The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar - Home heroes Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohammed will be up against a strong field of show jumpers when the 2019 Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and GCL kicks off at the magnificent Al Shaqab in Doha, on Thursday.
According to the official riders list which was revealed yesterday, the Qatari duo will face stiff competition from the reigning LGCT champion and 2018 LGCT Grand Prix of Doha winner Ben Maher (GBR), two time LGCT champion and LGCT Super Grand Prix winner Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) and Olympic gold medallist Scott Brash (GBR) in the season opener.
The first event of the new individual and team Championships promises to be an electrifying launchpad for the season as athletes eye up the competition and flex their muscles for a strong start in the 2019 Championship race.
British Olympic athlete Maher will be back for round one of the 2019 season after securing a record breaking four LGCT Grand Prix wins at Al Shaqab last November. Keen to make a strong start to his title retention campaign, Maher will face tough challenge from a cavalcade of stars all keen to make 2019 their year to shine.
Apart from Edwina, Brash and the Qatari duo, Sheikh Ali and Bassem - who won the LGCT Grand Prix of Doha in 2017 - will both be back on home turf, fans will also be able to watch German stars Daniel Deusser (GER), Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) in action, fighting off stiff competition from international leaders such as Nicola Philippaerts (BEL), Simon Delestre (FRA), Alberto Zorzi (ITA), Bertram Allen (IRL), Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), Gregory Wathelet (BEL), Pieter Devos (BEL), Marlon Zanotelli (BRA), Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and Roger-Yves Bost (FRA).
Spectators will be treated to three days of spectacular show jumping, with plenty for all the family to enjoy including a Kids’ Village, cafes and refreshments plus plenty of entertainment throughout the event.