With the Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha (13-15 November) just two weeks away, tension is mounting for those star riders preparing for the final crucial round of the season. The CSI5* Doha event offers some of the biggest prize money in the sport, and this year over €1.7million is on the table, including the record €1million end of season bonus of which the lion's share goes to the 2014 Championship winner. Over three days of world-class competition at the state-of-the-art Al Shaqab stadium (part of the illustrious Qatar Foundation), Olympic, World and Continental Champions will push each other to the limit chasing the ultimate prize - the title of Champion of Champions and a potential total payout of nearly €450,000 if they are able to land both the Grand Prix and the Championship together. Only one of three megastars of the sport could achieve this... British and World No1 Scott Brash managed to do the double last year on his lucrative 28th birthday and he is in a great position to defend his title in 2014, but he has stiff competition in the form of former Olympic Champion Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and former European Champion Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) who both currently sit ahead of 3rd-placed Brash in the Championship Ranking. On Saturday 15th November, the eagerly anticipated €450,000 Doha Grand Prix will sort the best from the rest and one of these three great sportsmen will be named as the 2014 Championship victor. There are other big names such as Olympic Champions Steven Guerdat (SUI), Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) or Eric Lamaze (CAN) who could prevent a second consecutive clean sweep by snatching the final Grand Prix win, but no one can catch Beerbaum, Bengtsson and Brash as they race for the 2014 Championship finish line. Championship leader Ludger Beerbaum: “I have to watch out for both Scott and Rolf. But the fact that Scott is still without his maximum seven scores counting makes him more dangerous, as he can get full points in Doha but Rolf and I cannot. If Scott finishes 5th or above in the Grand Prix and I am behind him, he wins. I need to have myself and my horse fresh and fit in Doha.” The pressure is on as all eyes turn to Qatar and the climax of this record-breaking season which has put forward an unprecedented total season prize fund of nearly €9million. For the full Doha rider listing please click here. The season finale Grand Prix highlights will be broadcast on Eurosport on Saturday 15th November, with live coverage shown from 3.15pm CET on beIN Sports, Horse&Country TV, GCT TV, Equidia Life and ClassHorseTV.
With the Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha (13-15 November) just two weeks away, tension is mounting for those star riders preparing for the final crucial round of the season. The CSI5* Doha event offers some of the biggest prize money in the sport, and this year over €1.7million is on the table, including the record €1million end of season bonus of which the lion's share goes to the 2014 Championship winner. Over three days of world-class competition at the state-of-the-art Al Shaqab stadium (part of the illustrious Qatar Foundation), Olympic, World and Continental Champions will push each other to the limit chasing the ultimate prize - the title of Champion of Champions and a potential total payout of nearly €450,000 if they are able to land both the Grand Prix and the Championship together. Only one of three megastars of the sport could achieve this... British and World No1 Scott Brash managed to do the double last year on his lucrative 28th birthday and he is in a great position to defend his title in 2014, but he has stiff competition in the form of former Olympic Champion Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and former European Champion Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) who both currently sit ahead of 3rd-placed Brash in the Championship Ranking. On Saturday 15th November, the eagerly anticipated €450,000 Doha Grand Prix will sort the best from the rest and one of these three great sportsmen will be named as the 2014 Championship victor. There are other big names such as Olympic Champions Steven Guerdat (SUI), Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) or Eric Lamaze (CAN) who could prevent a second consecutive clean sweep by snatching the final Grand Prix win, but no one can catch Beerbaum, Bengtsson and Brash as they race for the 2014 Championship finish line. Championship leader Ludger Beerbaum: “I have to watch out for both Scott and Rolf. But the fact that Scott is still without his maximum seven scores counting makes him more dangerous, as he can get full points in Doha but Rolf and I cannot. If Scott finishes 5th or above in the Grand Prix and I am behind him, he wins. I need to have myself and my horse fresh and fit in Doha.” The pressure is on as all eyes turn to Qatar and the climax of this record-breaking season which has put forward an unprecedented total season prize fund of nearly €9million. For the full Doha rider listing please click here. The season finale Grand Prix highlights will be broadcast on Eurosport on Saturday 15th November, with live coverage shown from 3.15pm CET on beIN Sports, Horse&Country TV, GCT TV, Equidia Life and ClassHorseTV.