Global Champions Tour founder Jan Tops (second from left), event president Fahad Saad al-Qahtani (C) and  other officials pose after their press conference yesterday.

By Sahan Bidappa/Doha


The Longines Global Champions Tour is back in Doha and the Al Shaqab Arena is set for a thrilling finale to the 2015 season. Doha is traditionally the last stop for the Global Champions Tour, and to go with the stunning backdrop of the venue, the title race is wide open as the 10th edition of the event gets under way tomorrow.
It’s a three-way race to the top as the 2014 champion and ranking leader Scott Brash of Britain, Luciana Diniz of Portugal and Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson are all in contention to win the title. Brash has 279 points, a mere two-point advantage over Diniz and a further 10-point lead over Bengtsson. With all three in contention for the title, a fascinating battle is in store for show jumping connoisseurs.
Jan Tops, the founder and president of Longines Global Champions Tour, said Al Shaqab, with its state-of-the-art facilities, is the perfect venue for the event.
“For us it’s very special here. We have three riders who can win the title in Doha. Last year too, the title decider went to the final stretch and it’s a repeat of the last season. This year we had 15 events, we started in Miami and it’s good to be here for the final event. It’s going to be exciting,” Tops said during a press conference at the Al Shaqab Arena yesterday.
The Global Champions Tour has come a long way since its inception 10 years ago. Over the past decade, the marquee equestrian tour has grown from six events to 15, Miami Beach, Rome and London also being amongst the venues this year.
But Tops, who won the gold medal in the team-jumping event at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, said Doha will always be a special event.
“We started 10 years ago with six events and now we have 15. For us the key part is to be in Qatar. We have seen the sport grow here in the last five-six years. It’s incredible. Also not only Qatar, but the region has rich culture and tradition of horses.
“I have seen the local riders improve over a period of time. Before, they were just a number on the list but now they are competitive and contenders, with possibility of winning or being on the podium. I think it’s very important for the region to have such a good riders and also they are role models for the next generation. I am very proud of them. Not only of them, but the whole organisation have been exceptional, Al Shaqab, the Qatar Olympic Committee, the federation and especially HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani. All have combined to make this event a special one,” Tops noted.
He was impressed with the Qatari riders’ progress. Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani, currently the top Qatari rider in the world, is 6th in the Global Champions Tour leaderboard, while Bassem Hassan Mohammed too has had his moments. The duo are part of the Qatar team, which qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio next year. In fact, Tops had played a key role in the success, having trained them at his base Valkenswaard, the Netherlands.
“Shiekh Ali is 6th in the leaderboard and has been outstanding this season. From where they are coming from five years ago, it would have been dream to be in this position. But, now they are regular in top-five and six positions in the championship. I am convinced they are going to be regular in the podium in the future,” the founder of the Global Champions Tour explained.
“For Qatar, it’s hysterical to be at the Olympics. We had to beat good nations like Saudi Arabia to qualify. The first objective is to be competitive at Olympics. On the other hand, Qatar is a small nation so we need to prepare the next generation, need to train the younger lot so there will be more riders taking part in Olympics,” he added.
Fahad Saad al-Qahtani, the event president and Group Executive Director of Qatar Foundation administration, said the Global Champions Tour has helped the sport grow in Qatar. “The Global Champions Tour is a very important event for Al Shaqab. Horse racing and equestrianism is a reflection of our roots and culture. Al Shaqab has the same vision as Qatar’s vision of 2030. We have the 30 best riders in the world taking part in this competition. More importantly, it helps us spread the sport. Thanks to the popularity of this event, we have more and more people enrolling to the sport over the years,” he said.
Al-Qahtani said preserving Arabian horse is one of the top agendas at Al Shaqab.
“His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Father Emir, founded Al Shaqab in 1992 to preserve and further develop the Arabian horse in Qatar. And we are committed to taking his good work forward, with a mission to be global leaders in preserving, improving and promoting the Arabian horse through setting the highest standards in breeding, equestrian arts and equine welfare, and encouraging community participation,” he said.
There will be free entry to the public tomorrow and Friday for the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha, with tickets for Saturday available at virginmegastore.com.