Hamburg, Germany РIrish showjumping rider Denis Lynch knows what he wants. This summer he will focus his attention mainly on the Global Champions Tour, presented by CN and CN WorldWide. He will do his utmost to gain a starting ticket for the final in the Brazilian city Ṣo Paulo where the 25 highest ranked riders from the seven preliminary rounds will compete in October.

Lynch is in a good starting position. Mid April he won the openings leg in Doha, Qatar with his Hanoverian gelding Lantinus 3. In Hamburg, the Irish rider will try to repeat this feat on Saturday during the second leg of the Global Champions Tour (GCT).

For Lynch it is the first time that he is allowed to participate in this prestigious competition. He is thrilled because for him it is the best of the equestrian world. “The Global Champions Tour has priority for me”. Though he started his career in equestrian sport on the race track, height and weight forced him to consider other options. With show jumping in mind, Lynch moved to Germany where he first rode at Peter Weinberg’s and now runs his own stable.

Participating in the GCT is very important for Denis, because of the international attention. The large amount of prize money is also a poweful stimulator to give the best of himself and his horse.

In eight legs, the GCT boasts €5.5 million. In Hamburg, there is €Hamburg, there is €400.000 available for the participants that score the highest on Saturday. The winner will receive €100.000.

The GCT ranking after Doha is:

1. Denis Lynch (IRL) 20 Points

2. Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst (GER) 18 Points

3. Steve Guerdat (SUI) 16 Points

4. Judy Ann Melchior (BEL) 15 Points

5. Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED) 14 Points

6. HRH Prince Abdullah Bin Metab Al Saud (KSA) 13 Points

7. Luciana Diniz (POR) 12 Points

8. Christian Ahlmann (GER) 11 Points

9. Leopold van Asten (NED) 10 Points

10. Albert Zoer (NED) 9 Points

11. Ludo Philippaerts (BEL) 8 Points

12. Michel Robert (FRA) 7 Points

13. Thomas Frühmann (AUT) 6 Points

14. Jessica Kürten (IRL) 5 Points

15. Edwina Alexander (AUS) 4 Points

16. Marco Kutscher (GER) 3 Points

17. Daniel Dueßer (GER) 2 Points

18. Karim R. el Zoghby (EGY) 1 Point