Al Shaqab Set for Longines Global Champions Tour 2021 Doha Start Tribune News Network Doha
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14 Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Sports Al Shaqab set for Longines Global Champions Tour 2021 Doha start TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA HAVING staged a successful CHI Al Shaqab event just re- cently, Al Shaqab, one of the finest equestrian facilities in the world is now all geared up to play host again – this time for another prestigious and one of the world’s most popular showjumping series the 2021 Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) from Thursday (March 4-6). The opening leg of LGCT 2021 will kick off the season at the magnificent outdoor Lon- gines Arena at Al Shaqab. As many as 48 international riders are joining the CSI5* event with some of the most dominant names on the circuit present including Pieter Devos (BEL), Marcus Ehning (GER), Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), Penelope Leprevost (FRA), Peder Fredricson (SWE), Chris- tian Ahlmann (GER), Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), Greg- ory Wathelet (BEL) and Eric Lamaze (CAN). And with a golden ticket for the Longines Global Champi- ons Tour Super Grand Prix at the GC Prague Playoffs in the forefront of everyone’s mind, the stars of show jumping will be pulling out all the stops to try and land themselves on top of the podium in Doha. Omar Al Mannai, Event Director, and Commercial Manager, Al Shaqab; Jan Tops, President and Founder, Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL; and Marco Danese, Sports Director, LGCT, address the media ahead of the Longines Global Champions Tour 2021 on Tuesday. The showjumping series’ opening Doha round kicks off from Thursday (March 4) and will conclude on Saturday (March 6). This is the third year that Al Shaqab is hosting the LGCT season opener, having previously hosted the championship finale, and it is a wonderful and prestigious honour to have the world’s leading five-star showjumping competition in Doha again. Omar Al Mannai, Event Director, and Commercial Manager, Al Shaqab The event was launched with a press conference near the outdoor riding arena at Al Shaqab. It was addressed by Omar Al Mannai, Event Direc- tor, and Commercial Manager, Al Shaqab, Jan Tops, President and Founder, LGCT and GCL, and Marco Danese, Sports Di- The outdoor Longines Arena at Al Shaqab will see international showjuming action with 48 riders in fray. Mediapersons attending the press conference rector, LGCT. at Al Shaqab on Tuesday. Welcoming top riders from across the globe, Omar Al Man- nai, said: “This is the third year that Al Shaqab is hosting the LGCT season opener, having previously hosted the champi- onship finale, and it is a won- derful and prestigious honour to have the world’s leading five- star showjumping competition in Doha again. “Events such as the Lon- gines Global Champions Tour and Commercial Bank CHI Al 2021 Kick Off - The Longines Shaqab Presented by Longines, are very fortunate to be able to lot of efforts to make it like Al held back-to-back at Al Shaqab, go ahead with our events in Qa- Shaqab and we have to work Global Champions Tour explainedsurfaces, with differ- support Qatar’s National Vision tar at this time,” said Al Mannai. accordingly to the regulations. ent sized arenas and a range of environ- 2030 and play a key role in pro- Appreciating and thanking They have the inheretance with THE 2021 Longines Global ments, as well as giving riders the chance to moting Qatar’s development in Al Shaqab and Qatar for the the Arabian horse they want to Champions Tour kicks off in March with the win some serious prize money. the area of equestrian sports. efforts, Jan Tops, who is also be a country of excellence. They world’s very best riders competing for a The top 35 riders according to their penal- It also reflects a commitment the first team trainer for Qa- want to reach the maximum total of €25.9 million in prize money across ties and time qualify from the previous com- from Qatar at a national level to tari riders, said, “Riders love goal. They want to do the best LGCT and GCL, and the highly prestigious petition, which also doubles as a second GCL support equestrian sports. to come here (to Qatar) and and we are looking fwd to con- Championship title. leg, held earlier on the Saturday at each event. “These events bear testa- compete. The Longines Global tinue on the relationship, look- As well as the overall ranking battle, Jumping in reverse order of merit from the ment to Qatar’s position as an Champions Tour adds value to ing to improve and looking to athletes will be competing for a place in the qualifier, horses and riders begin by jumping international sports destina- this glorious place Al Shaqab the future for good results.” highly coveted GC Prague Playoffs, the ultimate over a 1.55m/1.60m course of fences. Any tion, and showcases Al Shaqab as it is a prestigious global Sports Director, LGCT, showdown for the world’s best, scheduled this combination that completes on a zero score, as a premier competition venue event. We are always looking Marco Danese, thanked the year for November at the O2 Arena in the Czech or tie on penalties if no combination remains bar none. forward to having this event hosts for making the opening capital city. Here, winners of each LGCT Grand clear, goes through to a jump-off against the International equestrian here as it serves as an inspira- leg of LGCT possible. “There “With guidance and in- Prix will be invited to compete in the Longines clock, held over a shortened course, to decide champions love competing at Al tion to our young riders. wasn’t the possibility of com- struction from the Ministry Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix, the ul- top honours. Shaqab’s world-class facilities, “The three-day event will peting and preparing. We have of Public Health, Al Shaqab timate head-to-head battle of the season’s best. and are always keen to return also see Qatar’s Longines to thank Al Shaqab for the great has worked with the LGCT The 2021 season opens in Doha, Qatar, How does the scoring work? for our events,” he added. Hathab Tour 11 which is mag- organization. Given the pan- team to ensure that all neces- and then travels through 16 iconic destinations Points are allocated to each of the 35 rid- The LGCT opener provides nificently growing with the demic stuation, we hope the sary COVID-19 precautionary across four continents, culminating in the sea- ers according to their finishing place in each a huge relief to riders and the increase in young riders and season can continue with a lot measures are in place, and son Finals in Shanghai, China, where this year’s event’s LGCT Grand Prix. Over the season, global organizers since the on- horse owners.” of 5-star shows.” will be strictly enforced. season champion will be crowned. each rider’s top eight scores count towards the going pandemic and the Euro- “Al Shaqab is really unique On the competition in Doha, “In line with the MoPH Showjumping’s top riders team up with their overall championship ranking and a share of pean winter has meant no ac- in the world. It’s a teally horse- he said, “As we saw at CHI Al COVID-19 health and safety best horses for individual honours in a series the bonus prize money, which will be awarded tion for the sport. friendly place which brings Asia Shaqab, the quality of courses, guidelines, the venue capacity of spectacular competitions on the tour, with at the season Finals in Shanghai. Doha comes a big welcome and Europe together. It is also and since the horses are fresh will be restricted to 10 percent,” the LGCT Grand Prix as one of the highlights of and relief. the logistics wise the best place the level of riders is very, very he said. “Tickets can be pur- each event. What about the LGCT Super Grand Prix? “The achievement of host- to be,” he added. high. We can be assured of a chased at the venue on events The world’s top riders may take part in any This is the ultimate showdown in show ing LGCT is especially notewor- On the start of the new sea- superb Grand Prix coming Sat- days but as a further precau- of the 15 LGCT events, earning points and com- jumping. Each winner (or next highest ranked thy during a pandemic such as son of LGCT, he said, “It’s win- urday.” tionary measure, there will not peting for a prize pot of over €300,000 in each athlete if more than one event is won), will COVID-19, which has affected ter in Europe now and hence Al Shaqab has created a ‘bio be a Festival Area this year. of the LGCT Grand Prix. qualify for a place in this special class, held at sporting events around the en- to be able to have the event in bubble’ for the riders, organiza- “Ultimately, the health and Horses and riders compete in any of the the GC Prague Playoffs. This will see the best tire world. We also have the Doha is excellent.” tional staff, and the media. safety of participants, specta- CSI5* supporting classes at each show. This horses and riders across the season return to news that the FEI has canceled On the event being hosted “To keep the bubble secure tors, and all involved with the allows horses to acclimatise to each differ- face off for the ultimate goal of taking the title events in Europe due to the despite all the challenges, Tops there will be safety precautions event remains Al Shaqab’s ent venue, which ranges from grass to sand of LGCT Super Grand Prix Champion.