Darragh Kenny and Jack Towell posted another clear round apiece today in Shanghai to help Paris Panthers to their first win in the Global Champions League series.

Kenny once again brought out Charly Chaplin S, while Towell swapped New York for Lucifer V in today’s event, the team finishing on a zero score over the two days of the competition.

Also faultless at the finish were Hamburg Diamonds, for whom John Whitaker rode Ornellaia and Jos Verlooy partnered Caracas, but Paris were comfortably faster overall to claim the win.

In third place were London Knights, finishing on four faults, while league leaders Valkenswaard United rallied from an eight-fault score on day one to stay fault-free today and claim fourth for the contest.

It was enough to keep Valkenswaard on top of the overall standings, with a lead of six points over London Knights (see table below). Ireland’s Bertram Allen did not jump today for the league leaders, for whom Alberto Zorzi (Fair Light van’t Heike) and Marcus Ehning (Funky Fred) lined out.

Miami Glory, whose squad includes Cian O’Connor, had an unfortunate day when Kimberly Prince was eliminated for a second refusal with RMF Bella Baloubet, plunging the team to joint-last place in the contest alongside Moscow Bears who suffered a similar fate in the opening round yesterday.

It was particularly disappointing for Miami as Ben Maher had delivered two clears over the two days, and the team now has to plan for the next round in Madrid without O’Connor, who has yet to jump for the team, while the Irish rider recovers from injury.

Kenny’s round on Charly Chaplin S also qualified the pairing for the Grand Prix but they just missed the jump-off when tipping a pole at the final obstacle. As fastest four-faulter, Kenny finished seventh overall, with victory going to Italy’s Lorenzo De Luca on his Dublin Horse Show Grand Prix winner Ensor de Litrange LXII .

Mike Dunne

Global Champions League standings after Round 3 Shanghai
1. Valkenswaard United 74
2, London Knights 68
3. St. Tropez Pirates 60
4. Hamburg Diamonds 56
5. Paris Panthers  46
6. Chantilly Pegasus 45
7. Cannes Stars 44
8. Rome Gladiators 42
9. Shanghai Swans 37
10. Vienna Eagles 35
11. Mexico Amigos 35
12. Miami Glory 33.5
13. Doha Fursan Qatar 33
14. Madrid in Motion 33
15. Cascais Charms 26
16. Monaco Aces 24
17. Berlin Lions 21
18. Moscow Bears 13.5