(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

World No1 and 2013 LGCT Champion Scott Brash won the Longines Global Champions Tour of London Grand Prix presented by Qatar in spectacular fashion in front of a rapturous home crowd who would have raised the roof of Horse Guards Parade Ground if there had been one. From the very beginning, Brash was hailed as the one to beat and he never faltered. With three LGCT Gold medals and a Bronze under his belt so far this year, the Scotsman is well on his way to defending his Championship title for a second consecutive year.

Second place went to Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and Zinedine who executed three lovely rounds - the only other treble double clear of the class. In the press conference after the prize giving Beerbaum said that he was thrilled with the horse, as 2nd place was the maximum he could have hoped for against Brash and his 2012 Olympic Gold medal-winning partner. Third went to Madrid Grand Prix winners Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) and VDL Groep Verdi who lowered a rail in the four-horse jump-off. Katie Dinan (USA) and Nougat du Vallet were the fourth combination to go forward to the final round, but in a race to catch Brash, a tight turn resulted in horse and rider parting company - the talented young rider was unhurt and happy to claim 4th.   

Crowds packed into Horse Guards Parade Ground for the feature class of the show to be greeted by gorgeous sunshine and the very best international show jumping in the world. The elegant VIP Hospitality suite was buzzing with the glamorous show jumping crowd who enjoyed a rare coming together of the world’s Top 18 riders for one of the biggest and highly anticipated events of the show jumping calendar. Twenty-two riders went through to the 2nd round, a testament to the incredible level of talent present here for the 11th round of the series.

Uliano Vezzani’s first round course was a curling and twisty creation that rode much better than expected. The last fence in front of the vibrant VIP, the commemorative 1908 Olympic fence from London 2012, broke quite a few hearts - the front rail rolling gently off its cups for a number of big names. The second round was a tough ride with technical, angled distances running the length of the arena. Last year’s winning combination, Ben Maher (GBR) and Cella, were caught out by an awkward turn from the Longines combination to the GCT Oxer, collecting four faults in the second round.

The Championship Ranking Top 3 now sees two Swedes 1st and 2nd as we head into Round 12 in Lausanne, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson at No1 and Henrik von Eckermann at No2 with Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) in No3 on the same points as Eckermann but with less podium finishes, however the chasing pack are gaining momentum while Beerbaum and Brash charge up to within pouncing distance of the leaders. Lausanne, 12-14 September, will see the pressure rise again as the final in Doha approaches fast. Early in the season Brash voiced his intention to defend his LGCT title this year and he seems to be executing his plan of attack perfectly.

Present: 

Jan Tops - President of Longines Global Champions Tour

Charles Villoz - Vice President Sales Longines 

Hamad Al Attiya - President of Qatar Equestrian Federeation

Scott Brash (GBR) - Grand Prix winner

Ludger Beerbaum (GER) - Grand Prix runner-up

Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) - 3rd, Grand Prix

Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) - Championship Leader

Scott Brash - "I’m a very lucky person at the minute, that sort of horse doesn’t come around too often. I think you get one in your lifetime, really, if you’re lucky you get another one, but I mean for everything he’s achieved, for all his clear rounds he’s jumped and the joy that he’s brought so many people – my owners, my staff, everyone, the nation – and myself… Yeah, he’s brought me a lot of joy as well, he just really is an incredible horse, yeah I am just so, so happy to be riding him. I think before Estoril I said to a couple of people that he just felt really fit – I probably got him the most fit of the whole year. You know, you can’t have them completely top fit all year round, and obviously with the World Equestrian Games in our sights, we’re trying to peak for then and he’s already peaking. He feels fantastic, he really does. But really it is fantastic to win here in front of your home crowd. I mean it makes a big difference and it spurs you on more. You really want to win, you want to give them something to shout about, so I’m really happy that we’ve done it today."

Ludger Beerbaum - "I couldn’t be more happy to be honest because today, realistically second place was the maximum I could get. I didn’t have my first horse here and knowing Scott today with Hello Sanctos, it wasn’t really possible for me to beat, even if I would’ve been in the starting order behind him. I felt try and don’t make yourself look ridiculous, go for a clear round and see what happens and it worked out to be second was the maximum I could get today."

Maikel van der Vleuten - "Okay, I think the first round was also a good class, but a lot of clear rounds. The second round was even a bit more difficult, a bit bigger and in the end there were only four in the jump-off. Okay, for me it really wasn’t a jump-off to go that fast, I mean, there were a lot of lines with distances and they were all 'waiting' strides for me and I also got one down in the double so… But anyway, I’m happy with the way he jumped today."

Rolf-Goran Bengtsson - "We have seen fantastic sport here today and it’s really nice to see - all the facilities here are wonderful. My own case today, my horse is not really ready for these kind of shows yet and it was too much today and I couldn’t finish it off."

Jan Tops: "A place like that is unique in the world. We have great cities like Paris and Shanghai, but I think this is one of our crown jewels. Not only because it is in London, but it is also in horse country and in England they understand horses and have a long tradition with them and you see the support that Scott got today - it is amazing to see. Scott is of course, like the other riders, a dangerous rider when he comes after the others. He knows he can go very fast, he stays cool with it and he’s great against the clock. Scott and Sanctos had 30 clear rounds out of 31 on the Global Champions Tour last year, it’s an incredible record. It’s getting closer and closer now in the championship, Rolf is still in the lead, you know, but Scott has one – even two – placings less so he could be the one to go to the final and win in Doha. Of course, Henrik and Ludger are also in a great position and it’s getting close to the end."

Hamad Al Attiya - "We know that the Longines Global Champions Tour chooses the best cities in the world to present horses and showjumpers. We are glad to be here to sponsor the show. We will not stop today, we have many other things coming - I think next year something will be special as well."

Charles Villoz - "I hope that we will be back here next year because this is a fantastic spot. What a difference when there is enthusiastic public and they really enjoyed it this afternoon. It was a tense moment. I would also, on behalf of Longines, congratulate Scott for his fantastic tournament this afternoon."

Horse Guards Parade Ground has provided one of the most spectacular backdrops ever seen on the Tour (Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

Michael Whitaker dominates for a home win in the Massimo Dutti Prix (Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT) Grand Prix Saturday of the Longines Global Champions Tour got off to a sparkling start as home rider Michael Whitaker (GBR) and Elie van de Kolmen flew to victory in the Massimo Dutti Prix CSI5* speed class in front of a very supportive British crowd who gasped and cheered as he dared his mare to turn tighter and faster. Second place went to World No1 Scott Brash and Hello Annie, who led the competition from mid-way through the draw with an impressive round which looked like it would’t be beaten. Third went to Tiffany Foster and Victor who had led the way from early on only to be pipped at the post by the two home stars.   The Uliano Vezzani course was twisty and technical. Sixteen of the 32 starters jumped clear and the top three riders all finished within 0.22s of each other. The spectators got to their feet as Whitaker took his lap of honour in appreciation of his daring round. Many have predicted a British win this afternoon in the Longines Global Champions Tour of London Grand Prix presented by Qatar. With Scott Brash in strong form and currently carrying two LGCT Grand Prix wins this season he looks like the man to beat here at Horse Guards Parade Ground.

Longines Global Champions Tour Ranking 2014