Tag Archives: Global Champions Tour

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Show Jumping

The Global Champions Tour 2010, Valkenswaard, Holland

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The Global Champions Tour Comes Home

The emerald grass arenas of Stal Tops, home to Global Champions Tour (GCT) President and Founder Jan Tops, welcome the series he created home this weekend coming. The world’s best riders and horses will descend on Holland hoping to win the Grand Prix of Holland presented by the VDL Groep but there is also a full supporting programme in Valkenswaard to keep everyone entertained before and after that class. Horse Festival Valkenswaard will run the second week of their CSI** concurrently and there is also the exciting Derby to watch on Sunday afternoon so there will always be some top class jumping for visitors to enjoy. And with general admission and parking completely free, over 30’000 people made the most of the experience in 2009. This year the show is hoping all of the world’s top five will be attending, although Eric Lamaze is waiting for final clearance from his doctor at the beginning of the week. But Puis Schwizer, Kevin Staut, Marcus Ehning and Rolf Goran Bengsston are confirmed at time of writing. In addition, the three top ranked ladies, Jessica Kurten, Edwina Alexander, and Penelope Leprevost, are confirmed. And of course, the home fans will be waiting cheer the return of their winning Nations Cup team from Dublin, especially double clear round hero, Eric Van Der Vleuten.

This is the first year that the GCT is proud to welcome Jaeger Le Coultre to Stal Tops in their role as official time keeper after a successful start to the collaboration between the two companies in Turin and Cannes. Please visit the GCT website at www.globalchampionstour.com for more details on Jaeger Le Coultre as well as the full show programme.

Lulu Kyriacou

GCT Press Agent

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Show Jumping

Michel Wins on Final Day of GCT Chantilly

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Michel and Kellemoi. All photos by Lulu Kyriacou

Michel and Kellemoi Back in Business!

25/07/10 – Well before there French got the home win they were waiting for in today’s Equidia Grand Prix, Eric van der Vleuten was the very first competitor in the ring this morning on VDL Groep Cannelina (below right). And although 50% of the thirty-two starters were clear and through to the jump off, he was never headed in the Prix Savelys. His grey mare, already in the money earlier in the week, was smooth and efficient round the turns in the timed phase and the clock stopped 38.79. None of the other 16 combinations could catch the Dutch pair, try as they might and Holland got another win at Chantilly after Harrie Smolders’ yesterday.  Eric’s win was a good result for his sponsors VDL Groep, as well as for the GCT, because they are one of the main sponsors at GCT Valkenswaard in addition to their generous support of Eric. Eventually second was Edwina Alexander on a relatively new ride, dark chestnut mare Kisby, who had a time of 39.29 and third place went to another of this weeks earlier winners, Simon Delestre, riding Napoli du Ry. Their time was 39.59. Bernado Alves was fourth with Monaco GP winner Bridgit.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Show Jumping

The Global Champions Tour 2010, Chantilly, France, Day Two

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Photos by Lulu Kyriacou

Girl Power in Chantilly

24/07/10 – The female of the species was most definitely deadlier than the male in Chantilly today as American Laura Kraut and Cedric headed another all girl 1,2,3. The riders had warmed up earlier in the day with the Prix Amunde, a Table C Speed class. This is where faults are converted to time so if you are very fast it is possible to win even with a fence down. However in this company only being fast and clean over the rails would be good enough. The course featured several alternatives where the line was shorter but the jumps more difficult and Penelope Leprevost riding British bred Belle was the first to set a decent target. 60.68 looked fast and it did take Harrie Smolders on Exquis Powerfee to get in front. The horse who won or was placed in several GCT against the clock classes in 2009 scooted round in 59.12 and then his rider had to wait for the other half of the class to finish to see if he would win. But although he had to endure a couple of close shaves as first Denis Lynch (All Inclusive NW) and then Jerome Hurel (Nectar des Forets) got close the top two did not change. “I think the GCT know all about Powerfee by now” said Harrie “But it is fair to say he is my best all round horse. You can always count on him as a standby for any class!”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, FEI, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping, World Equestrian Games

Edwina Alexander – Rolex Diary

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Edwina Alexander is writing a diary for horsesinthesouth.com as she prepares for the 2010 Global Champions Tour (GCT) and the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Here is Edwina’s second entry.

The last month

The last month has been a real rollercoaster with quite a few shows and then the Rolex FEI World Cup Final. Overall, I’m feeling pretty good in myself and I’m trying to get as much rest as possible, but not doing too much isn’t the easiest thing in the world at the moment! I was up at 4am last Wednesday morning to go to Copenhagen for a photo shoot and got back home at about 1am the following morning. I was then up very early to jump five horses ahead of the four-day show in Mannheim, so I haven’t had as much rest as I would have hoped for!

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