Edwina to Battle it Out at the Final 2012 Global Champions Tour Event in Abu Dhabi

The stakes could not be higher as two of the world’s top riders go head to head in the final event of the 2012 Global Champions Tour, in an epic climax to show jumping’s most coveted championship.

Abu Dhabi will this week play host to the 12th and last leg of this year’s GCT with world No1 female rider and current GCT champion Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) battling against Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE).

The unique end to the 2012 season means only Edwina and Rolf have enough points to win show jumping’s richest and most prestigious prize. Both are on equal points - 196 - at the top of the GCT ranking. Their podium positions during the season will be crucial to take into account after the GCT Gucci Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi. Going into the final Edwina has an advantage as she won the first event in Doha and has held the lead throughout the season. Rolf has achieved podium success several times during the season, but does not have a 40-point win under his belt. This could make the critical difference between championship glory and 2nd place after the Grand Prix on Saturday evening. Both Rolf and Edwina have promised to give it their “best shot” as they prepare for battle.

Rolf, 50, will be riding his champion 13-year-old dark bay stallion Casall La Silla.

Edwina, 38, will be riding her champion chestnut gelding Cevo Itot du Chateau. Go to www.globalchampionstour.com to see the 2012 season results for the star horses Itot and Casall.

As well as the drama of the gladiatorial battle between Edwina and Rolf, there will be a feverish competition among the world’s top riders to win a place in the top 18 and a share of almost €1m in championship prize money. The thrilling showdown at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort will see the eyes of the equestrian world focused on the Global Champions Tour Gucci Grand Prix.

The high calibre event has attracted around two thirds of the world’s leading show jumping riders including Olympic gold, silver and bronze medallists.

GCT partner Jaeger-LeCoultre, the luxury Swiss watchmaker, will present one of its iconic Reverso timepieces to the winner.

GCT President Jan Tops said: “It has been a superb season so far and we are now all set for a truly dramatic end to the championship. It will make a very exciting climax to the year, for all our fans, our TV and online audience and our sponsors. Our sport of show jumping is growing in popularity around the world and I look forward to our 2013 season, when we will take Global Champions Tour to an even higher level.”

Leading United Arab Emirates rider Sheikh Shakboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan spoke about the GCT championship final in his home country and said: “For me, one of the most important things is that we are looking at the final with Edwina and Rolf on equal ranking, it is incredible. Of course for me it is very special as we are going to see this important sporting situation in Abu Dhabi, it is such a privilege. To have the two top riders ending up equal at the show before the final is something that may not happen again.”

The 2012 season has attracted over 250,000 spectators already and has already been watched by millions of viewers on the world’s leading sports channel Eurosport. Fans of show jumping have witnessed knife edge jump offs as the stars of the sport have battled over extremely challenging courses in spectacular destinations from Monaco to Chantilly and in new venues like Vienna, Lausanne and Wiesbaden.

Since the Global Champions Tour was launched in 2006 it has grown from six events to 12 and has revolutionised standards in show jumping. The Tour is seen as the benchmark for excellence in the sport, delivering world class competition in stunning locations for the highest prize money in show jumping.

Eurosport, which broadcasts to 130 million homes in 59 countries, will broadcast the Global Champions Tour Gucci Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi the 24^th of november at 22:15. All classes during GCT Abu Dhabi can be seen on the live stream at www.globalchampionstour.com/gct-live

Story & Photo: Global Champions Tour