Photos: Stefano Grasso / LGCT
Seven out of the world’s top ten riders
will go into battle at the spectacular opening event of the
2016 Longines Global Champions Tour season in Miami Beach,
USA.
The high calibre field of riders can be revealed today and
promises a fantastic long weekend of top-level competition
for fans and newcomers to the sport who will visit the
unique showground next to the Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
The impressive line up includes last year’s LGCT of Miami
Beach Grand Prix winner Scott Brash (GBR) and the highest
ranked US riders Kent Farrington (World Number 3), McLain
Ward (World Number 4) and Beezie Madden (World Number 8) at
the launch of the 2016 circuit. Horses begin arriving today
with just under a week to go until the event gets underway
from 7th - 10th April.
Last year's ground-breaking debut Miami Beach event was
heralded a resounding success, with former New York Mayor
Michael Bloomberg commenting "I think this is a wonderful
thing for Miami. This could become like the Formula 1 is to
Monaco." Guests and spectators were stunned as they took
their seats overlooking the arena only metres from the
Atlantic waves with swimmers and sunbathers in the
background. Once again entry will be free to the public with
a larger grandstand capacity to make the sport more
accessible to new audiences.
With a high octane weekend of sport and entertainment ahead
fans will be able to watch American and international riders
in action, including the USA’s local riders Laura Kraut,
Lauren Hough, Audrey Coulter, Georgina Bloomberg and Quentin
Judge as the 11th season of the world's premier show jumping
series kicks off. 2012 Olympic Champion Steve Guerdat (SUI),
2010 World Gold medallist Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER)
and 2012 Olympic Gold medallist Ben Maher (GBR) will join
the high profile list of riders competing at the highly
anticipated event. Young star Bertram Allen (IRL) will join
legends of the sport Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE), John
Whitaker (GBR), Michael Whitaker (GBR) and Roger-Yves Bost
(FRA), and with the likes of Pius Schwizer (SUI), Harrie
Smolders (NED), Daniel Deusser (GER), Kevin Staut (FRA),
Gregory Wathelet (BEL), Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA), Sheikh Ali
Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT) and Christian Ahlmann (GER) all
confirmed to compete, it’s set to be an incredible opening
round for this year’s LGCT.
The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Miami Beach
will take place on Saturday 9th April at 15:15 local time.
With free entry to the public, a luxurious shopping village,
high-adrenaline show jumping action and the debut of the
first Global Champions League team competition, next week’s
event is set to kick start the 2016 season off in style!
For more event information, including the show schedule and
the complete 5* rider list please click
here.