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Global Champions League 2016

Concluding their season in Doha, the Global Champions League brought on some thrilling skills to the Al Shaqab arena on Thursday.

Being the proud host of the Global Champions League’s final competition of 2016, Al Shaqab with its world class venue and its brightly lit arena, is surely the perfect final destination for world champions.

Starting early in April, the teams have been going head to head with each other and the winner was crowned in Doha in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympics Committee.

The opening ceremony of the competition commenced with a parade of riders of their teams with a young rider from Al Shaqab Equine Education Department accompanying each team. Upon reaching the podium, the teams were presented to the public before setting off to prepare for the competition.

Before long, the action started in the arena as each of the riders went through every obstacle of the course, some doing extremely well while others failed and were penalized. After completing two clear rounds, the Paris Jets team comprising Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, and Nicola Philippaerts came in first place with a team total of 153:57.

In second place, champion Roger Yves Bost, and champion Marco Kutscher did the Cannes Stars team proud when they raised the team’s total to 160:92. Antwerp Diamonds came in third place with their champion riders, Jos Verlooy, and Harrie Smolders getting the team’s score to 152:99.

Champion in the last leg of the tour in Doha, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson of Paris Jets, said, “It has been a great start to the event for us. We did not get going at the beginning of the series but finally we did a good job here. It is nice for young riders to get experience on the team."

While his winning mate Nicola Philippaerts also expressed joy in wining by saying, “I’m very happy, we had a good team. It’s very special [teaming up with Rolf]. Normally we always ride with your own country and always the same people. Now you can ride with the world’s best riders, and for sure it’s nice as a young rider to get experience with these good riders in the team."

With these fantastic wins, the teams’ points were added to their collective scores. After 15 events around the world, the final team standings for the Global Champions League 2016 are as follows:

1. Valkenswaard United: 328.5 points in total with a prize of 1.363.125 Euros.
2. Antwerp Diamonds: 326 points in total.
3. Monaco Aces: 315.5 points in total.
4. Rome Gladiators: 299 points in total.
5. Cannes Stars: 274 points in total.
6. Paris Jets: 272.5 points in total.
7. Shanghai Swans: 261 points in total.
8. Cascais Charms: 254.5 points in total.
9. Doha Fursan Qatar: 246 points in total.
10. Madrid in Motion: 243 points in total.
11. Miami Glory: 243 points in total.
12. Vienna Eagles: 242 points in total.

Overall winning team’s John Whitaker of Valkenswaard United said, “I think it has worked really well. We tried to help each other out today. I was really disappointed with my fence down and that put pressure on Bertram to get a fast clear to keep us up there. We only just made the second round. I jumped clear and I thought: ‘we are in with a shot’ again. I’m very relieved to win, we have had a great season. Bertram had the speed when we needed it. That’s what it is all about."

Congratulations to Valkenswaard United for this exciting seasonal win and we look forward to see more action from the teams in 2017.