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Qatar is all set to host the Global Champions Tour Championship Final at the prestigious state-of-the-art Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre from November 13 to 15. This magnificent venue will see the best riders in the world pull out all the stops to win the championship title for 2014. It will be an electrifying climax to the season as there are three serious contenders, who have the opportunity to clinch the prestigious title. |
Al Shaqab will be the impressive stage where its high quality and cutting-edge competition arenas, stabling and welfare facilities will underline it’s position as one of the foremost equestrian centres of excellence in the world.
Ludger Beerbaum leads the Championship race, with Scott Brash, who’s won an unprecedented three Grand Prix this season, poised in third. But it will be a three-way charge to the finish line with former European Champion Rolf Goran Bengtsson, sitting second on the leader board, who will also be in the reckoning. Bengtsson needs to win the Grand Prix in Doha to take the Championship, while Brash has to finish at least fifth to retain his crown, but if Beerbaum finishes above Brash, the title will be his.
Global Champions Tour Founder and President Jan Tops who addressed the media said. “The top three could still win the Championship. Scott has a good advantage with one less score than the rest, on the other hand Ludger is way ahead, so it’s going to be very exciting. They are all Champion riders and winners. It’s great for the public to see and Al Shaqab will once again provide wonderful stage for this final round. It is going to be a very tense Saturday as all our riders are in good form.”
Among the Qatari challengers, Bassem Hassan Mohammed is ranked sixth and has a realistic chance of hoisting the Qatar flag with a victory in the final round, while Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani who is ranked 17th will also carry Qatari hopes for a podium finish. Faleh Suwead al-Hajmi, Hamad Ali Mohammed al-Attiya, Ali Yousef al-Romaihi, and Mubark Yousef al-Romaihi have been part of the championship and have gained the much needed experience for future championships.
Speaking about the prospects of the Qatari riders, Tops said. “We are building for the future. We have had great success this year. We won the Asian Games gold and then had success at the World Equestrian Games. I am sure next year will be even better for the Qatari riders. They have some very good horses. Vienna Olympic and Bassam were simply superb with a gold medal performance in the World Equestrian Games in Monaco. Vienna is only nine years old and has taken a break for this competition. She will come back strongly next year. Ali also has two brilliant horses and so does Bassam. This will be a new combination for this event but I expect a good performance from the Qatari riders. There are young and upcoming riders in Nasser and Faleh who have the potential to climb the ranks pretty soon.”
“Qatar has become like my home and I am thrilled with the recent success of Qatari riders on the world stage. Qatar’s riders are in good form and some of them have the chance to finish on the podium. I have high expectations of them for the future. Qatar is doing well not only in show jumping but in horse racing as well. It is a great horse nation and we are glad to have this final here,” Tops concluded.
“It is challenge each time we host an event of this magnitude. We are on track to achieve what’s mandated to us. We are going to see an extraordinary event and the crowning glory would be to see a Qatari rider winning the final round. The past few years have witnessed the huge development of our riders and also our organizational capabilities. We have established Qatar as a destination when it comes to Equestrian sports. Whether in terms of performance or management, we could rightly say that we have globally positioned Qatar where it should be,” Event president Fahad al-Qahtani explained.
“We thank Jan Tops and the organisers for this great opportunity and we would like to thank the media also as they are one of the reasons for the success of this event. We started in 2011 with events here and after the 2011 Arab Games we proved that we are capable of organising such major events. The best riders of the world are competing here at Al Shaqab and I wish them all success and hope the public will enjoy this event.”
With a Grand Prix prize fund of euros 450,000 and a bonus Championship prize fund of euros one million being shared among the highest ranked finishers in this year’s series, the competition on Grand Prix day will be fierce. All of the Longines GCT top Ten ranked riders will be vying for the top spot and the lion’s share of the winnings.
On Saturday, the Doha Grand Prix will sort the best from the rest and one of these three great sportsmen will be named as the 2014 Championship winner. There are other big names such as Olympic Champions Steven Guerda, Rodrigo Pessoa or Eric Lamaze who could prevent a second consecutive clean sweep by snatching the final Grand Prix win, but no one can catch Beerbaum, Bengtsson and Brash as they race for the 2014 Championship finish line.
Championship leader Ludger Beerbaum said. “I have to watch out for both Scott and Rolf. But the fact that Scott is still without his maximum seven scores counting makes him more dangerous, as he can get full points in Doha but Rolf and I cannot. If Scott finishes fifth or above in the Grand Prix and I am behind him, he wins. I need to have myself and my horse fresh and fit in Doha.”
Apart from the GCT, the Qatar National Championship will also take place during the event. This will provide the local riders an opportunity to share the stage with the world’s best riders. This experience would go as long way in shaping their future.
With the 2014 season about to reach it’s thrilling climax and the history books poised to add another star show jumping name to the Tour’s Hall OF Fame, Longines GCT President Tops hinted at the potential for a new US event next year and further new destinations planned for the Tour in 2016.
