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<\/p>\nThe crowds were entertained with top sport\u00a0as the two riders galloped to the exact same time in a lightning fast jump-off, where even Julien Epaillard (FRA) \u2013 the Master of Faster \u2013 had to see himself beaten to finish third.<\/p>\n
It was a tough course waiting for the 58 riders that had qualified in for the 1.50m Grand Prix counting for the world ranking. \u201cI thought it was very big,\u201d Will commented on the track built by Javier Trenor (ESP). \u201cEverything came really fast, there was nowhere to breathe really \u2013 it all followed directly after each other.\u201d Van Paesschen agreed with Will on the challenging course: \u201cWhen I walked it, I thought it was big and I said we would have less than ten clears. It was a long course also, fourteen fences \u2013 the triple combination, the combination, the water with a high pole on top and a lot of difficult lines in between.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eventually, seven riders managed to deliver clear rounds to move on to the jump-off. \u201cIt was only six fences, so quite short in numbers but it was a lot to canter around the whole arena,\u201d Will said about the shortened course.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cStill, coming into the double you had to really sit up once so it was not only going \u2013 it was a nice mix.\u201d<\/p>\n
As fifth to go in the jump-off, Will followed Cameron Hanley (IRL) who had just snatched the lead after a beautiful round on Loukas de La Noue (Malito de Reve x Mr. Blue) in 36.54 seconds. However, the lead was short-lived as Will left the breaks at the in-gate and put Forest Gump 29 (Forsyth x Feuerwerk) into top gear racing around the arena to the incredible time of 33.03 seconds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew with Julien and Constant behind me, that there was no too fast for them \u2013 so I just tried to be as quick as I could,\u201d Will said.<\/p>\n
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Will and Van Paesschen both managed to finish the jump-off course in 33.03 seconds<\/sup>.<\/em><\/p>\n Followed by Epaillard, Will had to bite his nails while watching from the warm-up but when even the French speed-machine had to settle in 0.03 seconds behind the chances of a German win were\u00a0increasing. \u201cActually, I thought Julien was faster than me, but then he was just a tiny bit slower,\u201d Will said.<\/p>\n With Constant Van Paeschen and Vendetta Treize (Diamant de Semilly x Eiger I) entering the ring as last to go, Will was anxiously watching \u2013 would it be enough for the victory? With the crowds cheering him on, Van Paeschen made a daring run to the final upright \u2013 crossing the finish line in the exact same time as Will.<\/p>\n \u201cI warmed up in the ring that is a bit further away from the arena, as I usually do, so I was not busy with what was going on,\u201d Van Paesschen explained. \u201cI asked my dad to watch a bit for me though. As I came down to the arena, I saw Julien going to the last upright. I thought that he was so quick, so when he was slower than David I realized that they were going proper fast. My dad advised me to go for a third place, but I saw a long distance to the first jump and thought to myself \u2018Let\u2019s keep going like this!\u2019 Then the crowd also helped to the last, and I just prayed to make it and that the pole would stay in the cups!\u201d the Belgian rider smiled.<\/p>\n Both riders were delighted with their performances and their horses. \u201cI can very well settle for a split win with Constant here today!\u201d Will smiled. \u201cForest Gump is such a clever horse,\u201d Will said. \u201cHe is unbelievably fast, and wins a lot of classes. He is a small horse, but with a huge heart!\u201d Van Paesschen was also full of praise for Vendetta Treize, saying: \u201cI\u2019m delighted with my horse, it\u2019s the first time I ride him\u00a0in a three-star Grand Prix. He has been showing on the Global Tour-circuit and done a lot of good things, but it\u2019s always special to win a Grand Prix!\u201d<\/p>\n The Autumn MET will now be taking a one-week break, and resume\u00a0with the second part of the Tour\u00a0that runs from 29th\u00a0of October to 17th\u00a0of November 2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n More information, start and result lists, as well as live streaming from the competitions, can be found\u00a0on\u00a0metoliva.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n