The world’s best riders will be in action for the fifth leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Hamburg as the battle for the 2016 championship accelerates.
The stunning stage of the Derby-Park is set for a dramatic show jumping extravaganza with tense of thousands of spectators expected for the showdown between some of the biggest names in the sport.
A heavyweight line up of home riders are on the starting grid including LGCT Ranking leader and World No2 Christian Ahlmann (GER) who brings two of his top horses Codex One and Epleaser van’t Heike, Ludger Beerbaum (GER) with Chiara, Daniel Deusser (GER), Marcus Ehning (GER), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) who brings her stunning grey Fibonacci, Marco Kutscher (GER), Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) and Janne-Friederike Meyer (GER). World No1 Simon Delestre (FRA) will be hoping to continue his run of success in the opening legs of the season and will bring his Grand Prix winning horse, the beautiful Qlassic Bois Margot. He’ll be joined by Kevin Staut (FRA) and Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) who brings his LGCT Mexico Grand Prix winning horse Qoud’Coeur de la Loge, both of whom also look to be on impressive form.
Some of the leading young guns of show jumping will be turning up the heat including Jos Verlooy (BEL), Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and Nicola Philippaerts (BEL). Lauren Hough, Georgina Bloomberg, Laura Kraut and Audrey Coulter are among the female firepower from the USA determined to make a strong showing at the Grand Prix in Hamburg.
Hamburg, courtesy of LGCT
John Whitaker (GBR) will return to the Tour to join brother Michael Whitaker (GBR) with Ornellaia, and with top names such as Bertam Allen (IRL) who will bring Molly Malone V, the formidable combination of Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) and Casall ASK, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), Harrie Smolders (NED), Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA), Pieter Devos (BEL), Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT) who brings First Devision, Pius Schwizer (SUI) and Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) in action over the course of the event, it’s set to be another superb showcase of world class sport and entertainment.
Last year saw the USA’s Kent Farrington storm the Grand Prix win with one of his top horses Voyeur. The American champion’s defiant win at the famous grass arena in Hamburg shook up the overall championship ranking after Leg 5 and left Luciana Diniz in No1 spot. This year’s current leader Christian Ahlmann (GER) will be looking to capitalise on his early 33 point lead ahead of Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) who is on 96 points ahead of John Whitaker (GBR) who sits in 3rd place on 85 points.
The event kicks off on Wednesday 4th May with the first CSI5* class taking place in the afternoon. For a full show schedule, please click here. To see the full rider list for the LGCT of Hamburg, please click here. For information about the Global Champions League team competition, please click here.