Source: News Release
Championship Exclusive - “Rolf has the best horse,” say Beerbaum and Brash
(Photo: Matteo de Grandis)
In an exclusive joint interview to be shown in full on GCT TV tomorrow, the three contenders for the 2014 Longines Global Champions Tour title sat down together in a rare collection of the world’s best. Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Scott Brash (GBR) and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) spoke candidly about their individual and each other’s chances in Saturday’s crucial final Grand Prix of the series where the 2014 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion will be decided.
Scott has his fingers crossed!
2013 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion and World No1 Scott Brash: “(Al Shaqab) has been a lucky place for me so far. It was fantastic winning here last year. I gave (Hello Sanctos) a break after Vienna. Then I gave him a warm-up show in Lyon last week and he jumped really good. It was my mistake we had the last fence down. He’s come here in the best shape we can have him. Fingers crossed for Saturday!”
Rolf remains quietly confident
2012 Longines GCT Championship runner-up and time Olympic Silver medallist Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “Sitting between these two is an honour and I have only one chance here, and that is the win, which is nearly impossible to make if you have to make it. But we don’t give up! (Casall ASK) has had a break since the World Championships and he jumped well in Lyon. He likes the big arena and the footing here and he is an experienced horse, but you have to take it a step at a time, we will just try and jump clear in the Grand Prix first round and see how it goes.”
A last-minute substitute for Beerbaum
Championship Leader and four-time Olympic Gold medallist Ludger Beerbaum: “Chiara was meant to be my ride, but she had light colic so we decided to not show her. This has left me with Zinedine, which for sure is a little bit of a disadvantage, but I am still ahead. He has been 5th and 2nd on the Tour this year so I will try my best with him. He’s always been my second or third horse, but he did really well in Shanghai and London, so why not here? If the course is not extremely big and crazy technical, I think I have a chance. It’s going to be very interesting for sure.”
Ludger continues: “We can be completely realistic, if it’s just the three of us in the jump-off - Casall was unbelievable in the World Championships, more consistent than anyone else. Then Hello Sanctos would be behind Casall, then three days and then my horse. If it came to that, it would be between Scott and Rolf. I am not competing on the same level with these two.”
Ludger is always a threat!
Scott Brash: “I don’t think it matters what Ludger is riding he is going to have a chance. Ludger is the man to beat. I agree with Ludger, Casall has been on fantastic form. Rolf could definitely win on Saturday, for sure. We are all going to be trying so it should be a good, exciting showdown.”
The Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha Grand Prix highlights will be broadcast on Eurosport on Saturday 15th November, with live coverage shown from Saturday 3.15pm CET on beIN Sports, Al Kass, Horse&Country TV, GCT TV, Equidia Life and ClassHorseTV.
Look out for the full video of the interview which will be released on our digital channels tomorrow.
"I don’t think it matters what Ludger is riding, he is going to have a chance. Ludger is the man to beat" Scott Brash, 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion
Championship shock as hot-favourite Ludger Beerbaum switches from Chiara to Zinedine for the Grand Prix
(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)
In a dramatic twist, the Longines Global Champions Tour Ranking Leader Ludger Beerbaum (GER) won´t compete his favoured top mount Chiara at the final, crucial event of the season at Al Shaqab, Doha. Instead the World No2, who currently leads the Championship by just 12 points, will ride his less experienced horse 10 year-old Zinedine.
Ludger Beerbaum: "The mare suffered a light colic. Although the vet gave his okay for a start, I won’t start with her." Beerbaum went on to say that he does not wish to risk the health of his horse. "She is fine today, but still on medication and it’s not fair to compete her here."
Beerbaum is in a three-man fight for the 2014 title with World No1 Scott Brash (GBR) and the in-form Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE). "It will be very difficult to stay ahead until the end,” said Ludger. “The chances would have been more secure with Chiara, but that’s how it is. I am looking forward to Saturday, I will try my best. It’s not over yet!"
With Brash and Bengtsson fielding their top horses, Hello Sanctos and Casall ASK, Beerbaum’s narrow lead has become even more precarious and the German star’s title hopes now rest with his young stallion. Beerbaum was widely tipped as hot-favourite for the big win on Saturday, but this last-minute switch of horses for the final showdown will make the Championship race much closer.
Wathelet and Conrad de Hus win Thursday's big class
(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)
This evening’s €90,500 CSI5* class was won by Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet and Conrad de Hus, who put in a deceptively quick round to leave a large and competitive field in their dust. Second place went to Daniel Deusser (GER) and Cornet D’Amour who had looked unbeatable, and 3rd to an ever-smiling Luciana Diniz (POR) and Fit For Fun.
The first round, built by Italy’s Uliano Vezzani, was a sweeping, attacking course that took advantage of Al Shaqab’s massive arena. Many of the star riders had their Grand Prix horses in the competition which served as a generous introduction to Saturday’s battleground. Of the 40 starters, an incredible 20 went through to the jump-off which shows the world-class calibre of the riders present at this, the final event of the season.
Championship leader Ludger Beerbaum (GER), who announced earlier today that he would not compete Chiara as expected in the Grand Prix but instead Zinedine, rode a careful round with his young stallion to collect one time fault. His rivals for the title, Scott Brash (GBR) with Hello Sanctos and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) with Casall ASK, both jumped clear though they elected not to jump-off to save their horses for the Grand Prix on Saturday.
First to go, Denis Lynch (IRE) set the pace in the jump-off with All Star 5 in a time of 41.16s. Reigning German Champion Daniel Deusser and Cornet D’Amour then wiped nearly two seconds from Lynch’s time to take the lead in 38.34s. Gregory Wathelet and Conrad de Hus, who became internet sensations in Paris this summer when Conrad’s bridle fell off mid-round, took over the lead with a great round in 37.67s from the middle of the draw. Diniz did her best to catch the time, but slotted into 3rd.
Hans-Dieter Dreher and Qataris take the top honours in opening 5* class
(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)
Hans Dieter Dreher (GER) and Callisto claimed victory in the opening CSI5* class of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha event at the spectacular Al Shaqab arena. Second and 3rd went to home stars Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi (QAT) with Gunder and Khalid Mohammed AS Al Emadi (QAT) with Utascha SFN.
Uliano Vezzani’s welcoming course offered a few opportunities for a daring turn-back and that’s how the top three really made their mark. Luca Maria Moneta (ITA) and the reliable Jimy held on to the lead with a time of 31.22s from third to go in the draw until Al Emadi shaved over a second off the Italian’s time to finish in 30.11s.
Jane Richard Philips (SUI) with Pablo de Virton, Gerco Schroder (NED) with Amarillo and Simon Delestre (FRA) with Stardust Quinhon came close, but no one could catch the 2014 Asian Games Gold-medal winning Qatari team member.
The experienced Hans Dieter Dreher benefitted from his late draw and knew exactly what he had to do, riding a neat round and stopping the clock at 28.88s. Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi, who won a CSI5* class in Valkenswaard earlier in the season, came tantalisingly close with Gunder but had to settle for 2nd this time in 29.10s.
Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation: Preserving the heritage of the horse for the next generation
(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)
Al Shaqab has a thriving Riding Academy which helps to nurture and preserve the link to Qatar's important heritage with the horse for current and future generations. To help inspire the potential new young show jumping stars of Qatar the children will come to watch the 5* competitions to see Olympic champions compete and be inspired by their sporting idols.
Longines Global Champions Tour Championship Ranking
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