Photos: Stefano Grasso / LGCT
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.