Jumping / Dressage
Longines Global Champions Tour |
|
A truly international field of world
class riders will shortly be arriving in Mexico City for the
second round of action in the 2016 Longines Global Champions
Tour season. Six of the world’s top ten riders will compete
at the new addition to the Tour, as well as providing new
opportunities for local Mexican riders to compete on a world
class stage.
Yesterday the latest spectacular venue for the Tour calendar
was introduced with excitement mounting ahead of the launch
of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Mexico City. The
high altitude venue at 2,250 metres above sea level compared
to 1.2 metres at the previous venue in Miami Beach, and the
beautiful vast grass arena will be a dramatic new showcase
for show jumping.
Speaking at the Palacio de Hierro, LGCT President Jan Tops said: “I want to
thank everyone in this partnership who has worked so tirelessly to bring this
magnificent top level sport to Mexico City.” Mr Tops also spoke about the newly
launched Global Champions League team competitions with the second leg in Mexico
City. He said: “It is a new concept with a team format that has never been seen
before with top riders from different countries united to compete on the same
team. We will see tactical battles at all 15 events this year around the world
which will be very exciting for our fans.”
Veteran Mexican show jumper Federico Fernandez also joined the press conference
along with Oxer Sport CEO Alvaro Arrieta Konyay who spoke of his pride at the
event finally becoming a reality and thanked partner Promo Mexico. Silversmith
Tane, the luxury brand which has made the magnificent silver and marble trophy
for Mexico City, also joined the launch event. Creative Director Nino Bauti said
he was inspired to create something special to reflect the beauty of the sport.
Also present was double LGCT champion Edwina Tops-Alexander who has just won the
Grand Prix in Miami Beach. Edwina said: “It’s a privilege to be here as a rider,
I am very happy to be here. It wasn’t a difficult trip for the riders or the
horses from Miami. I know what it takes to put these shows together - I live and
breathe it with Jan. It takes a lot of effort and can be difficult, but it is
worth it.” Edwina’s aptly named GP winning horse Lintea Tequila was triumphant
in Miami and Edwina said: “Hopefully Lintea Tequila likes Mexico!”
Mexico City will feature 5* and 2* competitions and both Jan and Edwina said the
top horses can excel at the variety of locations on the circuit where jumping is
in hot and cool temperatures, day and night and on small and big grass and sand
arenas.
Last weekend’s opening Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach saw
spectacular sport as Edwina Tops-Alexander threw down the gaunlet to the rest of
the field after a spell-binding win with her plucky mare Lintea Tequila. Edwina
will be in action in Mexico City alongside third place ranked LGCT rider and
world number two Christian Ahlmann (GER) who will be looking to close the five
point gap between them.
Also in attendance will be Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT) who sits 5th in
the rankings, as well as Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) and Kevin Staut (FRA) who
are currently 6th and 7th. All will be looking to capitalise on their early top
ten positions on the 2016 LGCT Championship battle as the Tour season begins to
unfold.
Top riders include world number three Scott Brash (GBR), world number six Kent
Farrington (USA), plus world number seven, eight and nine in the form of Gregory
Wathelet (BEL), Bertram Allen (IRL) and Kevin Staut (FRA) respectively. Also in
attendance will be rising star Jessica Mendoza (GBR), compatriot Olympic gold
medallist Ben Maher (GBR), legend of the sport Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE), CSI5*
of Miami Beach winner Daniel Deusser (GER), Steve Guerdat
(SUI), Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA), Jane Richard Philips (SUI) and John Whitaker
(GBR).
The LGCT of Mexico City weekend will get underway on Thursday 14th April, with
the first CSI5* event taking place on Friday 15th April. For a full rider list,
please click
here. For a full event schedule, please click
here.A truly international field of world class riders will shortly be
arriving in Mexico City for the second round of action in the 2016 Longines
Global Champions Tour season. Six of the world’s top ten riders will compete at
the new addition to the Tour, as well as providing new opportunities for local
Mexican riders to compete on a world class stage.
Yesterday the latest spectacular venue for the Tour calendar was introduced with
excitement mounting ahead of the launch of the Longines Global Champions Tour of
Mexico City. The high altitude venue at 2,250 metres above sea level compared to
1.2 metres at the previous venue in Miami Beach, and the beautiful vast grass
arena will be a dramatic new showcase for show jumping.
Speaking at the Palacio de Hierro, LGCT President Jan Tops said: “I want to
thank everyone in this partnership who has worked so tirelessly to bring this
magnificent top level sport to Mexico City.” Mr Tops also spoke about the newly
launched Global Champions League team competitions with the second leg in Mexico
City. He said: “It is a new concept with a team format that has never been seen
before with top riders from different countries united to compete on the same
team. We will see tactical battles at all 15 events this year around the world
which will be very exciting for our fans.”
Veteran Mexican show jumper Federico Fernandez also joined the press conference
along with Oxer Sport CEO Alvaro Arrieta Konyay who spoke of his pride at the
event finally becoming a reality and thanked partner Promo Mexico. Silversmith
Tane, the luxury brand which has made the magnificent silver and marble trophy
for Mexico City, also joined the launch event. Creative Director Nino Bauti said
he was inspired to create something special to reflect the beauty of the sport.
Also present was double LGCT champion Edwina Tops-Alexander who has just won the
Grand Prix in Miami Beach. Edwina said: “It’s a privilege to be here as a rider,
I am very happy to be here. It wasn’t a difficult trip for the riders or the
horses from Miami. I know what it takes to put these shows together - I live and
breathe it with Jan. It takes a lot of effort and can be difficult, but it is
worth it.” Edwina’s aptly named GP winning horse Lintea Tequila was triumphant
in Miami and Edwina said: “Hopefully Lintea Tequila likes Mexico!”
Mexico City will feature 5* and 2* competitions and both Jan and Edwina said the
top horses can excel at the variety of locations on the circuit where jumping is
in hot and cool temperatures, day and night and on small and big grass and sand
arenas.
Last weekend’s opening Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach saw
spectacular sport as Edwina Tops-Alexander threw down the gaunlet to the rest of
the field after a spell-binding win with her plucky mare Lintea Tequila. Edwina
will be in action in Mexico City alongside third place ranked LGCT rider and
world number two Christian Ahlmann (GER) who will be looking to close the five
point gap between them.
Also in attendance will be Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT) who sits 5th in
the rankings, as well as Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) and Kevin Staut (FRA) who
are currently 6th and 7th. All will be looking to capitalise on their early top
ten positions on the 2016 LGCT Championship battle as the Tour season begins to
unfold.
Top riders include world number three Scott Brash (GBR), world number six Kent
Farrington (USA), plus world number seven, eight and nine in the form of Gregory
Wathelet (BEL), Bertram Allen (IRL) and Kevin Staut (FRA) respectively. Also in
attendance will be rising star Jessica Mendoza (GBR), compatriot Olympic gold
medallist Ben Maher (GBR), legend of the sport Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE), CSI5*
of Miami Beach winner Daniel Deusser (GER), Steve Guerdat
(SUI), Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA), Jane Richard Philips (SUI) and John Whitaker
(GBR).
The LGCT of Mexico City weekend will get underway on Thursday 14th April, with
the first CSI5* event taking place on Friday 15th April. For a full rider list,
please click
here. For a full event schedule, please click
here.
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