The 18 riders who had qualified for the Global Champions Tour Final in Doha, Qatar were in no doubt, from the moment they started to walk the course that they would have to work hard to win the biggest prize in show jumping. Conrad Homfeld built a course that was every inch worthy of a set of riders who could probably lay claim to every major show jumping title between them. To honour the occasion, the winner would be presented with an original sculpture of an Arabian horse’s head covered in gold. The unique sculpture, worth 8,000 Euro, was donated by Doha’s international jeweller Kanz and was personally crafted by the managing director of Kanz, Mr Ohan Assadourian. Of course, the riders were also competing for the 900,000 Euro total prize money on offer!
With the stakes high and a set of monster obstacles to be negotiated in the huge circular arena, nobody was expecting many clear rounds. In the end, the double at four and the combination at 13 ensured that only four riders finished the first round wiht no faults. The double saw the competition end for Edwina Alexander (Isovlas Itot du Chateau), Rolf Goran Bengsston (Ninja Le Silla), Marco Kutscher (Cornet Obolensky) and Bernardo Alves (Chupa Chup). The combination proved the undoing of Robert Whitaker (Casino), Rodrigo Pessoa (Champ), Daniel Deusser (AD Aboyeur) and Albert Zoer (Oki Doki).
The first man to clear everything was Germany’s Ulrich Kirchoff who made it look easy on Carino and he was swiftly followed by Alvaro de Miranda Neto with AD Picolien Zeldenrust. Michel Robert looked every inch a former World Champion when Kellemoi de Pepita sailed around. The jump off was completed with the current World Champion as Jos Lansink (Valentina Van T’ Heike) reminded everyone his absence from the European Championships this year was just a tiny blip in his outstanding career.
In the jump off, both Ulrich and Alvaro faulted which meant the Frenchman knew he couldn’t be worse than second if he remained clear which he did and not slowly either! His mare went through the gate in 49.76 and despite an excellent try Jos Lansink could not catch him.
“In Valkenswaard I said it was polite to let the ladies win, but here I was not a gentleman,” laughed Michel as he collected his cheque for Euro 300’000.
In other news, the Horse Diamond which is sold on every year to a new owner in order to raise money for cancer research has found a new home. The one carat synthetic stone is made from the hair of show jumping champion stallion Gold Fever. Last year Jan Tops put in the winning bid and now the winning bid of 36’000 Euro was donated by the Papagrigorakis Family and will travel from Holland to Greece. “We are very motivated to support the Journey of the Horse Diamond and this is a unique idea to raise money for such a worthy cause.”
For more information please contact Christine Stibi who was the second owner of the stone and now plays a great part in it’s continuing journey around the Globe. Details of this and tonight’s results may be found on our web site at www.globalchampionstour.com.
Final of the Global Champions Tour 2009, 1.60m
1. Michel Robert, Kellemoi de Pepita (FRA) 0 – 0 – 0/49.76
2. Jos Lansink, Valentina van’t Heike (BEL) 0 – 0 – 0/49.89
3. Alvaro de Miranda, AD Picolien Zeldenrust (BRA) 0 – 0 – 4/46.52
4. Ulrich Kirchhoff, Carino 188 (GER), 0 – 0 – 4/46.91
5. Denis Lynch, All Inclusive NRW (IRL), 1 – 1/88.92
6. Marco Kutscher, Cornet Obolensky (GER) 4 – 4/83.23
7. Edwina Alexander, Isovlas Itot du Chateau (AUS) 4 – 4/83.71
8. Daniel Deusser, Aboyeur W (GER), 4 – 4/83.87
9. Eric Lamaze, Hickstead (CAN), 4 – 4/83.99
10. Patrick McEntee, Ever Mury Marais Z (BEL) 4 – 4/87.85
11. Albert Zoer, Okidoki (NED) 8 – 8/83.57
12. Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, Ninja la Silla (SWE) – 8 – 8/85.85
13. Rodrigo Pessoa, Champ 163 (BRA) 8 – 8/86.59
14. Robert Whitaker, Casino (GBR) 12 – 12/83.16
15. Luciana Diniz, As-Taro 2 (POR) 12 – 12/83.79
16. Jose Larocca, Royal Power (ARG) 12 – 12/85.88
17. Sergio Alvarez Moya, Wisconsin 111 (ESP) ELI – ELI
18. Bernardo Alves, Chupa Chup 2 (BRA) RET – RET
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