This file photo shows action from last edition of Doha leg.
Doha: World’s best combinations of riders and horses are in Doha to launch the 2023 Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and GCL season which will get underway at Al Shaqab's Longines Arena tomorrow.
As riders look for a strong show at the Longines Global Champions Tour Doha 2023 for a successful start to the season, the opening leg of the 16-stop premier circuit, which spreads over three continents, 13 countries and 16 destinations, is set to showcase exhilarating action.
Doha is opening the prestigious season for the fifth consecutive year.
“The Longines Global Champions Tour is the best tour currently being organised so this is an added value for every country, who may get the opportunity to host it,” Event Director Omar Al Mannai told a press conference that launched the opening leg at Al Shaqab yesterday.
“I put my thanks out to all our partners and the huge appreciation for the trust in the facilities to host one of the best global tours. We are doing our best to expand the equestrian sport,” he added.
The LGCT will once again bring the best in the individual challenge while 16 teams will start their campaign in Doha in quest for the overall GCL title.
With more than €36m up for grabs across two championships in the 2023 season, the Doha leg has attracted a star-studded line-up.
The pair of Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and Mila will be back in action at the magnificent venue after winning the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha last year.
Beerbaum faces a tough challenge in his title defence on Saturday as the field also includes World No.1 Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden.
With overall champion Ben Maher missing the event due to an injury, last year’s LGCT championship runner-up Pieter Devos is spearheading the charge along with Max Kuhner and Christian Ahlmann.
Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Stargold, who retained the CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix title last weekend, will have their eyes on the second major title in eight days as the pair will also compete in the €375,000 LGCT Grand Prix of Doha along with several other top contenders including the young talent like John Whitaker, Jodie Hall McAteer, Lily Attwood and Khaled Almobty.
From left: Last year’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha winner Ludger Beerbaum of Germany, GC Sports Director Marco Danese, Event Director Omar Al Mannai, Commercial Bank Sponsorships and Events Manager Ashjan Saleh Al Khalaf, and Media Consultant Fahad Al Hajiri during a press conference at Al Shaqab yesterday.
Beerbaum rated Al Shaqab’s Longines Arena as one of the best venues, saying even the horses love the facilities here.
“I have been coming to this event in Doha since day one, and every year I look forward to coming back. It is a really unique venue, all the horses love to come here, it has great facilities that are state of the art. It is just world class and that is the reason why we all love to come back every year. It is simple, it is a great place to come compete,” he told reporters yesterday.
Marco Danese, GC Sports Director said Qatari organisers surprise with their best organisation of the event every year.
“Doha became a tradition in our sport, everyone knows the competitions, and every year we are surprised by the new things that are implemented at the venue for the welfare of the horses like the incredible stables and facilities,” he told a press conference.
“Everyone in our world knows what Al Shaqab and what Doha and Qatar have done for our sport over the last 15 years. We are proud to be here and to work with the Al Shaqab team. We must thank Omar and his team at Al Shaqab and also all our title sponsors Longines and local sponsors the Commercial Bank, ExxonMobil and many more who are crucial to making the event a success,” Danese added.
This year’s season will see a change in format with both the rounds of GCL team series set to take place on the same day.
“We changed the format of the competition after many years. The goal of the new schedule is to separate the days of GCL and the LGCT Grand Prix. With both rounds of GCL on same day the goal is to create more attention and strategy for teams in the league. It is fantastic as it makes it easy for the riders, TV, media and spectators so they can talk about the two highlights on different days,” said Danese.
The Doha leg will begin with CSI3* and CSI5* events tomorrow with the first round of the GCL team event scheduled to begin at 3:15pm on Friday. The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha will kick off at 6pm on Saturday.
It is the third consecutive major event to be staged at Longines Arena after the 10th Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab presented by Longines and the Doha International Showjumping Championship, which concluded yesterday.
