In Doha the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix has just been completed. In this CSI5* 1.60m class, which counted for both the Global Champions Tour Ranking and the Longines Ranking, eight combinations managed to qualify for the jump-off. As the last combination to go in for the jump-off, Ludger Beerbaum pulled out all he got to beat the time of Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward and so he did. Beerbaum now has his golden ticket for the play-offs in Prague and starts the LGCT season with a bang!
Riding the ten-year-old mare Mila (by Monte Bellini), Beerbaum rushed to victory in 38.18 seconds. With one extra stride towards the combination it seemed that he wouldn't come close to Henrik von Eckermann's winning time. But after the combination Beerbaum started to speed up and take off over the jumps to secure the first place. Henrik von Eckermann was thus kept from victory at the very last moment. He could count on the legendary King Edward (by Edward 28) to ride in 38.74 seconds to second place. Jur Vrieling and Long John Silver (by Lasino) took some risks in the jump-off and that yielded a time of 40.02 seconds to third place.
Pieter Devos (Mom's Toupie de la Roque) kept the Belgian honour high and finished fourth. Christian Ahlmann (Dominator 2000 Z) had the fastest time but unfortunately had one down.
Click here for the full results.
Photo: © LGCT