Edwina and Rolf set for LGCT 2016 Championship showdown

Press release | Showjumping – The two riders gunning for the title of 2016 Champion of Champions will go into battle today on the unique stage of AL SHAQAB in Qatar as show jumping’s premier circuit reaches its climax.

The electrifying Longines Global Champions Tour season has seen the series open in Miami Beach before travelling to a new venue in Mexico City and on to a total of 15 stops around the globe. The final will see six out of the world’s top ten riders in action including World Number 1 Christian Ahlmann (GER) and World Number 2 Simon Delestre. This year history will be made as either Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) or Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) will claim the overall Champion of Champions title, following a season-long battle for valuable ranking points.

The Grand Prix action will be broadcast live on Eurosport and beIN Sports and will be broadcast on special programmes on CNN World Sport and CNBC as worldwide coverage of the LGCT continues to increase. The final will also be on GCT TV live streaming starts from 17:15 local time (click here for broadcast schedule for full details).

Both athletes have said they are “fired up” and ready to build on their consistent performances throughout the season. Edwina is aiming for a historic third Tour title and is a strong performer under pressure. She said: “I will be giving it my best and Tequila feels good.”

Olympic athlete Rolf, who currently sits on a tally of 272 points, will be hoping for his first ever LGCT Champions title win. The experienced Swedish rider has come excruciatingly close, not once but twice before, after tying with the leader on points but losing on the number of Grand Prix wins. Rolf said: “It would be nice to be champion this time after disappointment before.”

Two-time LGCT Champion Edwina, who has 267 points overall, will be hoping to secure a record never-before-seen third title. Rolf brings top stallion Casall ASK, a legend of the sport and a stallion who has had phenomenal performances during the season. Edwina will ride her talented and feisty Olympic mare Lintea Tequila, with whom she won the LGCT Grand Prix of Miami Beach earlier this year. A handful of top riders have frequently held the ranking lead during the championship series with Rolf, Edwina and Christian Ahlmann dominating.

The 1.60m competition will features a cast of world class riders and horses including Simon Delestre on Chesall, Ludger Beerbaum and Casello, Bertram Allen and Hector, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum on Fibonacci, Maikel van der Vleuten on VDL Groep Arera, Harrie Smolders and Don VHP, Lauren Hough and Cornet, John Whitaker on Ornellaia and Olympic Silver Individual Medallist Peder Fredricson riding H&M’s Flip’s Little Sparrow as well as Qatar’s Olympic show jumping team riders, including Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohammed.

Other big names include World Number 6 Daniel Deusser (GER),  World Number 8 and Rio Olympic Team Gold Medallist Kevin Staut (FRA) and World Number 10 Scott Brash (GBR) all bringing their top choices.  Christian Ahlmann will be riding Taloubet Z and Marcus Ehning on Funky Fred.

The series has produced sensational top level sport all season with the level of competition ever higher as rider and horse combinations increase speed and precision at each event. The elite athletes have wowed spectators as the circuit has travelled from The Americas, to Europe, China and the Middle East.

Source: Press release