Top riders, top horses for the GCT finale in Abu Dhabi
In its sixth season in 2011 the Global Champions Tour has to date held 9 events across 8 countries with the concluding round just around the corner –November 24-26, to be showcased at the Al Forsan International Sport Resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
All is set to welcome the world’s best show jumping riders to this destination in Abu Dhabi for the exciting climax to the 2011 season. In recent weeks the Al Forsan International Sports Resort has transformed their already spectacular facilities to international show jumping standards in readiness to host the prestigious event.
Riders have now made decisions around which horses they will take to the final event. Two separate flights of horses leave Europe on 19th & 20th November and once landed in Abu Dhabi will be quickly transported and housed in plush conditions at the resort stabling.
Riders comfort, also at the forefront, will be flown via Etihad Airways and accommodated at the Hilton Abu Dhabi.
Popular Irishman Denis Lynch, who has housed a good collection of performances of the GCT season, sits currently in 5th ranking position. He has nominated Lantinus and Lord Luis as his horses to be flown to the Abu Dhabi event.
Winner of the GCT Grand Prix’s in Hamburg and Monaco and 2011 crowned European Champion, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson from Sweden will ride Casall La Silla and will be bringing Carusso LS La Silla as his second ride.
Dutch rider Gerco Schroder, winner of the GCT Rio de Janeiro, brings Eurocommerce Vigaro and Eurocommerce New Orleans who he will ride in the Grand Prix.
Brazilian Alvaro de Miranda Neto steps back out with AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan, the horse he had very good success with earlier in the season winning the GCT Grand Prix in Doha and now in good form winning the Vienna Grand Prix.
Irishman Billy Twomey lands in Abu Dhabi with Tinka’s Serenade and a young Grand Prix mare Wings Sublime.
German Christian Ahlmann, who won the Grand Prix in Estoril, will not be taking winning horse Taloubet Z, instead will front with Lorenzo and Firth of Clyde.
Portugese lady rider Luciana Diniz, who sits in 4th position on the GCT ranking, takes Winningmood who ferried her to successful top placings at Monaco and Estoril.
The top FEI ranked riders who have accepted to ride in Abu Dhabi will be joined by UAE nominated riders and FEI wildcard nomination of Malaysian rider Syed Omar Almohdzar. The United Arab Emirates leading rider Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan will compete with Muscaris d”Ariel who he placed 16 th in Doha and 9th in Valencia rounds of the tour series.
The arrival of the Global Champions Tour in Abu Dhabi must be seen as another significant step towards establishing United Arab Emirates firmly in the worlds equestrian sports market.
Prizemoney
Top 3 rider earnings
1.Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) €486,326
2.Gerco Schroder (NED) €356,275 2
3.Ludger Beerbaum (GER) €282,801
Top 3 horse earnings
1.Itot de Chateau (Edwina Tops-Alexander) €439,860
2.Eurocommerce London (Gerco Schroder) €331,695
3.Casall la Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) €230,215