Longines Global Champions Tour, Vienna: Beerbaum is unstoppable in the LGT Vienna Masters

Source: News Release

Beerbaum is unstoppable in the LGT Vienna Masters

(Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

The final class of the show, the CSI5* LGT Vienna Masters, was won by Championship Leader Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and Chaman, who are on sparkling form following one of the best Longines GCT seasons of Ludger’s career. Second went to fellow German Hans-Dieter Dreher with Embassy II and 3rd to Ludger's Championship rival Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) with Clarimo ASK. The World No2 was once again all smiles as he accepted his prize and took his lap of honour. With a win in the Longines GCT Lausanne Grand Prix last weekend and two other podium finishes to his name, the four-time Olympic Gold medallist is firm favourite to take this year’s Championship title.

The first round was another tricky course from Frank Rothenberger with difficult distances and awkward lines, but of the 44 starters, 15 jumped clear. Stefan Eder (AUT) set the pace early on in the jump-off with a fast clear in 45.42s to eventually finishing up 4th. In-form Simon Delestre came close to catching Eder, but it was Hans-Dieter Dreher and Embassy that smashed the time finishing in 43.75s to take the lead. However, Ludger Beerbaum is untouchable at the moment, riding a confident, deceptively fast round with Chaman to take the lead in a time of 42.90s. Second last to go, Bengtsson gave it his best shot, but had to settle for third with his bouncy grey stallion finishing in 44.84s.

As we say ‘Goodnight’ to Vienna and look ahead to Doha in November, there are exciting prospects ahead with three top names all in contention for the 2014 Championship title - reigning Champ and World No1 Scott Brash (GBR), German legend Ludger Beerbaum and 2012 Championship runner-up Rolf-Göran Bengtsson. Once again the race for the lion’s share of the €1million bonus prize fund will come right down to the wire. Join us in Doha to find out who will be crowned king.

REPLAY: Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna Grand Prix presented by Icuras

Relive every minute of the 13th and penultimate Grand Prix of the season from the first horse to the last via our YouTube channel.


	"It's not over yet. Rölf (Göran Bengtsson), but Scott (Brash) especially, are dangerous. If Scott is in the first four in Doha and I am lower than 5th, he could still beat me." Ludger Beerbaum - Championship Leader

Longines Global Champions Tour Championship Ranking

EXCLUSIVE: Ludger Beerbaum and Scott Brash on the new Longines Global Champions Tour show jumping revolution and the final battle for the 2014 Championship

World No1 Scott Brash and World No2 Ludger Beerbaum have spoken about a new era of “exciting” new football-style club competitions heralding the start of a show jumping revolution in 2015. In an exclusive interview, the global stars of the sport previewed the spectacular new Club League, which will take place in conjunction with all Longines Global Champions Tour events around the world next year.

Club owners will field “star strikers” to compete on Friday competitions at each event on the calendar, including London, Shanghai, Monaco, Paris and Doha. Global Champions Tour revolutionised the sport when it was launched in 2006 and the new League will once again transform the landscape, attracting new fans around the world, media and sponsors. Prize money for the whole season next year will rocket to around €20 million in total for the thrilling club competitions and the individual competitions.

Current LGCT ranking leader Ludger Beerbaum said: “I must say this is something really new, even for me with my experience. He for sure (Scott Brash) will be part of it for many years.” Speaking about the tactics and strategy that will be involved in selecting two riders from the squad of four for the club competitions, Ludger said: “I don’t know if maybe I will end up as the team manager and not ride any more, but it is something exciting.”

Great Britain’s Olympic gold medallist Scott Brash, who won the Longines GCT Championship last year and could still win again this year, said: “I think it is going to be really exciting for the viewers and the fans, and if an owner buys a club they are obviously going to want to have the best riders and horses in their club, so it opens up the market into buying and selling riders, and I think this becomes very interesting and strategic. If our sport can keep evolving, it can be spoken about and viewed along with the likes of golf, tennis and football.”

Speaking about the dramatic showdown for the Longines Global Champions Tour Championship title in Qatar in November Ludger said: “There are no tactics really. You just have to be ready on the right day. Personally, I have to watch out that Scott is not running away!” Scott: “From my point of view, I only have six results and many others have seven, so I have to get into the second round to get points. If I don’t, I can fall down the table. I hope I’m in the top five and Ludger’s not! He’s the man to beat.”

Full details will be announced at the Longines Global Champions Tour final leg at Al Shaqab in Doha, Qatar, from 13-15 November.