job, he had so much pressure but he just did it. It was quite difficult the course, but I think it was good building because everyone had fences down in different places.”
The 32-year-old Belgian rider Devos added: “There were some options and we said from the beginning that Laura should take the option here to the yellow oxer and if she had one down then I would go around [the longer route] because I knew I had to be clear, so I wouldn’t take the risk any more. But always when you’re in there the pressure is on and its not so easy to take these decisions in that moment.”
The Berlin Eagles, who had been second overnight, had a tough day at the office. Ludger Beerbaum recorded an uncharacteristic 12 faults on Chiara and his team-mate Philipp Weishaupt also rolled two poles to see their team tumble down the rankings.
But it would be the Pirates' day, keeping cool under pressure to take their first win of the season.
The GCL Championship race now looks to Ramatuelle, St Tropez, where the Pirates will be hoping to ride their wave of success with another strong result at their home event.
Photo GCL / Mario Grassia