SPORT Friday 9 November 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 Virat Kohli draws NBA: James, Lakers flak for ‘leave hold off Wolves in India’ remark home thriller Home hero Bassem, Epaillard share podium as final LGCT round kicks off RIZWAN REHMAT Bassem Hassan Mohammed’s Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed guides THE PENINSULA Argelith Squid over an obstacle during international show jumping the Doha 2018 CSI5* 1.45m event in the career began at the Doha DOHA: Qatar’s show jumping star opening day of the LGCT final round at Al Olympic Qualifiers in 2011. Bassem Hassan Mohammed yesterday Shaqab Arena yesterday. Since then, Bassem has made a produced a flawless routine with Argelith Squid to share honours with number of key appearances on Frenchman Julien Epaillard in the the Qatari Nations Cup team. opening event of the LGCT final round His first international win came at Al Shaqab Arena. in Chantilly and Valkenswaard Bassem, who enthralled home fans in 2012 with Levicci. In 2014, last year with his spectacular Grand Prix win at the same venue, yesterday he was part of the Asian Games clocked a time of 24.85 seconds, a Gold medal winning Qatari time shared by Epaillard who was team. astride Safari d Auge. The star Qatari rider, 31, was thrilled to share the stage with Bassem qualified for his first FEI Epaillard. World Cup Final with Rosalia “It’s very nice to start the weekend La Silla in 2013. He put in a with the win,” Bassem said yesterday fantastic performance in the with a smile. 2014 LGCT Antwerp Grand Prix “I know Julien is fast and I saw him before I went in. I tried my best with a new horse Primeval and ended up with the win. It feels Dejavu, finishing 4th. Later good to start in this fashion,” he in the season, he became the added. first Qatari ever to win an Both riders won €6,625 each. LGCT Grand Prix when he rode GK Casper, who had Bertram Allen in the saddle, sealed the third spot in Victoria to victory in Monaco. the 145cm competition. GK Casper clocked a time of 25.16 seconds in the two-phased competition as Allen got richer by €3,750. London Knights impress Norway’s Geir Gulliksen (VDL Groep Quatro, 25.45 seconds, €2,500) and Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten (Arera C, 25.70 seconds, €1,500) com- ahead of Team Finals pleted the top-five out of 51 entries. With riders eager to grab honours GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR course including some substantial overs in the opening contest of the three- and several tall and delicate verticals. day spectacle, Gerco Schroder of the DOHA: London Knights threw down the First in were the Prague Lions lying Netherlands got the first ride with gauntlet to their closest rivals yesterday, in 10th place on the overall ranking. But Glock’s Cognac Champblanc who pro- executing powerful double clears in the it was a hugely unexpected disap- duced a clear round. opening round of the high pressure finals pointment for Peder Fredricson and British star Ben Maher (Madame of the 2018 GCL Team Championship. Hansson WL, one of the top performing X) secured the sixth best time. Nerves were clearly on edge in the horses in the GCL season. They finished Dutch rider Marc Houtzager, high stakes competition ahead of tomor- on 8 faults and team mate Niels Bruyn- astride Sterrehof’s Baccarat, secured row’s showdown to decide which teams seels and Delux van T & L clocked up 5 the early lead with a top time of 30.33 go to the GCL Super Cup at the new GC putting them on a total of 13. seconds but he got beaten by Maher Playoffs with over €10m in prize money. Chantilly Pegasus are on the edge of and two other riders. Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed (right) and France’s Julien Epaillard pose Calculations were rife as GCL team the relegation zone and every point was Last year, Bassem astride Gunder, for photographs after the opening event of the LGCT final round at Al Shaqab riders, managers and owners worked out crucial. Roger-Yves Bost had 9 faults on produced a spectacular ride in the Arena in Doha yesterday. where they needed to finish to achieve Castleforbes Talitha, but team mate nine-strong jump off to win the final the best possible shot at the Play-offs Carlos Lopez on Hooligan de Laubry LGCT Grand Prix of the season - a full tomorrow. The top teams had their sights pulled off a much-needed clear round two seconds ahead of Janika Sprunger LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR (FINAL ROUND): RESULTS - DAY 1 on finishing in the top four of the overall with one time penalty for a total of 10. (SUI) on Bacardi VDL and Peder Fre- ranking ensuring they are fast-tracked to Paris Panthers, in 14th place on the dricson (SWE) on H&M Christian K. CLASS 01: DOHA 2018 CSI5* 1.45 M the semi finals of the Playoffs avoiding the overall ranking, benefitted from a superb Two Phases: A + A, Both Phases Against the Clock Action at Al Shaqab today will quarter final stage. Only 16 out of 19 teams clear round from Gregory Wathelet on RK Rider/Horse 1st Phase 2nd Phase Time Prize commence at 9:00am with young 1 Julien Epaillard / Safari d Auge 0.00 0.00 24.85 €6,625 go to the Playoffs and there was a des- Qualido 3 followed by Yuri’s Mansur on home riders competing in the first 1 Bassem Hassan Mohammed / Argelith Squid 0.00 0.00 24.85 €6,625 perate battle to avoid the relegation zone. four faults. It was to be a disappointing contest of round three of the Hathab 3 Bertram Allen / GK Casper 0.00 0.00 25.16 €3,750 The Knights’ formidable duo of Ben outing for Athina Onassis of St Tropez Series (Against the clock No Jump Off 4 Geir Gulliksen / VDL Groep Quatro 0.00 0.00 25.45 €2,500 Maher and Nicola Philippaerts stayed Pirates after her talented ride MHS Going 1.00/1.15m). The second competition 5 Maikel van der Vleuten / Arera C 0.00 0.00 25.70 €1,500 cool and ended on a clean score sheet in Global put in a dramatic refusal leaving (1.20/1.30m) will start at 2:00pm. 6 Ben Maher / Madame X 0.00 0.00 26.22 €1,125 the fastest combined time to put them her on 15 faults and team mate Edwina The two CSI5* competitions on day 7 Christian Kukuk / Colestus 0.00 0.00 26.70 €750 into pole position for Saturday’s major Tops-Alexander on 5 faults. But their two of LGCT final round start at 8 Michael Whitaker / Valmy de la Lande 0.00 0.00 26.80 €625 contest. They have been leading the current 8th position in the ranking 4:30pm and at 6:30pm respectively. 9 Eric van der Vleuten / Wunschkind 19 0.00 0.00 27.13 €500 season ranking consistently and are cur- ensures qualification for the Playoffs. 10 Nicola Philippaerts / J'Adore van het Schaeck 0.00 0.00 27.93 €500 rently 23 points ahead of Valkenswaard Cascais Charms and Hamburg Giants A star in the making. A young kid United. suffered heavy scoring rounds leaving rides a horse on the sidelines of CLASS 02: DOHA 2018 CSI5* 1.50/1.55M - GCL COMPETITION 1ST ROUND Rome Gladiators were the only other them in perilous positions at the bottom the LGCT final round yesterday. Table A: Against the Clock team to achieve double clears with no of the ranking. It was not a happy result RK Rider/Horse Round A Time Prize time penalties in Doha thanks to high for Valkenswaard United, although 1 Ludger Beerbaum / Chiara 0.00 72.95 €19,800 calibre performances from Laura Kraut second in the overall ranking, Zorzi on 2 Danielle Goldstein / Lizziemary 0.00 73.24 €12,000 3 Ben Maher / Explosion W 0.00 73.36 €9,000 and Lorenzo de Luca putting them in Contanga 3 clipped the first part of the 4 Gregory Wathelet / Qualido 3 0.00 73.95 €6,000 second spot on the grid. GCL double combination in common 5 Julien Epaillard / Virtuose Champeix 0.00 74.91 €3,600 Fortunes rose and fell for the GCL with several other riders and Ehning on teams. Valkenswaard United’s Marcus Funky Fred had four faults at the tall ver- GCL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 1 Ehning and Alberto Zorzi suffered 4 faults tical near the end of the course. Rank Team/Riders Penalties Time each pushing them down the order. Ranking leaders London Knights 1 LONDON KNIGHTS Home city team Doha Fursan Qatar fin- faced down that pressure in emphatic Nicola Philippaerts/H&M Chilli Willi 0 79.60 ished third and Miami Celtics maintained style. Nicola Philippaerts and H&M Chilli Ben Maher/Explosion W 0 73.36 their form to come in fourth. Willi powered round the course with 0 152.96 The clock is now ticking and the perfect strides for a brilliant clear. And 2 ROME GLADIATORS teams have less than 48 hours to make Ben Maher and the acrobatic Explosion Lorenzo de Luca/Irenice Horta 0 77.81 strategic decisions on which riders and W sealed their lead on the day with a Laura Kraut/Zeremonie 0 76.74 horses they will field in the GCL Round masterful clear round.