Over 70 of the world’s top show jumping horses have arrived in Shanghai for the China leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour. The equine athletes travelled in first-class conditions on two specially commissioned horse flights from Europe and are now preparing for three days of elite showjumping competition starting on Friday 8th May. The above graphic of the showground, located at the China Art Pavilion, illustrates the fantastic facilities on offer at this unique venue.
Olympic champion and showjumping legend, Ludger Beerbaum, returning to the show for the second year, gave a strong endorsement of the event and conditions organised by Longines Global Champions Tour. “The Longines Global Champions Tour has perfect facilities for us and my horses. The prize-money is very attractive. Jan Tops has advanced our sport to a higher level. He has achieved a much better public perception. As former world class rider he knows our needs. Longines Global Champions Tour is a series which supports the welfare of the horses."
For only the second time, world-class riders will be competing for the top equestrian accolades in mainland China with their own world-class horses. Among those competing are last year’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Shanghai winner Pieter Devos, looking to make it a double, as well as current Longines Global Champions Tour ranking leader Scott Brash, who retook his position at the top of the leaderboard following a successful show at Longines Global Champions Tour of Madrid last weekend. In doing so, he knocked Bassem Hassan Mohammed into third position, and there is no doubt that Bassem, with the impressive Palloubet D Halong, will be in fighting spirit to regain this position.
Other top names competing include legendary brothers John and Michael Whitaker, two-time LGCT champion Edwina Tops-Alexander, recent Longines Global Champions Tour of Antwerp champion Simon Delestre as well as 2014 Shanghai victors Constant van Paesschen, Jane Richard Philips and Kevin Staut. World No1 Daniel Deusser, Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher, US No1 Kent Farrington and 2015 World Cup winner Steve Guerdat are also amongst the stellar line-up due to compete.
The prestigious show jumping series is returning to the world-famous China Art Pavilion within the city's World Expo Park site, offering over US$1.38million prize money at the three day competition, with the feature being the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix on Saturday.
Follow the exciting sporting action on our live streaming service at GCT TV and also keep up to date via our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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