The Longines Global Champions Tour stop in Ramatuelle, St. Tropez delivered a gripping afternoon of top-level sport on Friday, as 16 elite combinations went head-to-head in the CSI5* 1.50m PremiuMares Jump-Off class. Set against the glittering Mediterranean backdrop, the competition unfolded into a high-speed test of precision where every turn proved decisive.
LGCT Ramatuelle St Tropez CSI5 results
With a packed grandstand overlooking the Riviera coastline, the class quickly evolved into a pure race against the clock, with fractions of a second separating triumph from disappointment.
Ireland’s Ciaran Nallon produced a performance of exceptional courage and timing aboard Megalon K, stopping the clock at 34.77 seconds to secure victory by the narrowest of margins.
Germany’s Katrin Eckermann and Iron Dames Cascajall NRW pushed the winning mark to its absolute limit, finishing just 0.13 seconds behind in 34.90 seconds, while France’s Cédric Angot and Gandor du Fief delighted the home crowd with a composed and accurate clear in 37.04 seconds to claim third.
The result underlined the intensity of the LGCT Ramatuelle St Tropez CSI5* 1.50m Jump-Off results, where the top order was separated by only the smallest of time differences.
Prize-giving duties were joined by PremiuMares Founder Milena Pappas, marking a fitting conclusion to an afternoon defined by fine margins and world-class execution.
Speaking after his round, Nallon admitted the presence of his nearest rival shaped his approach. Watching Eckermann’s fast effort forced a calculated risk-taking strategy that ultimately proved decisive, as Megalon K ate up the ground in the final stages to clinch a memorable win.
The opening challenge came from Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and SV Vroom de la Pomme Z, who set an early benchmark of 40.07 seconds with a smooth and efficient clear.
Jane Richard and Aequitus vh Bergerhof Z endured a mixed round, collecting eight faults but posting a quicker time of 39.21 seconds, hinting at the speed developing across the course.
Austria’s Max Kühner came closest to the early lead, producing a strong attacking round aboard Kurt D Z, only to suffer a costly rail at the final fence, finishing in 37.58 seconds with four faults.
Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli delivered one of the cleaner early performances with Kings Rose Dree Boeken, though her 41.12 seconds proved conservative in the growing contest.
Britain’s Oliver Fletcher looked competitive before a late mistake at the third-last fence left him on four faults in 38.83 seconds.
A major shift arrived when Niels Bruynseels and Chacco’s Lando OL set a new target of 39.08 seconds, taking over the lead and forcing others to take greater risks.
Maikel van der Vleuten then raised the intensity dramatically, producing a bold and fluent round aboard Jesther to take over the lead in 38.00 seconds.
Sergio Alvarez Moya’s pace with Be Blue suggested a podium challenge, but a rail at the combination left him on four faults in 37.83 seconds.
Denis Lynch also saw his challenge disrupted early with a fault at the first fence, finishing on four penalties in 38.88 seconds.
The atmosphere peaked when Katrin Eckermann entered the arena, delivering a fiercely committed round aboard Iron Dames Cascajall NRW. Her sharp turns and relentless pace brought a standout time of 34.90 seconds that immediately reset the standard.
However, the defining moment of the class was still to come.
LGCT St Tropez CSI5 Results
Ciaran Nallon and Megalon K responded with exceptional accuracy under pressure, producing a faultless and aggressive round that shaved a further 0.13 seconds off Eckermann’s mark, sealing victory in dramatic fashion.
Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts finished on four faults in 37.84 seconds, while Anastasia Nielsen impressed with a steady double clear in 40.54 seconds.
France’s final contender, Cédric Angot, closed the competition with a polished clear in 37.04 seconds, earning a place on the podium and strong support from the home crowd.
As the light faded over St. Tropez, the leaderboard confirmed one of the tightest finishes of the season, with only hundredths of a second defining the top step of the podium.
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