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John Whitaker and Bertram Allen edge out Harrie Smolders and Jos Verlooy by 2.5 points; Paris Jets win Doha leg In a thrilling finale, Valkenswaard United duo John Whitaker and Bertram Allen edged out Antwerp Diamonds pair Harrie Smolders and Jos Verlooy to clinch the inaugural Global Champions League (GCL) title. At the Al Shaqab arena last night, the final leg of the first-ever GCL provided all the thrills and spills. In a dramatic first round of the final, one of the favourites Monaco Aces dropped out of the title race after Daniel Bluman and Apardi clocked up 12 faults despite teammate Leopold van Asten’s clear round on VDL Groep Miss Untouchable. It left Valkenswaard United and Antwerp Diamonds to battle out for the overall title in the second round and a lion’s share of the €4.5 million season bonus prize money. Even though Antwerp finished third and Valkenswaard sixth, the latter took the top honours having come into Doha with an eight-point lead. In the end, Antwerp ran Valkenswaard close by finishing with 326 points but fell agonisingly short of the champions by 2.5 points. Earlier, Valkenswaard had put up a shocking performance in the first round. Whitaker and Allen clocked up four faults each leaving the team just scraping into the second round. Antwerp had four faults in the first round from Smolders, although his compatriot Verlooy jumped clear. Whitaker, the 61-year-old, who partnered Allen, almost 40 years his junior, admitted the duo were lucky to emerge as the champions. “In a way it was disappointing to let our fans down today after having put up a really good show all through the season. We were also lucky to make the second round today, but we hung in there and are delighted with the result,” the Brit said. Allen, though, was delighted with the outcome and gave Whitaker the credit for guiding the team. “I knew I had to do something in there. I don’t know what happened in the first round but my horse wouldn’t respond. But she did very well in the second round. We’ve had a great season and very pleased with the result,” the Irishman said. Meanwhile, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Nicola Philippaerts of Paris Jets walked away with the Doha leg title. However, they could only finish sixth overall with 272 points. It was a good warm-up for Bengtsson, who is in contention for the Global Champions Tour title along with Edwina Tops-Alexander in tomorrow’s final. “It’s a great result for us in the league. We didn’t get going initially but we had a good shot in the final here in Doha. It was exciting jumping today. We tried to put more pressure on our opponents and we were lucky the way things went for us,” Bengtsson said. Hosts Doha Fursan Qatar took the 10th spot, but hung on to their overall ninth place. The pair of Hamad al-Attiyah and Ali al-Rumaihi committed 13 penalties combined, which scuppered their hopes of finishing the podium.      Only eight teams went into the second round. Bengtsson and Philippaerts performed excellently, clearing rounds without any penalty. The second place in Doha went to Cannes Stars’ Roger Yves Bost and Marco Kutscher.   Overall final rankings 1. Valkenswaard United 328.5 2. Antwerp Diamonds 326 3. Monaco Aces 315.5 4. Rome Gladiators 299.5 5. Cannes Stars 274 6. Paris Jets 272.5 7. Shanghai Swans 261 8. Cascais Charms 254.5 9 Doha Fursan Qatar 246 10. Madrid in Motion 243 11. Miami Glory 243 12. Vienna Eagles 241.5   RESULTS Global Champions League of Doha 1. Paris Jets — Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (Clarimo ASK) and Nicola Philippaerts (H&M Zilverstar T) Time: 153.57secs. Prize money: €60,583 2. Cannes Stars — Roger-Yves Bost (Qoud’Coeur de la Loge) and Marco Kutscher (Clenur) 160.92 secs. €40,583.             3. Antwerp Diamonds — Jos Verlooy (Caracas) and Harrie Smolders (Emerald N.O.P.) 12 penalties. 152.99 secs. €26,583.   Class N1: Doha 2016 Invitational 1.20/1.25m Table A: Against the Clock 1. Meshari al-harbi (Saudi Arabia) BMC White Nose 71.81 seconds. Prize money: 3,300 QR         2. Mubarak Yousuf A S al-Rumaihi (Qatar) SIEC Cosmos Wijngaardhoeve Z 71.98 secs. 2,000 QR 3. Khalid Hamad al-Attiyah (Qatar) Viking D. 73.35 secs. 1,500 QAR.   Class N 2: Doha 2016 Invitational 1.35/1.40m Table A: Against the Clock 1. Nasser al-Ghazali (Qatar) Quel Homme. 82.78 seconds. Prize money: 4,950 QAR 2. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi (Qatar) S I E C Lonnie. 85.50 secs, 3,000 QAR 3. Rashid Towaim al-Marri (Qatar) Beyonce. 90.61secs, 2,250 QAR.   TODAY SCHEDULE 2 pm: Invitational 1.20/1.25m Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off 4 pm: Invitational 1.40m Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off 6pm: CSI5* 1.45m Two Phases: A + A, Both Phases Against the Clock 8pm: CSI5* 1.45m Table A: Against the Clock

‘I think Rolf has a lot of experience, which definitely is a big strength, and he has been trying to win this title many times. He has been so close so I know it’s important for him to win. We have been in similar positions already a few times though I was ahead of him and ended up winning. My tactic is just to do my best and be on the podium’ Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson of Sweden are locked in a neck-and-neck battle for the Global Champions Tour crown, the final leg of which will take place this Saturday in Doha. The splendid Al Shaqab arena is the fitting venue for this engrossing battle, which started in Miami in April. But after 14 legs, there is just five points that separates the leader and second placed. Bengtsson is on 272 points, ahead of Tops-Alexander, who is on 267. It’s too close to call but Tops-Alexander has the experience to pull it off on Saturday night at the Grand Prix of Doha. The 42-year-old, married to Global Champions Tour president and founder Jan Tops, is no stranger to being at the sharp end of the grid having won the title twice, and will make history should she secure a third win of her career. On the other hand, Bengtsson will be hoping to break the drought, having finished third and second in 2015 and 2014 respectively. The Swede is a silver medallist at the 2008 Olympics, and also in the team event at the 2004 Games. The pair has been in this position before, with Tops-Alexander finishing on top in previous years. But the Aussie knows it won’t be easy. She is under no illusions just how tough it will be, and remains focused at the challenge. “I think Rolf has a lot of experience, which definitely is a big strength, and he has been trying to win this title many times,” Tops-Alexander said. “He has been so close so I know it’s important for him to win. We have been in similar positions already a few times though I was ahead of him and ended up winning. My tactic is just to do my best and be on the podium. “Although five 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 anything is possible and there is only one of us that can win and one of us to be second,” she added. With Bengtsson confirmed to bring his formidable stallion Casall ASK, and Tops-Alexander riding her top Olympic mare, Lintea Tequila, it will be a battle of the highest class to see who finishes on top this season. “She won here last year in Doha, and she’s had an amazing year. I have a fantastic groom and management,” she said. “I feel good, my horse is in fantastic shape – she was at the Olympics and came third in a show a few weeks ago. It’s exciting, I think Rolf is in a slightly easier position as basically I have to be on the podium, so I have a lot of pressure but that’s what makes our sport so exciting. I have to try to do my best and stay very focused,” the two-time added. For Bengtsson it was so-near-yet-so-far in the past two seasons. The 54-yaer-old had to win in Doha to clinch the title last year but fell short as Luciana Diniz snatched the crown with a victory at Al Shaqab. The Sweded is hoping to make amends this year. “The final in Doha will be special and it would be a dream to take the title. I’ve been in this position twice before so I’m hoping it’ll be third time lucky! Edwina is an amazing rider so I know it’ll be tough. But Casall is better than ever and I know together we’ll pull out all the stops at Al Shaqab,” said Bengtsson. 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. Other big names competing will be World No.2 Simon Delestre of France, No. 6 Germany’s Daniel Deusser, No. 8 and Rio Olympic Team Gold Medallist Kevin Staut from France, No. 9 Marcus Ehning of Germany and No. 10 Britain’s Scott Brash. Before the marquee event, tomorrow the competition will open with the final of the inaugural Global Champions League, the team based event. Current leaders Valkenswaard United are in pole position going into the final on a total tally of 309.5 points. The combination of John Whitaker and Bertram Allen has proved formidable in the debut GCL season, and they have won three of the team’s four wins (Miami Beach, Hamburg and Vienna). They are set to make history by becoming the first winners of the GCL. 12 teams will be in action to open the three days of top level equestrian competition. Home team Doha Fursan Qatar are in ninth position with 231 points. Olympic rider Ali Yousef al-Rumaihi and young talent Hamad al-Attiyah will carry the hosts’ hopes tomorrow.

Sheikh Ali will compete in front of home crowd at Al Shaqab with his top horse, First Devision on Saturday The magnificent Al Shaqab arena is once again set to host an enticing Global Champions Tour finale. Being the final stop of the 15-city equestrian tour, Doha is where the climax takes place. Once again the title battle is nicely set up, with two riders challenging for the overall crown – Rolf-Goran Bengtsson of Sweden and Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia. Bengtsson is just five points ahead of Edwina and they will go face-to-face in Saturday’s Grand Prix, which will unveil the new champion. But for the locals, it will be Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani, who will be the centre of attraction. The Qatari rider was the country’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Rio Olympics earlier this year. The top-ranked rider Qatari perhaps needed no more bigger motivation to perform at the Rio Games. The 34-year-old put in a strong performance at his debut Olympics finishing sixth individually. In the team jumping event, Qatar came ninth. Although, Sheikh Ali is at 20th position in the GCT rankings, ruling him out of the overall title, he could spring a surprise by winning the Grand Prix of Doha this Saturday. Sheikh Ali will compete in front of his home crowd at Al Shaqab with his top horse, First Devision, giving local fans the chance to witness their heroes in action for the first time since the Olympic Games. Talking about what it meant to be back in Qatar and riding, Sheikh Ali said: “We are honoured to have this event in Qatar, this is the final, it’s in my country – we will do our best to perform well. It is an international event and will be broadcast around the world.” The euphoric memory of carrying the Qatar flag at the Maracana Stadium still lights up Sheikh Ali’s face. “It was a proud moment to represent Qatar and it got even better when you get to be the flagbearer at the Olympics. It pushed me to perform well because of that feeling I was carrying the Qatari flag,” he recounts. Sheikh Ali said the Olympic experience will serve him good for his confidence, given that he was not far away from winning medal. “That we came close to a medal at our debut at the Olympics gives us a lot of confidence and we are happy that we performed very well at that level. Some of our riders missed the qualification given the time pressure, but in the end we were not very far from a medal and we are proud of our first performance at the Olympics,” he said. The 2014 Asian Games gold medallist said qualifying for their maiden Olympics itself was a big achievement. “We were better prepared for Rio. It was difficult given that there were 15 nations from the Arab and African region competing to qualify for the one qualification spot. It was difficult. Even though there was a big gap of 15 points between us and the second team,” he said. Now Sheikh Ali will be hoping he can sign off the season on a high by winning the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha on Saturday. Meanwhile, Omar al-Mannai, Commercial Manager of Al Shaqab spoke about the importance of hosting the prestigious final event of the international calendar in Doha. Al-Mannai said the Global Champions Tour gives Qataris a unique opportunity to experience a world class equestrian event as the country builds on its involvement in the sport. “Qatari riders benefit to the maximum from events such as these here in Al Shaqab. We are trying to promote the level of organisation and the level of the riders and we would like to be the lighthouse of equestrian in the Arab world, and in The Gulf,” he said. “We also want to do more not just for the riders but for all those connected with the event. It is also the first time that we have people from the Emirates and Oman participating in organisation of GCT and League. This event helps us reach the highest level of organisation,” he added. Longines Global Champions Tour president and founder Jan Tops spoke of the significance of returning to Qatar, and Al Shaqab hosting the final event for the third year running. “It is very special to host the final here at Al Shaqab. The facilities here are first class. It’s a beautiful arena, great stables for the horses and facilities for the grooms. To have here two riders who can win the title, and it will not be decided until the last round – it’s not often in sport you can have a final like this, but we’ll keep the suspense to the last moment for the fans around the world,” he said. Before the Grand final on Saturday, the championship will open tomorrow with the first ever final of the Global Champions League (GCL), where one team will make history by winning the title for the first time. 12 teams will be in action to open the three days of top level equestrian sport in Doha. Current leaders Valkenswaard United are in pole position going into the final on a total tally of 309.5 points. The combination of John Whitaker and Bertram Allen has proved formidable in the debut GCL season, and they have won an incredible three of the team’s four wins (Miami Beach, Hamburg and Vienna). Home team Doha Fursan Qatar, who are currently in ninth position with 231 points, will be in action with Olympic rider Ali Yousef al-Rumaihi and young talent Hamad al-Attiyah to compete.

Katinka Hosszu is a prime example of what an athlete can achieve if one pushes the limit. It’s amazing how the Hungarian competes in a bunch of events, but it’s even more astonishing when she clinches medals in every single one of them. After winning four gold and two silver medals on Day One of the FINA World Cup Series in Doha, the 27-year-old did one better on the second day by claiming five gold and two silver. Having dominated the first five legs of the series in Paris-Chartres, Berlin, Moscow, Beijing and Dubai, Hosszu, who won three gold and one silver at the Rio Olympics in August, showed no signs of letting up at the Hamad Aquatic Centre. The only blemish in her performance in Doha was that she could not beat Jeanette Ottesen of Denmark. On Saturday, Ottesen had beaten Hosszu in the 100m butterfly. And the Dane took the bragging rights again yesterday, as she beat Hosszu in 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly. In the 100m butterfly, Ottesen led by seven tenths at the halfway point and never looked back, winning with ease in 51.58 seconds to Hosszu’s 52.63. Ottesen was also dominant in 50m butterfly, clocking 25.13 secs. Hosszu could only manage a second in this race with her 25.98. Ottesen left Doha with four gold, after she had captured the 100m butterfly and 50 freestyle events on the first day. However, it was Hosszu all the way after that. The ‘Iron Lady’ was in her elements in 100m backstroke, one of her Olympic gold medal races. Hosszu won in 56.44, well ahead of Ukraine’s Darya Zevina, who clocked 57.26 after taking down Hosszu in the 200 back on Saturday. China’s Cheng Haihua was a comfortable third-place finisher in 58.05. There were only six women in the 200 butterfly, but there was no way to split the top two. Olympic silver medallist Madeline Groves led for almost the entire length of the race, but Hosszu was charging hard. The two ended up touching at the exact same time in 2:03.34. Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakobos grabbed third place in 2:07.12. In the 400 freestyle, Hosszu earned another come-from-behind win, taking over the lead with a blistering 58.64 final 100 meters. She touched the wall in 4:03.94, out-pacing China’s Fang Yi, who settled for second in 4:04.82. Jakobos was once again third 4:06.50. Hosszu stopped the clock in 57.92 to win the 100m medley. Katie Meili of the USA was second in 59.19, while Jamaica’s swam a 1:00.51 for third. In the 100m medley, the final event of the competition Hosszu finished it off in style by cruising to victory in 4:31.18. Jakabos was second this time with a time of 4:33.39, while the bronze medal went to Australia’s Tessa Wallace in 4:42.18. The defending men’s World Series champion Chad le Clos took two gold and one bronze on the night. The South African was off colour on Saturday, when he won just one gold and two silver, but he was back in form yesterday. In the 200m freestyle, Le Clos overtook Great Britain’s James Guy for first place with a blazing last 50. Guy had previously pulled ahead of Le Clos on the third 50, but the South African had something left in the tank. Le Clos touched in at 1:42.84, and Guy held off another South African, Myles Brown, for second, 1:43.17 to 1:43.20. Le Clos earned another comeback win in the 100m butterfly. The two-time Olympic silver medallist and defending World Champion in the event trailed Japan’s Takeshi Kawamoto and Belarus’ Pavel Sankovich at the halfway point before rallying on the way home. Le Clos touched in 50.23, well off his world record of 48.44 but just enough to clip Kawamoto’s 50.44. Sankovich ended up third in 50.98. Le Clos’ bronze came in the 50m freestyle, where he finished behind Vladimir Morozov, who sprinted his way to the top of the podium in 21.05.  Taking second behind the Russian was Great Britain’s Benjamin Proud in 21.22. Le Clos rounded out the top three in 21.34. RESULTS Women’s 100m Freestyle 1. Jeanette Ottesen (Denmark) 51.58s 2. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary) 52.63 3. Madeline Groves (Australia) 52.89 Men’s 200m Freestyle 1. Chad le Clos (South Africa) 1:42.84 2. James Guy (Great Britain) 1:43.17 3. Myles Brown (South African) 1:43.20 Women’s 50m Breaststroke 1. Alia Atkinson (Jamaica) 28.98s 2. Yulia Efimova (Russia) 29.27 3. Katie Meili (USA) 29.78 Men’s 100m Breaststroke 1. Vladimir Morozov (Russia) 56.97s 2. Felipe Lima (Brazil) 57.12. 3. Daiya Seto (Japan)  58.07 Men’s 100m Butterfly 1. Chad le Clos (South Africa)  50.23s 2. Takeshi Kawamoto (Japan)  50.44 3. Pavel Sankovich (Belarus)  50.98 Women’s 100m Backstroke 1. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary)  56.44s 2. Darya Zevina (Ukraine)  57.26 3. Haihua Cheng (China)  58.05 Men’s 50m Backstroke 1. Pavel Sankovich (Belarus)  23.05s 2. Bobby Hurley (Australia) 23.31 3. Miguel Ortiz-Canavante (Spain)  23.48 Women’s 200m Butterfly 1. Madeline Groves (Australia)  2:03.34 1. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary)  2:03.34 3. Zsuzsanna Jakobos (Hungary)  2:07.12 Men’s 200m Individual Medley 1. Daiya Seto (Japan)  1:52.49 2. Phillip Heintz (Germany) 1:52.81 3. Josh Prenot (USA)  1:54.65 Women’s 400 Freestyle 1. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary)  4:03.94 2. Fang Yi (China)  4:04.82 3. Zsuzsanna Jakobos (Hungary) 4:06.50 Men’s 50m Freestyle 1. Vladimir Morozov (Russia)  21.05s 2. Benjamin Proud (Great Britain)  21.22 3. Chad le Clos (South Africa)  21.34 Women’s 200 Breaststroke 1. Rie Kaneto (Japan)  2:15.76s 2. Yuliya Efimova (Russia) 2:16.39 3. Breeja Larson (USA)  2:19.32 Women’s 100m Individual Medley 1. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary) 57.82s 2. Katie Meili (USA) 59.19 3. Alia Atkinson (Jamaica)  1:00.51 Men’s 200 Backstroke 1. Bobby Hurley (Australia)  1:51.70 2. Omar Pinzon Garcia (Colombia) 1:52.56 3. Stanislav Donetc (Russia) 1:53.93 Women’s 50m Butterfly 1. Jeanette Ottesen (Denmark)  25.13s 2. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary)  25.98 3. Madeline Groves (Australia)  26.14 Men’s 1500 Freestyle 1. Gergely Gyurta (Hungary)  14:32.69 2. Myles Brown (South Africa)  14:49.64 3. Poul Zellmann (Germany)  14:51.58 Women’s 400m Individual Medley 1. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary)  4:31.18 2. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (Hungary)  4:33.39 3. Tessa Wallace (Australia)  4:42.18

It was a familiar story at the Doha leg of the FINA World Cup last night. At the Hamad Aquatic Centre, Katinka Hosszu was in action in seven events with the Hungarian ‘Iron Lady’ scooping four gold and two silver medals on the night, in what was certainly a normal routine for the Olympic champion. Hosszu won three gold medals and one silver at the Rio Olympics in August and is at the peak of her career. But the 27-year-old has always been queen of World Cup series, bagging medals at will. And she continued her dominant performance last night in front of a small crowd. Hosszu started her medal spree by finishing on top in the 200m freestyle, coming home in 1:53.29 seconds. Australia’s Madeline Groves and Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos held a tight race for the remaining two spots on the podium. Groves got her hand to the wall first to claim second with a 1:54.46 over Jakabos’ 1:54.67. She had to settle for silver in the 100 metres butterfly, with Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen clocking a 55.93 to win her first of two gold medals on the night. In the 50m backstroke, Hosszu and Ukraine’s Daryna Zevina fought a close race, but the Hungarian clocked 26.38 seconds over Zevina’s 26.53. The 200 individual medley is one of her signature events and Hosszu cruised to victory with a time of 2:05.77, almost two seconds ahead of second-placed Yulia Efimova of Russia. Hosszu’s second medal of the night came in 200m backstroke, with Zevina this time coming out on top. The Ukrainian’s final time of 2:01.25 was just slightly better than Hosszu’s 2:01.48. The Hungarian marathon lady rounded off her night with a gold in the 800 freestyle. There was no fatigue on display as Hosszu touched the wall in 8:27.58, three seconds ahead of China’s Fang Yi, who took home silver. In between all the medals she won, Hosszu just missed out on a podium finish in 50m freestyle, coming fourth in a race won by Ottesen The Dane stopped the clock at a 23.84, finishing over half a second ahead of the competition. Australia’s Brittany Elmslie finished second overall with a 24.48, while the USA’s Katie Meili rounded out the podium with a third place finish of 24.63. Hosszu was fourth with a timing of 24.74. In the men’s, reigning World Cup series champion Chad le Clos had a disappointing night by his standards. The South African took one gold and two silver medals. Le Clos holds the World Record in the 200m buttefly, but the 24-year-old was pipped to gold by Daiya Seto of Japan. It was a tight race, with Germany’s Philip Heintz jumping to an early lead turning ahead of both Seto and le Clos at the first 50-metre mark. But the German was unable to hold off a charging Seto. Heintz held onto second until the 150-metre mark when le Clos moved up to second and began to chase down Seto. The battle of the Olympians concluded with Seto clocking a 1:49.84 to finish ahead of le Clos’ 1:49.93. Le Clos, however, redeemed himself by winning the 50m butterfly with a 22.36 finish. Great Britain’s Benjamin Proud and Japan’s Takeshi Kawamoto rounded out the podium with times of 22.57 and 22.62 respectively. In the 100m freestyle, Vladimir Morozov picked first of his two gold of the night. The Russian posted a time of 45.77 seconds to claim his sixth consecutive gold in the event for the World Cup 2016 series. Le Clos came second with a 46.00, while Japan’s Katsumi Nakamura finished third with a 46.83.Morozov later also won in 200m individual medley.