News
Luciana Diniz wins the 2015 Global Champions Tour
Nov 16, 2015
Luciana Diniz and Fit For Fun (For Pleasure x Fabriano) took the 2015 LGCT title on Saturday night, after winning the final Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of the season in sensational style. The incredible sporting action went right down to the wire in Doha, Qatar, and the top three contenders had fans on the edge of their seats until the final moment of the final round.
It was a magnificent finale at Al Shaqab with all eyes on the three riders who had battled through the series to be in with a chance of the championship crown - Scott Brash, Luciana Diniz and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson. On the night it was Luciana and her chestnut mare who emerged as the supreme combination of the high octane season.
The top eighteen went through to the second round, with ranking leader Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos first in and with everything to do to keep his title hopes alive. The second layout was a big but fairly straightforward course, with three big fences to start and a generous time of 77 seconds. A rather awkward line to the triple combination would require plenty of care and scope and a 1,60m vertical penultimate fence caught out a few of the top riders.
Scott rode a beautiful round all the way up until the penultimate fence, just clipping the pole and finishing on 8 faults in total with a time of 62.69s. However as the class progressed, the riders to follow also had fences down, leaving Scott at the top of the eight faulters.
Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT) and First Devision (Andiamo x Perhaps vh Molenvondel) rode a stunning double clear round, watch on by members of the Qatar Royal Family. The first to ride double clear, he was followed by Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Fibonacci, and, despite a heart-stopping moment at the double, meant there would be a jump-off.
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Casall Ask were next to go, and rode an unbelievable course, earning his place in the final round. His title hopes still open, he was followed by Luciana Diniz who raised the temperature yet higher still by following him into the jump-off. Scott was pushed down the order to 8th, meaning he was no longer in contention for the 2015 title and it was a two horse race to the finish.
The final jump-off of the season was kicked off by Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani however he had two down despite a valiant effort to reach the podium. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum rode some stunning angles, galloping to the last and flying home with a formidable time of 36.55s and setting the bar for the final two to follow.
The incredible pair of Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Casall Ask galloped around the course, cutting out strides and pushing to beat Meredith’s impressive time. But it wasn’t to be, and the formidable duo crossed the line in 37.01 seconds just tenths off the lead. Last to go Luciana Diniz knew that the title was hers, but set out to win the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha, and did so in emphatic style, with the brave Fit For Fun 13 jumping her heart out for the final, crossing the line in 36.10s.
It was a dramatic final showdown to what’s been an incredible season, with all the emphasis on the top level of sport and the high calibre profile of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
1 FIT FOR FUN 13 FOR PLEASURE 103IB23 Hann Luciana DINIZ POR 0/0/0/36.10 148.500 €
2 FIBONACCI 17 FOR FEELING 103UD28 SWB Meredith MICHAELS-BEERBAUM GER 0/0/0/36.55 90.000 €
3 CASALL ASK CARETINO GER27997 Holst Rolf-Göran BENGTSSON SWE 0/0/0/37.01 67.500 €
4 FIRST DEVISION ANDIAMO 103IB76 BWP Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid AL THANI QAT 0/0/8/37.29 45.000 €
5 SEA COAST FORLAP DC QUERLYBET HERO 103ME55 BWP René TEBBEL UKR 0/1/76.61 27.000 €
6 MOLLY MALONE V KANNAN 102UT81 A.E.S. Bertram ALLEN IRL 0/4/64.30 13.500 €
7 CHIARA 222 CONTENDER 102QT61 Holst Ludger BEERBAUM GER 0/4/69.18 9.000 €
8 HELLO SANCTOS QUASIMODO VAN DE MOLENDREEF BEL42500 SBS Scott BRASH GBR 0/8/62.69 9.000 €
9 ADMARA 2 PADINUS 103CB96 KWPN Emanuele GAUDIANO ITA 0/8/63.11 9.000 €
10 QURACK DE FALAISE H D C JARNAC 102TB45 SF Kevin STAUT FRA 0/8/64.03 6.750 €
Source: Press release from LGCT