The Global Champions Tour Begins in Cannes, France

Horses performing at the Cannes Jumping International 30th Anniversary gala cocktail party (Photo: Stefano Grasso/GCT)

The Global Champions Tour has arrived in the beautiful destination of Cannes on the Cote d’Azur, France.  The major focus is the top-level sport of show jumping, as in all of the 2011 Global Champions Tour’s 10 events across 9 countries.

However, the relaxed ambiance at the Cannes location on the Mediterranean Sea dictates the uniqueness this Global Champions Tour event. 

The Global Champions Tour in Cannes will run over three days June 7-9 with the feature Grand Prix commencing on Saturday evening at 18h00.

This year Cannes Jumping International celebrates its 30^th anniversary.  The celebrations started with a gala cocktail party, hosted by the organization’s President Francoise Bourey.  A thousand or more hot shots from across different sectors mixed it with the Global Champions tour riders and officials.

Guests took the opportunity to wander with champagne in hand, along the carpeted pier.  The area was surrounded by luxury boats moored on one side and a plethora of luxury products and artwork on the other.   The evening progressed with a spectacular firework display followed by artistic dance and liberty horse entertainment.

The town of Cannes is very supportive of the Global Champions Tour held here for the 6^th year.  Jan Tops, President of the Global Champions Tour has had a long association with Cannes, having competed himself here on numerous occasions.  It is fitting that he showcases the top sport of show jumping at this unique harbour-side location.

"It is great to be here with the Global Champions Tour for the 4th leg of the 2011 series and join Cannes Jumping International in their 30th anniversary celebrations," commented Jan Tops, President of the Global Champions Tour.

"The cozy atmosphere at this event, and in the town of Cannes, sees family and friends enjoying the casual ambiance.  At this Global Champions Tour event, we have the mixture of the top international sport of show jumping in an relaxed, yet stylish setting, on the French Riviera."

Whilst the Global Champions Tour presents itself in the millionaire’s territory of the French Riviera, the race is still on to see which top listed show jumping rider will be the first to become the first Global Champions Tour Millionaire. 

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) leads the group of high-end prize money earners with a total of 976,982 Euros.  This weekend she could just reach the milestone million Euro mark.  With 285,000 Euros on offer for the Grand Prix of Cannes event, placing in the top four will see her reach the target million Euros.

Edwina Alexander is hot on her tail having made significant deposits to her account over the first three legs of the GCT 2011 in Doha, Valencia and Hamburg and now has 900,399 Euros in her bank.

Having won the Grand Prix of Cannes, France in 20010 and placed 2^nd in 2009 Edwina holds this leg of the Global Champions Tour leg in high regard and has Cevo Itot du Chateau here again to defend her title. ”Itot feels really great.  Cannes is one of his favourite shows.  Two years ago he was second there and last year he won. He likes the French Riviera.  He has a few fans in Cannes.”

“Cannes is always difficult for a rider in terms of its square arena and you really need to be on your riding game.,” Edwina commented on the specifics of riding at the venue. “Being square in shape it can be difficult for placements of fences. There is not much room to ride out of the corners before you are presented with a fence.”

Winners of the first three legs of the 2011 Global Champions Tour are here aiming to earn more GCT ranking points.  Brazilian Alvaro de Miranda Neto, winner of the first leg in Doha, will start AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan in the Grand Prix. Billy Twomey,(IRL) who won in Valencia will not be starting Je t’Aime Flamenco in Cannes making his selection closer to the class and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, who took victory last weekend in Germany, will also ride a different horse here in Ninja La Silla.

Live streaming of all the 5* events on Thursday (start 19h00), Friday (start 19h00) and Saturday (start 18h00) is available online at www.globalchampionstour.com

Eurosport Broadcasting of GCT Cannes

Eurosport will be offering the following broadcasting for the Global Champions Tour of Cannes, France

Eurosport International - CET (excluding France and Germany): delayed from 19H30 until 20H45 on Sunday the 12th June, 2011

Eurosport Germany: Delayed at 22h30 on Sunday 12th June, 2011

Eurosport France: Live at 20H30 on Saturday 11th June, 2011 on Eurosport 2 France and a repeat on Eurosport France on Monday 13th June, 2011 at 11H00.

Global Champions Tour Rankings – top 18 riders after 3^rd leg (Hamburg )

1. Alvaro De Miranda Neto (BRA), 98 - 2. Ludger Beerbaum (GER), 93.5 - 3. Dennis Lynch (IRE), 88 - 4. Edwina Alexander (Aus), 85 5. Gerco Schroeder (NED), 83 - 6. Billy Twomey (IRE), 72 – 7. Rof-Goran Bengtsson (SWE), 60 – 8. Lars Nieberg (GER), 58 – 9. Luciana Diniz (POR), 53 – 10. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, 52 – 11.  Shk. Shakhboot Bin Nahyan (UAE), 49 - 12.Kevin Staut (FRA) 44 – 13.Laura Kraut (USA), =42 Simon Delestre (FRA), =42 – 14. Marco Kutscher (GER), 39 – 16.Pius Schwizer (SUI), 37 – =17. Janne Friederike Meyer (GER), 35 –Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), 35 – Philipp Weishaupt (GER) – 35. – 18. Judy-Ann Melchior (BEL), 33.

The Global Champions Tour ranking is updated after each leg of the tour based on the scores derived from the rider’s performances. 

Global Champions Tour 2011 Events

Doha, Qatar March 17-19     Valencia, Spain May 6-8     Hamburg, Germany June 1-5    Cannes, France June 9-11    Monte Carlo, Monaco June 23-25  Estoril, Portugal  July 1-2    Chantilly, France July 22-24    Valkenswaard, The Netherlands  August 12-14   Rio de Janeiro, Brazil September 2-4   Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,  November 24-26