Cannes Stars secure GCL of Doha title again

DOHA: The Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames continue their success story. After a victory in Doha last year and the triumph in the big Global Champions League (GCL) final in Rabat, the Cannes Stars with riders Sophie Hinners and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann have continued their winning streak in 2025.

In the season-opening GCL of Doha 1.55m class at the Longines Arena of Al Shaqab yesterday, German riders Hinners (astride bay gelding Iron Dames my Prins) and Meyer-Zimmermann (on chestnut mare Iron Dames High Level) combined superbly to log a combined best time of 157.50secs as Cannes Stars secured their first trophy of the season with only one time penalty over two rounds.

Prague Lions finished in second place with Belgium’s and Fernando Martinez Sommer riding chestnut mare Toupie de la Roque and Peter Devos astride grey gelding Primo DV combining for a total of 153.76secs.

Deputy Director of the Event Omar Al Bouainain honoured the top six riders of Optimum Time (80 cm) class. Abdulla Ahmed A Al Khulaifi won the event followed by Jassim Saoud A Al Darwish, Abdulaziz Abdullah Alabri, Khalifa bin Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Salman Faisal Almarri and Hamad Mohammed A Al Marri. 

Monaco Comets took the third podium place with a score of 154.09secs being guided by their star riders Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, who rode bay gelding Fellow Castlefield, Jeanne Sadran on bay stud Dexter De Kreglenn, and Greece’s Ioli Mytilineou on bay gelding L’artiste de Toxandra, combining for a cumulative score of 154.09secs.

The winners were crowned by Bader Al Darwish, Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Championship and President of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, Mohammed Jaber Al Khayarin, Event Director, and Jan Tops, President of the Longines Global Champions Tour.

The best in the individual ranking on the night was Jana Wargers with her Nations Cup mare Dorette OLD as the pair registered a fastest clear round of 70.96 seconds.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of Qatar Museums H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners of the CSI1* 1.1m showjumping. The 1.10m class, which had 63 starts, saw Qatar’s Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al Thani take the top honours on the second day of the Global Champions Tour.

Abdulaziz excelled astride grey mare Gabbana M. Abdulaziz to clock a flawless and fastest best time of 55.64 seconds. Finishing in second place in 60.84secs was Saudi Arabia’s Nasser Albagami, who rode bay gelding Newyork Grandia Z. Albagami’s compatriot Fahad Aljuaid, riding chestnut mare Dushi, was third clocking 61.39secs.

Qatar’s Al Mahmoud wins CSI3* 1.40m class

Qatar’s Ibrahim Yousuf Al Mahmoud celebrates his victory in the CSI3* 1.40m class.

Qatar’s Ibrahim Yousuf Al Mahmoud topped the CSI3* Against the clock (1.40m) class, beating a field of 63 international riders. Al Mahmoud excelled with bay gelding Qataro van het Texelhof as the duo completed a flawless best routine in 53.54secs.

Italian Roberto Previtali, who rode chestnut stud Castlefield Rouge, had to be content with the runners-up spot after finishing in 56.22secs while the experienced Emanuele Gaudiano settled for third place with chestnut gelding Chalou (56.84secs).

Delestre tops CSI3* 1.50m

The CSI3* Against the clock (1.50m) class was clinched by Frenchman Simon Delestre, who combined with bay gelding Moeboetoe v/d Roshoeve to clock the best 65.53secs. Italian Roberto Previtali on chestnut stud Qashquai SB finished second (67.32secs), and Antoine Ermann of France third astride bay gelding Delirium Zoetendaele Z (70.06secs).. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Juham al-Kuwari, Chairman of the General Tax Authority, honoured the winners.

Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Alhady continued his fine run at the venue as he won the CSI1* Against the clock (1.25m) class with a best time of 58.66secs astride bay gelding Capoen. Finishing a close second was Qatar’s Hamad Nasser Al Qadi on his trusted mount Happy Tina, a bay mare, in 58.94secs, while Saudi Arabia’s Bader Alfard was third with grey mare HW Cosette in 61.98secs.

Action during the GCL of Doha at Al Shaqab  yesterday. 

Meanwhile, the individual GCL - Against the clock (1.55m) class was bagged by Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen, who showjumped with bay stud Con Quidam RB with a best time of 67.48secs. Norwegian Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen on chestnut gelding Equine America Harwich VDL was second (71.71secs), and Austrian Gerfried Puck riding bay gelding Equitron Ornaat V third (71.79secs).

The Future Riders’ Optimum Time (80cm) class was won by Abdulla Ahmed Al Khulaifi, who astride Manni, finished with the best ideal time of 55.83 seconds. He was followed by Jassim Saoud Al Darwish on Cascade Sammy in 55.02 seconds, while the third place was taken by Abdulaziz Abdullah Alabri, riding Anyway II, with an ideal time of 57.1 seconds.