Doha
Team Riesenbeck International took the opening honours of the Global Champions League at the buzzing Longines Arena at Al Shaqab yesterday.
Heavyweights Christian Kukuk and Philipp Weishauppt took full advantage of the extraordinary horsepower of Coby and Mumbai with impressive rounds to seal the coveted first win of the season and took the lion’s share of the €300,000 prize money. St Tropez Pirates, featuring brand new signings Simon Delestre and Marlon Modolo Zanotelli also collected just four faults, with an accumulated time of just over a second slower than the winning team, which earned themselves a well-deserved runner-up place.
A mix of team rivalry and competitive spirit shone through with Valkenswaard United finishing in an impressive third, with returning riders Marcus Ehning aboard the on-form Stargold, and John Whitaker and Equine America Unick du Francport leading the team to the final spot on the podium.
It has been mixed emotions for the Riesenbeck International squad this week as team rider and owner Ludger Beerbaum was taken to hospital on Thursday after a fall.
Weishauppt explained: “We are delighted with the win today. We have had ups and downs this week. I was not supposed to jump today at all – Coby was meant to have a day off and Ludger was supposed to ride but unfortunately he ended up in hospital last night. This win was for Ludger and we wish him a speedy recovery. For sure he is watching from the hospital now so we wish him all the best.”
Teammate Kukuk added: “My strategy was just to jump a clear round. In the first round, I felt we were already fast and we ended up eighth place individually without even trying to be fast. In the second round, I was like wow when we crossed the finish line. I am impressed with how fast Mumbai is. It is a very good day for us. Now we have an evening to celebrate!”
With the unveiling of the new weekend format. Riders were challenged by GCL’s Round 1 and Round 2 being back-to-back, rather than the traditional two-day rollout. “The new format with both rounds in one day and I thought it was great,” Weishauppt approved.
After GCL Round 1, six teams entered the arena for Round 2 with a clean score sheet. Four teams took to Round 2 bringing in just four faults, leaving little to no room for error for the leading teams.
Competition favourites Shanghai Swans star striker Max Khuner dramatically put them out of contention when his horse Eic Cooley Jump the Q collected 12 faults in the second round, leaving teammate Christian Ahlmann and Solid Gold’s double clear void of contention.
As the first double clear rounds entered, Rome Gladiators had just one pole in hand. Represented by the Breen brothers, Shane and Trevor, ultimately left the arena on an uncharacteristic 19 faults from Trevor’s homebred mount Highland President, and four faults from Shane’s Cuick Star Kervec.
Next, Stockholm Hearts entered the arena. Switching horses for Round 2, Malin Baryard-Johnson took to the Uliano Vezzani built course aboard 2022’s highest performing GCL horse, H&M Indiana. Lilly Attwood and Calvaro’s Up To Date found the last line challenging with the last three fences falling, Leaving 2022’s GCL of Doha winners on 16 faults.
No team changes for German-based team, Riesenbeck International, proved a success with anchor riders Kukuk posting a double clear and Weishaput collecting just one rail. Leaving all to play for as the final three teams entered the arena, the suspense was high.
A single rail from Valkenswaard’s United John Whitaker saw the iconic duo of Whitaker and Marcus Ehning sit in third with just one team to go.
Enter: Istanbul Warriors. Heading into Round 2 in pole position, but, Round 2 proved a challenge for Omer Karaveli and Abdel Said.
With one day of competition left, for the opening leg of the 2023 Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL Series, today will see the ultimate individual challenge – Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha – take place from 6pm local time.
Earlier, Greek Ioli Mytilineou started the outdoor and GCL Season with a bang and took home the first victory on L’Artiste de Toxandria. The 1.55m class was ridden directly on time with 38 combinations who came to try their luck. Mytilineou was the third combination to start on L’Artiste de Toxandria (v. Toulon). The pair set the pace and finished in a fast time of 66.79 which put them on top very early on in the Class. No other combination was able to do better and the victory went to Greek rider. Efe Siyahi came very close and crossed the finish on Calvino in a time of 67.28. With 69.50 on the clock, Jur Vrieling finished on Griffin van de Heffinck and was third.
RESULTS
Global Champions League team competition1, Riesenbeck International (Mumbai/Christian Kukuk, Coby/Philipp Weishaupt), Team Total: 4 penalties, 138.20 secs. Prize Money: €32,618
2: St Tropez Pirates (Dexter Fontenis Z/Simon Delestre, VDL Edgar M/Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, I Amelusina R/Simon Delestre, Like A Diamond Van Het Schaeck/Marlon Modolo Zanotelli) 4 penalties, 139.92 secs., €27,181
3. Valkenswaard United (Stargold/Marcus Ehning, Equine America Unick Du Francport/John Whitaker) 4 penalties, 141.30 secs., €22,832
CSI5* GCL of Doha - Second GCL Competition against
the clock; Height: 1.60m
1. Horse: Stargold; Rider: Marcus Ehning (GER); Time: 66.79 sec; Prize money: €7,500
2. Mumbai; Christian Kukuk (GER); 68.57 sec; €6,000
3. Dexter Fontenis Z; Simon Delestre (FRA); 68.65 sec; €4,500
CSI5* GCL of Doha - First GCL Competition Against
the clock; Height: 1.55 m
1. Horse: L’artiste de Toxandra; Rider: Ioli Mytilineou (GRE); Time: 66.79 sec; Prize money: €7,500
2. Calvino; Efe Siyahi (TUR); 67.28 sec; €6,000
3. Griffin van de Heffinck; Jur Vrieling (NED); 69.50 sec; €4,500
CSI3* against the clock; Height: 1.45m
1. Horse: Henriette; Rider: Ibrahim Hani Bisharat (JOR); Time: 61.98 sec; Prize money: €6,550
2. I; Ali al-Khorafi (KUW); 64.12 sec; €5,240
3. Crispo; Faleh Suwead al-Ajami (QAT); 75.85 sec; €3,930
CSI3* against the clock; Height: 1.35m
1. Horse: D Saucedo; Rider Mohamed Saeed Haidan (QAT)l Time: 54.16 sec; Prize money: €1,250
2. Steyburn; Faleh Suwead al-Ajami (QAT); 56.26 secs; €1,000
3. Casal des Forets; Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (QAT); 56.54 sec; €750
