Winner Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos Photo: Stefano Grasso/Longines Global Champions Tour
Britain’s Scott Brash was declared Champion of the Longines Global Champions Tour 2013 after winning the Grand Prix of Doha on his stunning Olympic and European champion horse Hello Sanctos.
Ice cool Brash and his world beating bay gelding delivered a triple clear under intense pressure and after a celebratory lap of honour the young rider admitted it was the “one of the best days of my life”.
Brash’s dramatic series victory and Grand Prix win in the same night netted him a massive €443,000 in prize money - and all on this 28th birthday with his delighted owners in Qatar for the extraordinary night. Scott made history as the youngest ever rider to win the prestigious championship.
The final leg of the championship series was a true cliff-hanger with Germany’s Christian Ahlmann - who was without his stallion Taloubet Z - missing out on the championship victory due to a time penalty pushing him into second place overall. US rider Laura Kraut, who led the ranking for much of the season, finished third in the championship after an unlucky four faults
Brash had already been announced as overall champion even before the Grand Prix was over. But he had to put celebrations on hold and keep his nerve to perform in a nail biting jump off against the hugely experienced Ludger Beerbaum and Marcus Ehning of Germany. Beerbaum, riding the grey mare Chiara, piled on the pressure delivering his third clear of the evening in 43.83. Ehning finished with 4 faults in the jump off. Under enormous pressure Brash polished off a superb clear in 43.17.
The thrilling show jumping action took place on one of the world’s most magnificent equestrian stages at Al Shaqab, part of the Qatar Foundation. Qatar was the focus of the equestrian world for three days and in the Grand Prix Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani delighted home spectators by winning through to the second round. Members of the Royal Family of Qatar, international diplomats and visitors from across the world joined spectators at the vast state-of-the art venue dedicated to horses.
It wasn't Edwina Alexander's day but she finished fifth in the overall 2013 rankings Photo: Stefano Grasso/Longines Global Champions Tour
With 12 spectacular events around the world this year, the series final delivered another night of fantastic high calibre sport. The best riders in the world were put to the test and there were plenty of surprises in the first round with championship hopefuls Luciana Diniz and Edwina Tops-Alexander falling out of contention.
After an electrifying season - where different riders won each Grand Prix - the standard of the sport reached new heights. With Olympic, World and European champions locked in battle at each event the stakes were higher than ever to win the championship.
The First Round
All the intensity and anticipation from the days leading up to the Grand Prix of Doha seemed to come to a climax today as the riders completed the course walk for the first round. It was clearly the day of all days - the day which every Championship contender had been looking forward to and dreading all at the same time. Today was the day that the 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour season title winner would be crowned.
Italy's Uliano Vezzani set a big, heavy first round course, with a decent time allowed but some very challenging aspects. Riders would need to make hard decisions throughout to ensure a clear first round score. The course was almost set to maximum height with a very impressive Longines triple combination half way through the course.
Ireland's Mark McAuley was the first rider to complete the course and he did so on 4 faults. It was Brazil's Marlon Modolo Zanotelli who, as second rider in, earned the first clear round of the evening aboard a very scopey 10 year old gelding, partly owned by fellow Brazilian team mate Doda Miranda.
Ludger Beerbaum and Chiara Photo: Stefano Grasso/Longines Global Champions Tour
A total of ten riders would follow Marlon, including Denis Lynch and All Star 5, Jane Richard Philips and Pablo de Virton, Gerco Schroder and London, Ludger Beerbaum and Chiara as well as Christian Ahlmann aboard Aragon Z. Some surprising results in the first round included a four fault score for Laura Kraut, who led through much of the series, riding her Olympic mount Cedric. So much was riding on a clear round from Laura in the first round and an unlucky rail at the end of the course meant that the leading lady would be unable to qualify through to the second round.
Luciana Diniz and Lennox as well as Edwina Tops-Alexander and Ego van Orti earned a shock 16 faults each. Two-time champion Edwina Tops-Alexander, was clearly aiming high but was clearly disappointed with her first round score.
The Second Round
The second round was set equally difficult but slightly more tight for time. Riders had longer distances between the fences and it required an increased pace, but an equal level of scope. This would prove challenging to certain combinations such as Gerco Schroder and London, Jane Richard Philips and Pablo de Virton and Maikel van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Verdi. These combinations all saw a single fence fall while Christian Ahlmann - in contention for the championship - would be considerably frustrated with a single time fault. Jumping an incredible second round with Aragon Z, loaned to him for the Grand Prix by his girlfriend Judy Ann Melchior, a single time penalty was all that kept Christian from the jump off. Christian's leading horses, Codex One and Taloubet Z, were both unable to compete in Doha.
Christian Ahlmann and Aragon Z Photo: Stefano Grasso/Longines Global Champions Tour
After eighteen combinations only three riders made it through to the jump off; Marcus Ehning, Ludger Beerbaum and Scott Brash. But before the jump off could begin, it was announced that Brash had won the 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour season title. He had managed to not only win the title after standing in eighth place on the season rankings, but he had done so on his 28th birthday. He had also made Global Tour history as the youngest rider to ever win the series title as well. Scott was clearly overjoyed as fellow riders congratulated him and cheered with genuine happiness as the young Peebles-native slowly came to the realization of what he had achieved. However, it was clear Scott had every intention of competing in the Grand Prix jump off and not allowing himself to lose his focus. Scott was determined to finish the job at hand, regardless of what he had already accomplished.
The Jump off
Maintaining his composure, Scott had to wait for Ludger Beerbaum and Marcus Ehning's attempts at the jump off. Ludger Beerbaum and Chiara completed a very solid and rather fast jump off round, finishing in a time of 43.83 seconds. Ludger looked up suspiciously at the jumbo screen in the arena clearly asking himself, would that be fast enough?
Marcus Ehning and Plot Bleu Photo: Stefano Grasso/Longines Global Champions Tour
Marcus Ehning was the second rider in the ring but a rail at the first fence dashed his hopes of Grand Prix victory. British chef d’equipe Rob Hoekstra said that if 2012 Olympic gold medallist Scott was left until the end, with the maximum amount of pressure on his shoulders, he would win the Grand Prix of Doha. Sure enough, from the second Scott and Hello Sanctos picked up their canter, it was clear that this combination could do no wrong despite the pressure cooker situation. It is as if these two amazing athletes perform the best when everything is on the line.
Galloping to the last fence, Scott and Hello Sanctos cleared the final obstacle and as everyone craned their necks to look at his time, it was clear that Scott had done the impossible. He had won both the Series Championship and Grand Prix of Doha. Removing his helmet, Scott waved to the cheering crowds, with the widest and happiest grin one could imagine. All the composure and focus slowly melted away as Hello Sanctos cantered towards the in-gate. It was all over. Scott proved to be the best of them all, beating two of his “biggest idols” in one of the most incredible jump offs in Global Champions Tour history.
Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos Photo: Stefano Grasso/Longines Global Champions Tour
Afterwards Rob Hoekstra, the British World Class Show jumping Performance Manager said
“We thought when we came here that (Scott) would have a good chance because of the way the point system works, as he only had five results counting before the event and all the others had six. I thought that if he could have a really good result in the Grand Prix, that he could be really close. That’s why we came. We worked out the points and kept (Hello Sanctos) especially for the event. He had a quiet round on the first day and made a good plan for the main class and it worked out.
“(Sanctos) will probably go to Geneva and then have a rest. We don’t know if he will go to America or not yet. He might do more of the World Cup shows. Looking at the World Equestrian Games, Scott is high up on the list to go, as he has two good horses with Ursula as well. He has a very good chance to go with one of the horses. The World Cup Final is first, so he will aim one horse for there and probably take the other to the World Equestrian Games. As far as the venue is concerned this is by far the most fantastic place I have ever seen. It’s incredible. We’ll be back for sure.”
