By Sports Reporter/Doha


The 2015 Championship contender, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, has spoken about his ambition to win the Longines Global Champions Tour crown in just over a week’s time in Doha.
In an interview, the highly respected Olympic silver medallist and European Champion spoke of his extraordinary stallion Casall ASK, and looks ahead to the groundbreaking new team-based Global Champions League, which will take place every Friday of the regular Tour events next year.
Rolf will be locked in an electrifying three-way battle with reigning Tour Champion and World No1 Scott Brash and Portugal’s Luciana Diniz at the final showdown of the 2015 Longines Global Champions Tour season, which takes place next week at the magnificent Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, in Doha.
Only 10 points separate Scott, Luciana and Rolf at the top of the overall ranking and the final outcome will be decided on November 14th.
Heading into the final LGCT event in Doha, from 12th to 14th November, Rolf is feeling positive about returning to the sensational venue in the Middle East: “I feel good. My focus is the same, no matter what position I’m in, and my priority is always to go and do the very best we can. Yes, I have a chance, but I know as well that it will be very very tough as the Global Champions Tour always has the very top riders in the world. Scott and Luciana are great competitors, they are two of the best, and I know they won’t make it easy! But I know the venue, Casall knows the venue and we have won there before.
“So my plan is always to keep relaxed, stay focused, and just do the best you can in the situation you are in. I was very close twice before, where I came runner up in the Tour Championship, so it’s something I would like to tick off my list. If not this year, then I’ll be back and will try again. One thing is for sure, Casall and I will be giving it our all in Doha!”
The Swedish champion athlete and his formidable 16-year-old stallion Casall ASK are recognised as one of the most successful partnerships in the sport and this year the combination has won the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in London and Rome and scooped podium places in Hamburg and Cannes. And at the Tour event in Valkenswaard he won the special team competition with Dutch star Harrie Smolders. Next week Rolf will face the battle for the Tour title and already has his sights on the revolutionary new team competitions next year.
Speaking about the forthcoming new Global Champions League and Longines Global Champions Tour, Rolf said: “Of course I’m looking forward to come in next year’s GCT again and we are also looking forward to having the new formula here with the team competition. I think it’s a very exciting formula to have different riders to work together, stick together, and really focus that they are a team. I think for the outside world this is also an important thing to show and it looks like a very interesting future.
“What Jan [Tops] has done for showjumping is really something special and what he has achieved so far is just incredible. I think what makes him so good is that he is always looking forwards and how everything is progressing and evolving.”
Teams will consist of a squad of five riders - a maximum of two riders from the Top 30 and one under 25 years of age - two of whom will be selected to compete in each team competition. The overall Global Champions League ranking will be based on each team’s points earned at every League event through the 2016 season. The new format will add a thrilling new dimension for fans and audiences worldwide.
Rolf praised the strong focus on the high quality of equine welfare at each Tour event, including the exceptional 24-hour high-tech veterinary facilities at every venue: “All the Global Champions Tour shows are really taking care of everything; we have very good stables, we have good footing in the rings. We are on a super high level, we have our own grooms who are very experienced in taking care of the horses, and there is also a mobile team of vets following the shows of the Global Champions Tour all the way around. If something should happen with the horses, then there is always somebody there looking after the horses, really taking care of them and seeing that they have it as good as possible.”
On his relationship with his champion stallion Rolf said: “Casall is 16 years old now, and his happiness and welfare is our top priority. I’ve been lucky - I’ve never had a partnership with a horse for the length of time I’ve had with him, and he just loves what he does.
“It’s important you don’t overdo the shows; so we plan his schedule carefully, and make sure we keep him fresh and on form. For example, at the Global Champions Tour I will do a smaller 1,45m class on first day, then give him a day of rest, then take part in big class. He comes away super happy with himself, he feels strong and brave and he wants to do it. It’s important that he is happy,”