Showjumping superstars head to Doha for GCT finale

Anall-star cast of eight out of the world’s top 10 riders will be headingto Al Shaqab for this weekend’s climax of the 2017 Global ChampionsTour (GCT) and Global Champions League.Harrie Smolders of theNetherlands, Britain’s Scott Brash, Eric Lamaze of Canada, Lorenzo deLuca of Italy, Gregory Wathelet of Belgium, Kevin Staut of France, PederFredricson of Sweden and Dutch Maikel van der Vleuten will all be inaction at the final leg of the season.Qatar’s challenge will be ledby Olympians Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohammedat the magnificent Al Shaqab arena from November 9 to 11. The finalswill play out on the grand stage of Al Shaqab, a member of the QatarFoundation. This year, Al Shaqab celebrates its’ 25th anniversary, andthe three-day event will hold something for all the family, with a kidsentertainment area, Arabian displays and a special show to celebrate theanniversary. There will be a captivating battle for the finaloverall ranking places after a season of phenomenal Global ChampionsTour Grand Prix action across the world in stunning locations.  Withcompetition reaching new heights this year, the LGCT season has seennail-biting split second finishes from the best horse and ridercombinations who consistently compete at every event. Talking aboutthe top calibre events, Scott Brash said: “The level of competition onthe GCT circuit is so high, so to win a Grand Prix or League class youand your horse have to be at the absolute top of your game.”Lorenzode Luca said he will be “giving everything” to keep his second place inthe overall LGCT championship ranking and said: “GCT is one of the bestand most difficult circuits in the world.”New LGCT Champion HarrieSmolders, who made history this year by taking the title at thepenultimate event in Rome, said: “In the Global Champions Tour the levelis very, very high because we have the best horses and the best ridersin the world. A higher level is not possible.”Walter von K?nel,President of Longines, said: “We are pleased to be back at themagnificent Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre which will once again providethe perfect backdrop for this much-awaited final of the series. Ourbrand also looks forward to the weekend’s highlight, the Longines GlobalChampions Tour Grand Prix of Doha, to which we lend our name.”Lorenzode Luca currently sits in second with 260 points overall, withChristian Ahlmann of Germany just three points away on 257. AlbertoZorzi of Italy is only a two-point whisker away on 255 points. Maikelvan der Vleuten and two-time LGCT Champion Brash, on 247 and 245 pointsrespectively, will be formidable opponents in the final deciding LGCTGrand Prix of 2017.In the Global Champions League race to the finishline, teams are tactically fielding heavy-weight combinations for thefinal push for the overall ranking and season prize money.HamburgDiamonds and Valkenswaard United lock horns for the final time in 2017after their intensive duel for the title crown saw them pull ahead ofthe 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 GCLTop 10 finish. Other top riders competing in Doha include SimonDelestre of France, Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia,  Germany’sDaniel Deusser, Marco Kutscher , Belgian Pieter Devos, Ben Maher ofBritain, Bertram Allen of Ireland,  Laura Kraut of USA, Marlon Zanotelliof Brazil,  and Lauren Hough of USA.  Winners of LGCT Grand Prix thisseason will also be competing, including Mexico City winner Martin Fuchsof Switzerland, Miami Beach winner Jerome Guery Belgium, Cannes winnerSergio Alvarez Moya of Spain, and Rome winner Evelina Tovek of Sweden.