Global Champions Tour 2011 Kicks Off in Doha

The Global Champions Tour started yesterday in Qatar and showcases some of the showjumping worldʼs top riders and horses.  This prestigious event will run from 17 - 19 March.

At the press conference held on Wednesday, as a lively desert wind swept through, keeping everyone on their toes at the nearby Al Rayyan training ground, the media got a glimpse of the thrills ahead as the worldʼs best compete on the north eastern coast of the Arabian peninsula for the highest prize money in the sport.

The three-day event kicks off in Doha and concludes eight months later in Abu Dhabi underlining the surging importance of this prestigious equestrian sport in this
region of the Middle East.

Speaking at the opening press conference, Qatar Equestrian Federation president Rashid Al Mansoori said: “Both teams from the Tour and the Federation have been working very hard to get the event off to a smooth start”.

“We are confident that this will be the best show ever held in Doha.

“Our ambition is to bring up equestrian sport in Qatar and hosting this event adds to what we are doing in Qatar with equine sport.

“Hosting an event such as the GCT also raises the profile of Qatar in the equestrian world and we are glad that we have the opportunity to do so.”

With the trailblazing GCT offering three spectacular days of elite sports entertainment, one of the regionʼs most successful riders spoke of his personal hopes for the competition.

Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani spoke to journalists and camera crews at the press conference in the luxurious surroundings of the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Leading Qatari rider and international competitor Sheikh Al Thani said: “GCT is the best tour now in the world.

“We are really happy to have it in Qatar and have a chance to ride in the 5*. I am keen do well here.”

GCT reigning champion and leading prize winner Marcus Ehning (pictured left doing his lap of honour in 2010) joined the press launch and didn’t hold back on his praise for the prestige Tour saying it had blazed a trail by setting ever higher standards in the sport.

He said: “It is like a Formula One tour. It is really the top of the top for prize money and in the best cities in the world. It is a truly global event.”

GCT president and founder and Olympic gold medallist Jan Tops told the media: “The Tour and the riders are very happy and excited to be back in Doha because we know the facilities are fantastic.

“They started with a good flight and the horses are all fit. The stabling is first class and the arena has really been improved.

“Qatar was the first in this region and now Abu Dhabi is joining as well. It is very good for the region and the sport overall.”

Top ranking female rider Edwina Alexander praised the first class travel facilities for the horses and their grooms on the six-hour flight from Belgium.

Edwina, who will compete with her nine-year-old mare Ciske Van Overis, said: “It is very exciting to be back here in Doha.

“The prize money for this year’s 10 events is 7 million euros which is the highest for all the disciplines put together by FEI. But it isn’t just all about the prize money.

“As the years have gone on, it is getting better and better. It’s the only Tour with live TV on Saturday night.

“A lot of the riders have moved their schedules around the GCT to make sure they have their best horses on the Tour.”

The return to Doha - the first of 10 events in 9 countries - comes after the city hosted GCT’s opening leg in 2008 and the final of the 2009 championship.

Updates and news available on the Global Champions Tour website on facebook and twitter. Don’t miss all the action of the events on the live streaming section of the Global Champions Tour website. The GCT Grand Prix of Doha will be broadcast via Eurosport on Saturday 19th March at 21h00. Al Jazeera cover the GCT Doha over the three days as follows; Thursday 17th March 17h00 to 22h30, Friday 18thMarch 19h00 to 22h00,Saturday 19th March 15h00 to 22h30.