The World’s Best Showjumping Riders ‘Warm-Up’ in Valencia

The top world’s show jumping riders started ‘warming-up’ today, Friday May 6, in Valencia (Spain) on the opening day of the International event. The count-down officially started for the second leg of the 2011 Global Champions Tour that will be run tomorrow, Saturday May 7, in the stunning settings of the City of Arts and Science.

With 29 out of the top 34 world best riders participating in Valencia this week-end, the first day of competition today offered great sport, drama and very competitive rounds.

The main class of the day provided excitement for the home crowd especially when young Spanish rising star, Manuel Anon Suarez, 19, riding Baldo DS, clipped the time of German Daniel Deusser riding Cabreado S.E.. Anon Suarez scored an exceptionally fast clear round in the jump-off (43.64), beating by less than a second the German rider (44.29 his time) who had been leading the field since the start of the competition.18 combinations jumped clear the first round, with eight riders with no faults in the jump-off. This was the first win within a Global Champions Tour event for Manuel Anon Suarez who admitted that he finds it more difficult to perform well under the pressure of the home crowd:

“ Tomorrow in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix I will jump with Rackel Chavannaise that I think is in good form to do well”. The young rider already competed this year in the Global Champions Tour in Doha, riding Rackel Chavannaise into 29^th place.

Earlier in the afternoon Rodrigo Pessoa, 38, from Brazil celebrated in great style his recent come back to Europe. Riding the experienced Palouchin de Lingny he set the fastest clear round in the Trofeo El Corte Ingles (1.45 mt.), winning in style the speed class with the unbeatable time of 49.03 seconds. “This is the first show back in Europe after having spent the winter in Florida – commented Rodrigo – It is nice to start the European season with a win! My horse is very fast and very careful so I knew I could have a good run” Asked about how he felt jumping in the unique setting of the City of Arts and Science of Valencia the Brazilian rider added: “This is a very different scenario from what we are used to see. It is a very nice set up. It’s impressive to be competing here”. French veteran Philippe Rozier riding Ideal de Roy came in second place with a time of 50.32 preceding  in third position Edwina Alexander (Australia) riding Mel d’Argences (50.46).

Looking at tomorrow’s Grand Prix

The second leg of the Global Champions Tour will run tomorrow, Saturday May 7, at 17h00 (CET). Live television coverage of the Grand Prix will be broadcast on Eurosport from 8h00 to 9h30 (CET), while nationally the event will be relayed on Teledeporte and Televisio Valenciana.

Quotes from the arena

Frank ROTHENBERGER (GER), course designer

Commenting on his approach to course designing for the Global Champions Tour in Valencia:

“Of course I know that all of the riders and horses who come to the Global Champions Tour are all in top shape, so it is a challenge in itself to build for the best of the best”.

Alvaro DE MIRANDA NETO (BRA)

On how he feels about tomorrow’s Grand Prix in Valencia riding AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan after their win in the first leg of the 2011 Global Champions Tour, in Doha (QAT).

“Here is a new story you need to focus and be lucky”.

On the Global Champions Tour and his preparations for Valencia:

 “This is a new global event and each show has its own identity. Before this event I have been following the same preparation as for Doha with Drossel Dan, making sure that the horse’s mind is fresh and only in the last ten days I have intensified his training”.

Rodrigo PESSOA (BRA)

On his approach to the Global Champions Tour’ Grand Prix :

“ Tomorrow I will ride Let’s Fly. I hope he will go well. He’s had very good results in Florida with two World Cup Grand Prix wins. Hopefully we will have a good class tomorrow”.

The Global Champions Tour current rankings (after Doha)

1. Alvaro de Miranda Neto  (BRA), 2. Pius Schwizer (SUI), 3. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum(GER),

4. Luciana Diniz (POR), 5. Denis Lynch (IRL), 6.Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED), 7. Gerco Schroder (NED), 8. Lars Nieberg (GER), 9. Edwina Alexander (AUS), 10. Philip Weishaupt (GER), 11. Steve Guerdat (SUI), 12. Kevin Staut (FRA), 13. Janika Sprunger (SUI), 14. Geir Gulliksen (NOR), 15. Vincent Voorn (NED), 16. Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nayhan Al Nayhan (UAE), 17=. Daniel Deusser (GER), 17=Ludger Beerbaum (GER).

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 10-12