Nallon’s sizzling St Tropez double
Ciaran Nallon celebrates a clear round on board Casalla Blue PS at the Longines Global Champions League in St Tropez.
Showjumping: Ciaran Nallon had what was surely one of the most lucrative shows of his nascent career with two five-star victories at the Longines Global Champions Tour leg in Ramatuelle, St Tropez.
The first of those triumphs, on Thursday, June 11, saw Nallon kick off a tremendous day for Irish riders, by supplying two clear rounds in contribution to his team, Riesenbeck International, getting over the line in the Longines Global Champions League.
The young Mayo pilot combined with German Christian Kukuk to secure the top spot.
Nallon and Casalla Blue PS (Beerbaum Stables) have been producing some excellent results on LGCT all year and they secured a silver medal in the opening 1.60m speed class before supplying another clear round in the 1.55m speed class to finish sixth.
Kukuk’s triumph on Checker 47 helped vault them to the summit of the table, as that duo’s eight faults in the opening class had left them in fourth.
And Kukuk was quick to praise his partner for keeping them in the mix.
“Even after the first round, I had a good feeling,” said Kukuk. “Ciaran had a really, really great round and, to be honest, I was also happy with my round despite the two down because Checker felt very good.
“Ciaran did a great round again (in the second class). His performance was outstanding today with Casalla.”
Knockmore man Nallon added to his tally in Ramatuelle the following day, Friday, with Megalon K (Beerbaum Stables). It was a sensational display by the pair to win the 1.50m jump-off class with a definitive time of 34.77 when recording their second clear, for it looked as if Katrin Eckermann (GER) and Iron Dames Cascajall had done enough with their standard of 34.90.
“If I hadn’t been watching Katrin’s round I don’t think I’d have taken the risk!” Ciaran Nallon said afterwards in relation to a turnback executed by the German that had spectators gasping in the stands.
“Taking the win yesterday, and again today… I think under the south of France sun might just be our lucky charm.”
