Top showjumping stars to descend on Al Shaqab for LGCT, GCL finale
DOHA, November 08, 2017 – Al Shaqab foundation and the organizing committee of the prestigious Longines Global Championship Tour (LGCT) will hold a press conference on Wednesday to shine spotlight on the latest preparations for the event.
An all-star cast of eight out of the world's top 10 riders are heading to Al Shaqab, Qatar, for this weekend's climax of the 2017 Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and Global Champions League (GCL) to be held from November 9 to 11.
The Doha leg marks the finale of what is an exciting showjumping series contested in the top cities of the world from Mexico City in April to Miami Beach, Shanghai, Madrid, Hamburg, Cannes, Monaco, Paris, Cascais (Estoril), Chantilly, Berlin, London, Valkenswaard (Netherlands), Rome and finally Doha.
Among those arriving for Qatar show, which will also see the magnificent Al Shaqab equestrian centre mark its 25th anniversary, include the new LGCT champion Dutch Harrie Smolders (who made history this year by taking the title at the penultimate event in Rome in September), Scott Brash of Britain, Eric Lamaze from Canada, Lorenzo de Luca of Italy, Gregory Wathelet from Belgium, Kevin Staut of France, Peder Fredricson from Sweden and Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands.
Qatar's challenge will be led by Olympians Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohammed.
Other top riders who would be competing in Doha include Simon Delestre (FRA), Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), Daniel Deusser (GER), Marco Kutscher (GER), Pieter Devos (BEL), Ben Maher (GBR), Bertram Allen (IRL), Laura Kraut (USA), Marlon Zanotelli (BRA) and Lauren Hough (USA). Winners of LGCT Grand Prix this season will also be competing including Mexico City winner Martin Fuchs (SUI), Miami Beach winner Jerome Guery (BEL), Cannes winner Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP), and Rome winner Evelina Tovek (SWE).
There will be a captivating battle for the final overall ranking places after a season of phenomenal LGCT Grand Prix action across the world in stunning locations.
With competition reaching new heights this year, the LGCT season has seen nail-biting split second finishes from the best horse and rider combinations who consistently compete at every event.
Talking about the top calibre events, Scott Brash said,"The level of competition on the GCT circuit is so high, so to win a Grand Prix or League class you and your horse have to be at the absolute top of your game."
Italian Lorenzo de Luca said he will be"giving everything" to keep his second place in the overall LGCT championship ranking."GCT is one of the best and most difficult circuits in the world."
Champion Smolders said,"In the Global Champions Tour the level is very, very high because we have the best horses and the best riders in the world. A higher level is not possible."
Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) currently sits in second with 260 points overall, with Christian Ahlmann (GER) just three points away on 257. Alberto Zorzi (ITA) is only a two-point whisker away on 255 points. Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) and two-time LGCT Champion Scott Brash (GBR), on 247 and 245 points respectively, will be formidable opponents in the final deciding LGCT Grand Prix of 2017.
In the GCL race to finish, teams are tactically fielding heavy-weight combinations for the final push for the overall ranking and season prize-money.
Hamburg Diamonds and Valkenswaard United lock horns for the final time in 2017 after their intensive duel for the title crown saw them pull ahead of the pack on points.
Other teams including Miami Glory, Paris Panthers, Mexico Amigos, St Tropez Pirates, London Knights, Doha Fursan Qatar, Rome Gladiators and Shanghai Swans will be jostling for an overall GCL Top 10 finish.
President of Longines, Walter von Kanel, said,"We are pleased to be back at the magnificent Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre which will once again provide the perfect backdrop for this much-awaited final of the series. Our brand also looks forward to the weekend's highlight, the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha, to which we lend our name."
The finals will play out on the grand stage of Al Shaqab, a member of the Qatar Foundation, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary and the three day event from will hold something for all especially families with a kids entertainment area, Arabian displays and a special show to celebrate the silver jubilee.
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