Staut Makes a Winning Start As St Tropez Pirates Take Gcl Pole
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Danish teenager Nicolai Hojgaard leads on first day of CB Qatar Masters golf PAGE 13 FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020 LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR, GLOBAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DOHA 2020 Staut makes a winning start as St Tropez Pirates take GCL pole Podium finishers of the opening Longines Global Champions Tour class on Thursday with Omar al Mannai, Event Director LGCT First Leg & Commercial Manager Al Shaqab, and Badr al Darwish, Secretary-General, Qatar Equestrian Federation & Asian Equestrian Federation. Norwegian Gulliksen thrills in Frenchman Kevin Staut, who won the GCL team competition’s indi- vidual round, with podium finishers Scott Brash of Britain, and Roger- Yves Bost of France at Longines Arena at Al Shaqab on Saturday. LGCT Doha curtain-raiser Action from the 2020 Global Champions League team competition first VINAY NAYUDU 64.18 and was awarded €8,250. leg which kicked off at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab on Thursday. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA DOHA St Tropez Pirates the start of the season”. are fiercely competitive in the KEVIN Staut used experience sizzle in opening round Speaking of his new team’s race for the 2020 champion- THE Longines Global Champi- and his knowledge of the glit- of team competition chances, after today’s dramatic ship, and high calibre com- ons Tour (LGCT) of Doha kicked tering Longines Arena at Al Meanwhile, St Tropez Pirates display of firepower, Daniel De- binations not only delivered off in style on Thursday at the Shaqab to excel on his 11-year- kicked off their 2020 GCL usser said “It’s a new season, clear rounds, but also threw Longines Arena at Al Shaqab old bay Visconti du Telman campaign in determined style new challenge, new team, we down the gauntlet for the fast- with Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen to claim the top honours in combining speed and pinpoint have a very good team but we est times, with Scott Brash (NOR) picking up his first LGCT the CSI5* 1.50/1.55m class of accuracy to take the lead going need to produce the results”. posting the fastest round in win on Chaloubet in 38.80s. Longines Global Champions into Saturday’s showdown. With half of the teams jump- today’s team competition. Jos Verlooy (BEL) on Varoune League individual competi- Eight teams finished on a ing double clears around Frank The teams are eager to finished just behind them with tion on the opening day of the zero score after this nail-biting Rothenberger’s 1.50/1.55m ex- make their mark at this early a time of 39.91s while the third three-day showjumping gala. first round, with some blis- citing track, motivation is high stage of the season, and on Sat- place was claimed by Wilm Ver- The Frenchman’s superb teringly fast rounds from St among the team riders, owners urday, the GCL Doha Champi- meir (BEL) riding King Kong and flawless ride in the Table Tropez Pirates, Scandinavian and managers from day one of ons will be crowned in what is d’Avifauna in 40.50s. A: Against the Clock format Vikings and London Knights. the GCL team championship sure to be a thrilling finale. As the 2020 season began, needed 63.55secs and fetched New signing Daniel De- at this opening leg and it will The home team of Doha 45 riders lined up for the first him a prize of €13,750. usser joined St Tropez Pirates be all to play for in Saturday’s Falcons had the crowds cheer- competition of the year at the Falling .11secs behind was team stalwart Pieter Devos for final round. ing as they rode into the arena. stunning arena. Edwina Tops- the famous pair of Brit Scott the first time at this opening This season’s teams are There was drama when Cal- Alexander (AUS) opened the Brash and 11-year-old bay geld- leg in Qatar, and the team’s stronger than ever, with more etto Cabana didn’t like the class by leaving all the poles up FANFARE: A cosplayer dressed as a butterfly regales the audience at ing Hello Shelby as they strode strategy paid off. Pieter praised horsepower and new talent be- look of the triple combination but picking up 2 time faults in Al Shaqab equestrian centre on Thursday. (PIC: MOHAMED TINAKICHT) the vast turf expanse with finesse his new teammate and said, ing added, and some exciting causing them to be eliminated the second phase with her bay in 63.55secs to win €11,000. “We had a very good start, a transfers as this year’s battle after two refusals. Titouan still mare Identity Vitseroel. (SUI) took on the course at a win on the Longines Global France’s Roger-Yves Bost nice clear. I’m very happy with gets underway. chose to jump much to the The first clear round went bold pace but wasn’t able to Champions Tour with his ex- on Castleforbes Talitha (13-yr- my new teammate Daniel who It was clear from the start fans’ delight. to Roger Yves Bost (FRA) and catch the leading time, finish- perienced gelding Chaloubet. old bay mare) finished third in gave us a lot of confidence for today that this year’s teams (Inputs gclglobalchampions.com) Castleforbes Talitha who posted ing with 0 faults in 44.49 sec- The fast and furious combina- a characteristically fast round, onds. Cindy van der Straten tion didn’t hold anything back taking an early lead in a time (BEL) posted the third clear as they took on the twisty sec- Results & Schedule of 40.94 seconds. Qatari rider of the class with her 9 year old ond phase. Flying over the fin- CSI5* 1.45m Two Phases: A + A, 2nd Phase Against 63.55secs; Prize money: €13,750; 2. Scott Brash Philippaerts (Katanga v.h Dingeshof) 67.45 secs; Team SATURDAY Rashid Towaim Ali Al Marri mare Diarca PS, putting the ishing line in a time of 38.80s the Clock. Total prize-money: €25.400 (Britain); Hello Shelby; 63.66secs; €11,000; 3. Roger- total: 141.88 9:55am: Hathab National Series Against-the-clock (QAT) also jumped clear on pair in 13th place. Then Dan- he has set the tone for the rest 1. Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (Norway); Horse: Yves Bost (France); Castleforbes Talitha; 64.18; €8,250 FRIDAY SCHEDULE 1.15/1.25m (15.000 QAR) Flaire, but the pair couldn’t quite iel Deusser (GER) had his foot of the weekend. Chaloubet; Time: 38.80secs; Prize money: €6,350; 2. Global Champions League team results – first round 9am: Hathab National Series 1.00/1.15m (10.000 QAR) 12:15pm: Hathab National Series Against-the-clock Jos Verlooy (Belgium); Varoune; 39.91 secs; €5,080; 3. 1. St Tropez Pirates: Pieter Devos (Espoir) 68.50 secs, 1pm: Hathab National Series Against-the-clock match the pace. Gilles Thomas to the pedal throughout his A delighted Johan said: “I 1.30/1.45m (35.000 QAR) Wilm Vermeir (Belgium); King Kong d’Avifauna; 40.50 Daniel Deusser (Killer Queen VDM) 67.79 secs; Team 1.20/1.30m (20.000 QAR individual & 20.000 QAR (BEL) took all the inside lines round, but couldn’t quite match was last to go so I had to try. 2:45pm: CSI5* GCL of Doha Round 2 - 1.50/1.55m secs; €3,810 total: 136.29 secs; 2. Scandinavia Vikings: Evelina Tovek teams) around the course with Konak, the pace, and finished in 6th. My horse jumped fantastic CSI5* 1.50/1.55m - GCL Team Competition Indvidual (Dalila de la Pomme) 70.56 secs; Henrik von Eckermann 3:45pm: CSI 5* Against-the-clock 1.50m (€51.100) (€95,000 to indvidual winners) Round 1; Table A: Against the Clock. Prize-money: €59,000 (Best Boy) 65.95 secs; Team total: 136.51; 3. London 7:30pm: CSI 5* Against-the-clock with jump-off 6:15pm: CSI 5* Longines Global Champions Tour but an unlucky pole had them The best was saved until and hopefully, I can bring this 1. Kevin Staut (France); Horse: Visconti du Telman; Time: Knights: Olivier Philippaerts (Zayado) 74.43 secs; Nicola 1.50/1.55m (€148.500) Grand Prix of Doha - 1.60m (€375.000) finish just outside the top 20. last as Johan-Sebastian Gul- good feeling with me tomor- Super speedy Pius Schwizer liksen (NOR) claimed his first row and Saturday.” Latin American sports industry experts updated on preparations for Qatar 2022 SC.QA updated attendees on tourna- thousands of journalists to Qa- and in person, advising them ment infrastructure, including tar, coming from all over the of hotels, public transport op- HE Supreme Commit- the proposed launch of three world. We are also spreading tions, fan zone timings, parties tee for Delivery & Legacy stadiums during 2020. the message widely on social to go to, things to see in Doha T(SC) recently participat- Al Kuwari said: “With media – we have over 1 million and of course where the best ed in the Sports Summit MX 1,000 days remaining to kick- Facebook followers, plus dedi- Mexican restaurants were.” 2020 in Mexico City to discuss off, preparations are going cated Spanish accounts. “Ultimately, we want to the latest progress and prepa- well. We plan to open three “Additionally, we have also demonstrate Qatar’s efforts rations on the road to the FIFA new stadiums this year – and implemented a newsroom ap- in shaping a memorable fan World Cup Qatar 2022™. have all of them completed proach to communicate our experience for visitors from HE Mohamed al Ku- by 2021.