Sheikha Moza crowns winners as Bruynseels claims LGCT Grand Prix of Doha with Delux van T & L

The 2021 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha came to a befitting end yesterday with Belgium's Niels Bruynseels, riding Delux van T & L, clinching the season-opening trophy after an intense run at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab - a member of the Qatar Foundation.

HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), attended the closing event of the three-day competition.

HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser crowned the winners during a grand prize-giving ceremony in the presence of HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani. Several senior officials and equestrian fans attended the final day competitions amid precautionary measures due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The 38-year-old Bruynseels, the winner of the 2019 Global Champions Tour event in Cannes, fended off stiff challenges from Italy's Lorenzo De Luca, the runner-up and Canada's 2008 Olympic champion Eric Lamaze, who finished third, to finish on top of the 1.60m CSI5* class event with power and precision.

In what was a fantastic end to an exciting competition, Bruynseels, who was trailing De Luca and Nuance Bleue by three-tenths of a second at the midway checkpoint, won a seven-horse jump-off clocking a time of 39.93s, 0.27secs, pushing the Italian to second place.

Lamaze on Dieu Merci clocked 40.35secs, after going fastest in Round A, to complete the podium finish.

"Sometimes, you just have to be lucky. I am so so happy that I won today. This championship has the best riders and horses in the world. I can only thank my amazing horse who always gives everything for me," Bruynseels said.

For his effort, the Belgium's 2018 Rider of the Year walked home with the €123,750 winner's prize money and a ticket for the LGCT Super Grand Prix at the GC Prague Playoffs in November.

I'm really happy with my performance in Doha; it's been an extremely good two weeks here. I wish to thank the competition's organising committee for doing a great job during these special times. I'm very happy to emerge on top while competing against some of the world's best horses and riders," the champion added.

The course proved difficult in the first round as many top combinations were struggling to master the challenges of the substantial 1.60m track with 13 obstacles.

With 34 combinations fired up for action, it was soon clear one of the trickiest lines in the course was the final line to a narrow plank, and several riders opted to retire, including Andrzej Oplatek, Pius Schwizer, Titouan Schumacher and Maurice Tebbel.

Evelina Tovek and Gregory Wathelet were among the other talents who ended up out of the running.

Bart Bles lit up the arena with the first fantastic fluid clear, followed by Christian Kukuk on Mumbai, setting up a tantalizing jump-off.

Rene Lopez and Kheros can't Hoogeinde left the arena frustrated after superbly navigating the course but picking up just one time fault after he added a stride to the last.

Lorenzo de Luca and the limitless scope of Nuance Bleue VDM Z produced super clear pitching the Italian into the jump-off.

There was disappointment for Olivier Phillippaerts and H&M Legend of Love as the final fence next to the in-gate fell, meaning they would be out of the jump-off today.

Eric Lamaze made the course's easy work and cruised into the jump-off line up with Bart Bles, Christian Kukuk, Lorenzo de Luca, Niels Bruynseels, Marcus Ehning and Scott Brash.

Bart Bles kicked off the jump-off on Kriskras DV with a fast clear in 42.16, but at two points in the course, including the oxer, he left a tempting margin for other riders to play with. And they did.

The strong combination of Christian Kukuk and the 9-year-old grey stallion Mumbai executed a tight turn into the GC fence, but the pivot was too deep, and the combination paid the price with four faults. Kukuk finished faster than Bart Bles in 40.64 but with penalties.

De Luca's less experienced horse Nuance Bleue VDM Z seemed upset at the start but found a rhythm after the first fence and slotted in a couple of tight turns to make up time, delivering an impressive clear in 40.20 and clinching the second spot in the LGCT Grand Prix of Doha.

Lamaze set off at a cracking pace but went wider going into the Longines double and lost ground into the LGCT upright. But the Canadian maestro caught up time and blasted up the order on his new mount Dieu Merci van T&L, ultimately finishing in third place on the podium.

Bruynseels and Delux van T & L were smooth in the first part of the course but then had to go flat out to the LGCT upright and make it a gallop to the final fence. His all or nothing sprint was brilliantly performed, and it paid off, rocketing him into the lead in a 39.93 and securing the first coveted spot in the 2021 LGCT Super Grand Prix at the GC Prague Playoffs.

Valkenswaard United unbeaten runs in 2021 continue with GCL triumph in Doha

The dynamic Valkenswaard United team, comprising Germany's Marcus Ehning and Sweden's Peder Fredricson, continued their impressive run as they seized the Global Champions League ranking lead in spectacular style in Doha yesterday with unbeatable performances in the opener of the 2021 championship race.

Fredricson and Hansson WL lit up the arena as they powered around the course. The Olympian delivered again for the team, finishing on a flawless weekend score, leaving them poised to claim the championship's first leg. With many of the second riders unable to back up their teammates, it was clear all eyes were on German maestro Ehning and Star gold to seal the victory. Despite the pressure, the pair delivered, finishing on a score of zero in a super speedy time to win the first GCL leg of 2021.

Shanghai Swans' Austrian pair of Max Kuhner and Christian Ahlmann finished second in 139.42 while Berlin Eagles (Christian Kukuk and Philipp Weishaupt from Germany) completed the podium finish.

A delighted Marcus Ehning said, "It's always great to be here in Doha. I think I can talk to everyone to say it is a very special event. Peder made my life easier; he jumped a fantastic clear round, I know my horse is fast, but you also need some luck. I am really lucky to be in a strong team like this. We have six very strong riders, and I am very lucky to ride with them."

Fredricson said, "It's really amazing to be back jumping at top-level sport again. It is fantastic to ride with Marcus, and I am really looking forward to the rest of the season!" Fans around the world lapped up the welcome return to GCL action and the highest level of team showjumping. The first leg left no doubt that this year's GCL championship will be a titanic fight for dominance as team owners, managers, riders, and trainers set their sights on victory and great prize money.

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