
Photos: Stefano Grasso / LGCT
An impressive six out of the world’s
top ten riders, including two out of the top three, will be
heading to the Longines Global Champions Tour final, hosted
by the stunning AL SHAQAB equestrian centre in Doha, Qatar.
This year, history will be made as either Rolf-Göran
Bengtsson (SWE) or Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS)
will claim the overall Champion of Champions title,
following a season-long battle for valuable ranking points.
Olympic athlete Rolf, who currently sits on a tally of 272
points, will be hoping for his first ever LGCT Champions
title win. The experienced Swedish rider has come
excruciatingly close, not once but twice before, after tying
with the leader on points but losing on the number of Grand
Prix wins. Two-time LGCT Champion Edwina, who has 267 points
overall, will be hoping to secure a record never-before-seen
third title, with a hat trick the first of its kind in the
sport. Talking about her plans for the final, the top
Australian athlete said: "My tactic is just to do my best
and be on the podium. Although 5 points doesn't sound like
much with the drop off scores it does work towards Rolf so I
have to have a very good result on the day to win. But
everything is possible and at the end of the day there is
only one of us that can win and one of us to be second.”
The two in contention will be joined by the very best riders
in the world, all vying for the top spot in the Grand Prix
and the lion’s share of the €450,000 prize purse on offer.
On top of that, the overall LGCT Ranking bonus prize fund of
almost €1 million will be divided, with riders using the
final in Doha as their last chance to change the order up
and down the leaderboard.
The electrifying climax to the season at AL SHAQAB, a
world-class equestrian facility and part of the Qatar
Foundation, will take place from the 3rd - 5th
November. Home heroes and members of the Qatar Olympic show
jumping team Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT), Bassem
Hassan Mohammed (QAT) and Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi (QAT) will
compete in front of local fans and spectators, with the top
Qatari riders looking for a strong result in the Grand Prix.
Former long term LGCT leader and current World Number 1
Christian Ahlmann (GER) will be back and ready to do
battle in the final Grand Prix of the season on Saturday 5th
November. While the top German rider cannot knock Rolf or
Edwina off the top spot, he will be looking for a strong
result in order to defend his third position from those
snapping at his heels below.
Fellow German rider and World Number 9 Marcus Ehning
(GER), who this season has won two LGCT Grand Prix
(Madrid and Vienna) said: “I'm looking forward to Doha. It
has been a very good GCT season for me, with two Grand Prix
wins, and although I'm not in the fight for the Championship
it's going to be another amazing event and final.”
Similarly, Irish star Bertram Allen (IRL), who
currently sits 4th on the overall LGCT Ranking table, spoke
of his excitement ahead of the final and the top class
competition at every Tour event so far: “I can't wait to
get to Doha for the LGCT final. All year the Tour has been
incredibly competitive, with the best riders and horses at
every show creating the best show jumping. The final at AL
SHAQAB will be intense and I'm looking forward to
competing.”
Other big names to join those at AL SHAQAB are World Number
2 Simon Delestre (FRA), World Number 6 Daniel
Deusser (GER), World Number 8 and Rio Olympic Team Gold
Medallist Kevin Staut (FRA) and World Number 10
Scott Brash (GBR).
Speaking about the incredible facilities at the magnificent
AL SHAQAB venue, John Whitaker (GBR) said: “I'm
really looking forward to going to AL SHAQAB in Doha for the
GCT. As always with the Tour the facilities are first class
which is important when you're competing at the highest
level with your top horses. The final will be really
exciting so I'm looking forward to it.” Top Dutch rider,
Harrie Smolders (NED) agreed: “Doha is for me the
perfect place for the GCT final, with a very impressive
stadium, great facilities and the apotheosis of the season
coming up it has been another successful year in the history
of GCT!”
AL SHAQAB was established as part of HH The Father Emir
Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani's vision and passion to
preserve and perpetuate the Arabian horse in Qatar. It has
since developed into a major international equestrian
facility encompassing multiple equine disciplines.
Qatar, a destination which joined the Tour in 2008, has
continued to build on its reputation as a global sports
destination and a hub for major international sporting
occasions. Leading events like the final of the Longines
Global Champions Tour have been part of this evolution and
Qatari national riders, including Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al
Thani (QAT) and Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT) - both of whom
will compete in November - are increasingly prominent on the
international show jumping stage, with Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid
Al Thani securing an individual 6th place at this year's Rio
Olympics - the debut for Qatar in show jumping.
Just a few of the other big names to head to Doha are
Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Laura Kraut (USA), Michael Whitaker
(GBR), Marco Kutscher (GER), Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), Maikel
van der Vleuten (NED), Nicola Philippaerts (BEL), Olivier
Philippaerts (BEL), Lauren Hough (USA), Jack Towell (USA),
Laura Renwick (GBR), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER)
and Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA).
The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha will
take place at 17:15 on Saturday 5th November, while the
historic Global Champions League final - which sees
four teams in contention for the first ever GCL Title - will
kick off the weekend on Thursday 3rd November at 17:00.
For the full LGCT Doha rider list,
please click here. For more information, a show schedule
and ticket options,
please click here.