World no. 1 Scott Brash narrowly retains his LGCT championship title

World No1 Scott Brash (GBR) has successfully defended his title and been crowned 2014 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion! The 2012 Olympic Gold medallist took 4th place in tonight’s Doha Grand Prix giving him a one point advantage over four-time Olympic medallist Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and finishing on the same points as rival Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE), who was the eventual class winner tonight with Casall ASK. Due to Scott having more wins than Bengtsson this season, he takes the Championship from the charismatic Swede who was in this exact same position when he was runner-up to Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) in 2012. Brash picked up an excruciating time fault in tonight’s first round which put him out of the final jump-off and denied him the chance to try for an incredible fourth LGCT Grand Prix medal this season.

Championship Leader Ludger Beerbaum (GER) did not go through to the second round of the final Grand Prix of the season. The star picked up 16 faults with his stallion Zinedine, his substitute ride when his top horse Chiara was not 100% fit to compete. Ludger led the Championship by just 12 points but collected no more points here in the Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha Grand Prix. Both Ludger and Brash named Bengtsson’s Casall ASK as the best horse in this three-way race and their predictions rang true tonight. Putting in one of only two treble clears, the other being Luciana Diniz with Fit For Fun who took 2nd place while Yann Candele (CAN) with Showgirl took 3rd with four faults, the Swede always looked like the one to beat. However, tonight belongs to the incredible, unbeatable combination of Scott Brash with Lady Kirkham and Lady Harris’ Hello Sanctos, a pair who once again proved to be the Champion of Champions on the 2014 Longines Global Champions Tour.