two short, action-packed months the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour has visited seven unique destinations and showcased exceptional world class show jumping to a growing global audience. From Miami Beach to Mexico City, Antwerp to Shanghai and Hamburg to Madrid and Chantilly, the Tour is now at the midway point of the season. After a whirlwind first half, here is an insight into the facts and figures behind the intense battle for show jumping glory so far this season. Christian Ahlmann (GER), the formidably competitive 'Mercedes', as he was described in a recent press conference, is dominating the LGCT overall rankings and currently sits on a tally of 186 points. The World Number 2 has been one of the most consistent riders on the Tour, scoring a minimum of 25 points at all but one of the seven legs so far. Christian has continually brought his top horses to the LGCT events, including his string of phenomenal stallions, Codex One (finishing 5th in Hamburg), Colorit (finishing 5th in Shanghai), Taloubet Z (finishing 12th in Madrid) and Epleaser van't Heike (finishing 3rd in Miami Beach and 4th in Mexico City). With each placing Christian has collected valuable points in his overall Championship quest, and so far has earned over 250,000 euros in CSI5* classes on the Tour so far this season. Hot on his heels is compatriot Ludger Beerbaum (GER), who has won an impressive two out of the four LGCT Grands Prix he has competed in this season. His first was a sensational win on home turf in Hamburg, with the relatively new horse Casello - one that has been in his stables only since the beginning of the year. Ludger then wowed the crowds in Chantilly after another stunning performance, this time with his top mare, the grey Chiara 222, which saw him claim the Grand Prix win and shoot up the LGCT rankings to 2nd overall with a total of 126 points so far. It looks set to be a battle of the titans, as just one point behind on 125 sits the legendary Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE). The ever-consistent combination of Rolf and his formidable stallion Casall ASK have ensured the pair collected plenty of points in four out of six events. Hungry for the overall LGCT Champion of Champions title, after it was denied him twice by an agonisingly small amount, Rolf will be looking to make it third time lucky in the 2016 title race. New rider to the Tour, Daniel Bluman (COL), is one of the success stories of the season so far. Curiously, he has been placed third at every event Ludger Beerbaum has won at (LGCT Hamburg and LGCT Chantilly) - with the Columbian rider talking of how he used to watch Ludger on TV when he was younger at the Hamburg press conference. Daniel is in 4th position overall, 'surrounded by legends' as he described on his social media page, and is hot on the heels of Rolf with 120 points. Ireland's young star, Bertram Allen (IRL) and the brilliant John Whitaker (GBR) are tied in 5th place on 113 points. Over 40 years separate these two in age, however this season they have become notably closer, perhaps due to their impressive team performance for Valkenswaard United in the Global Champions League. The combination have consistently won or been placed on the podium at each GCL event, and while their League results do not count towards the LGCT rankings, it's intriguing to see these two riders on an equal points at the Tour’s halfway point. Someone who knows all about claiming the Champion of Champions title is two-time winner Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS). Currently sitting in 7th overall and with a points tally of 106, the Olympic Australian athlete was the first to set the pace this year after her stunning win at the opening event in Miami Beach. Two more strong placings in LGCT Shanghai and LGCT Chantilly have kept the top rider in the mix and well within the top 10. Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT), Harrie Smolders (NED) and Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) are the final three riders to round out the top ten, all within 7 points of each other, and just three points behind the next best placed rider as they jostle for position on the leaderboard. As the Tour now heads to the French Riviera and the LGCT of Cannes, from 9th - 11th June, the high adrenaline action is sure to pick up pace in the second half of the season. Drop scores will come into effect, with only the best 8 scores counting, and tactics and long term strategy count more and more as another exhilarating year of top sport unfolds.
two short, action-packed months the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour has visited seven unique destinations and showcased exceptional world class show jumping to a growing global audience. From Miami Beach to Mexico City, Antwerp to Shanghai and Hamburg to Madrid and Chantilly, the Tour is now at the midway point of the season. After a whirlwind first half, here is an insight into the facts and figures behind the intense battle for show jumping glory so far this season. Christian Ahlmann (GER), the formidably competitive 'Mercedes', as he was described in a recent press conference, is dominating the LGCT overall rankings and currently sits on a tally of 186 points. The World Number 2 has been one of the most consistent riders on the Tour, scoring a minimum of 25 points at all but one of the seven legs so far. Christian has continually brought his top horses to the LGCT events, including his string of phenomenal stallions, Codex One (finishing 5th in Hamburg), Colorit (finishing 5th in Shanghai), Taloubet Z (finishing 12th in Madrid) and Epleaser van't Heike (finishing 3rd in Miami Beach and 4th in Mexico City). With each placing Christian has collected valuable points in his overall Championship quest, and so far has earned over 250,000 euros in CSI5* classes on the Tour so far this season. Hot on his heels is compatriot Ludger Beerbaum (GER), who has won an impressive two out of the four LGCT Grands Prix he has competed in this season. His first was a sensational win on home turf in Hamburg, with the relatively new horse Casello - one that has been in his stables only since the beginning of the year. Ludger then wowed the crowds in Chantilly after another stunning performance, this time with his top mare, the grey Chiara 222, which saw him claim the Grand Prix win and shoot up the LGCT rankings to 2nd overall with a total of 126 points so far. It looks set to be a battle of the titans, as just one point behind on 125 sits the legendary Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE). The ever-consistent combination of Rolf and his formidable stallion Casall ASK have ensured the pair collected plenty of points in four out of six events. Hungry for the overall LGCT Champion of Champions title, after it was denied him twice by an agonisingly small amount, Rolf will be looking to make it third time lucky in the 2016 title race. New rider to the Tour, Daniel Bluman (COL), is one of the success stories of the season so far. Curiously, he has been placed third at every event Ludger Beerbaum has won at (LGCT Hamburg and LGCT Chantilly) - with the Columbian rider talking of how he used to watch Ludger on TV when he was younger at the Hamburg press conference. Daniel is in 4th position overall, 'surrounded by legends' as he described on his social media page, and is hot on the heels of Rolf with 120 points. Ireland's young star, Bertram Allen (IRL) and the brilliant John Whitaker (GBR) are tied in 5th place on 113 points. Over 40 years separate these two in age, however this season they have become notably closer, perhaps due to their impressive team performance for Valkenswaard United in the Global Champions League. The combination have consistently won or been placed on the podium at each GCL event, and while their League results do not count towards the LGCT rankings, it's intriguing to see these two riders on an equal points at the Tour’s halfway point. Someone who knows all about claiming the Champion of Champions title is two-time winner Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS). Currently sitting in 7th overall and with a points tally of 106, the Olympic Australian athlete was the first to set the pace this year after her stunning win at the opening event in Miami Beach. Two more strong placings in LGCT Shanghai and LGCT Chantilly have kept the top rider in the mix and well within the top 10. Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT), Harrie Smolders (NED) and Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) are the final three riders to round out the top ten, all within 7 points of each other, and just three points behind the next best placed rider as they jostle for position on the leaderboard. As the Tour now heads to the French Riviera and the LGCT of Cannes, from 9th - 11th June, the high adrenaline action is sure to pick up pace in the second half of the season. Drop scores will come into effect, with only the best 8 scores counting, and tactics and long term strategy count more and more as another exhilarating year of top sport unfolds.